Monday, November 7, 2011

Chocolate Chip Cookies with Chickpeas


This month for the Secret Recipe Club I have been assigned to the lovely blog Cooking with Chopin, Living with Elmo. Ginny, who writes it, has two young boys and the recipes are simple but inventive. I immediately fixated on her "sneaky" chickpea chocolate chip cookies. Ginny says that she likes to sneak in some healthy stuff to her baked goods, which is exactly what I love to do. But only if the taste is still good. In fact, I like my cookies to taste like cookies first and healthy second. Which is what these amazing chickpea-stuffed cookies were.


I've adapted Ginny's recipe (which is adapted from Jessica Seinfeld's book Deceptively Declicious) by doubling the amount of chickpeas and mashing them. I also added some cocoa powder, to make these cookies double chocolate flavour. And I switched to whole wheat flour - because if you're going to eat healthy cookies, then why use white flour? And I halved the sugar, which I do every time I bake. No one ever notices.

A group of friends and I went on a long hike on Sunday - 25 km in one of Hong Kong's country parks. After about 10 km I was so hungry and weak. My knees were beginning to shake while climbing the hills. We reached a pavilion which offered some respite from the blazing sun. I ate four of these small cookies and downed my water. After a few minutes rest, I was ready to go again, thanks to the chickpeas and oatmeal.

Chocolate Chip Cookies with Chickpeas
adapted from Cooking with Chopin, Living with Elmo
makes 25 cookies

1/4 c (50 g) butter, softened
1/4 c (50 g) brown sugar
1/4 c (65 g) sugar
3/4 t vanilla extract
1 egg
2 T milk
1/2 c (75 g) canned and drained or cooked chickpeas
150 g dark chocolate, chopped into chunks
1 c whole wheat flour
1/2 c oats
2 T cocoa
1/2 t baking soda
1/2 t salt

In a large bowl, beat together the butter and sugars until creamy and light yellow.
Add the vanilla, egg, and milk and beat to combine.
Mash the chickpeas roughly with a fork and mix into the liquids. Add the chocolate chunks.

In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, oats, cocoa, baking soda, and salt.
Add to the liquids and stir with a wooden spoon until combined.

Line cookie sheets with parchment paper or grease. Drop by tablespoonfuls onto the trays.
Bake at 350 F (180 C) for 12 minutes.
Cool on a rack.

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Comments (16)

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I love healthy food dressed up yummy!
Well done on your hike - do you do a lot of walking?
My recent post Roast Onion Soup with Thai Spices (RR 10).
1 reply · active 715 weeks ago
Well, Lou, I am definitely doing more walking now!! I walk to and from work a few times a week. I was jogging regularly earlier this year and I plan to get back into it. What about you?
Lovely adaptations, Sarah! Glad you enjoyed the cookies!
Ginny
1 reply · active 715 weeks ago
Thank you for a great recipe and for saying hi! Have you been hiding vegetables in anything else recently? I also wanted to make brownies with spinach that you mentioned in your cookies post. Did you ever post about them? Have you made anything else from Seinfeld's cookbook?
Great idea - healthy and delicious! :)
My recent post Eggplant Parmesan Pasta Bake
What a healthy idea.
My recent post Blueberry White Chocolate Blondies
Wow, although I've baked with chickpea flour, I've never thought to use mashed chickpeas in a baked good! Smart.
Wow, you did a great job healthifying an already pretty healthy recipe. Nice work!
1 reply · active 715 weeks ago
Thanks, Carolyn. I really like eating healthy food. Do you "healthify" recipes?
Never thought of adding chick peas but sounds fabulous!
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teaandscones's avatar

teaandscones · 715 weeks ago

I always have chickpeas in the pantry, but for hummus. Never thought of making cookies with them. Interesting! And tasty!
1 reply · active 715 weeks ago
I love making hummus, too, teaandscones. And I throw chickpeas in my lunch salad. What else do you use them for?
Wow, I have never, ever thought to put chickpeas in cookies! What a brilliant idea. Your hike looks so fun!
My recent post Friday Blog Hop: Chicken plus a Souvlaki and Tzatziki Recipe
Looks very interesting! Chickpeas in chocolate chips cookies... As a pastry chef, I must try! ;)
My recent post From the Zen Organic Farm to your table
1 reply · active 714 weeks ago
Hi Gregoire, I would be honoured if you did try. There are certainly not your classic chocolate chip cookies!
I love healthy food dressed up yummy!
Well done on your hike - do you do a lot of walking?
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