Let me start by saying I’m not known for my baking prowess. My cooking comfort zone is in savory dishes–soups, sauces, salads, and hearty entrees.
Truth is, I don’t have much of a sweet tooth (this is known to happen when you stop eating added sugar). However, I do love to splurge on the occasional bowl of mint chocolate chip ice cream, dark chocolate, or chocolate chip cookie.
The issue with this, as you healthy eaters know, is it’s damn near impossible to find a healthy chocolate chip cookie recipe. Most of the ones I found online still had a boatload of sugar and used some type of refined flour … both no-no’s in my kitchen.
So I decided to create my own recipe for a healthy chocolate chip cookie that was low in sugar and high in protein. The final product turned out more like a cookie/brownie hybrid but it was actually pretty tasty. Here are a some things I did differently to make it healthy:
- Used a combination of coconut flour and whole grain spelt flour (these are higher in fiber and protein)
- Used real vanilla bean powder (a nutritional powerhouse packed full of flavor)
- Used coconut oil instead of butter and vegetable oil (a healthier source of fat)
- Added a couple scoops of Pure Food Protein
- Made my own dark chocolate chips by buying a high cacao/low sugar chocolate bar (avoid Godiva and Ghiradelli … they had soy lecithin, a GMO emulsifier, last time I checked)
- Used organic whole leaf stevia powder instead of added sugar or artificial sugar (I get mine from Mountain Rose Herbs … it’s the same stuff that goes into our protein powder. This is the real, healthy form of stevia because it’s the actual ground up leaves of the plant and nothing else … 99% of “stevia” is junk)
Here’s the rundown of what’s in it, how to make it, and the impressive nutrition stat line:
Healthy High Protein Chocolate Chip Cookie / Brownie Recipe
What’s In It:
3/4 cup coconut flour
- 1/2 cup whole grain spelt flour (any whole grain flour will do here … try almond meal instead if you need a gluten-free recipe)
- 1 tsp. baking soda
- 1 tsp. baking powder
- 1 tsp. real vanilla bean powder (the real stuff is super expensive but tastes phenomenal … organic vanilla extract works too though)
- 4 T coconut oil, divided
- 1 cup coconut/cashew/almond milk
- 3 eggs
- 2 scoops Pure Food Protein
- 1 (3.5 oz.) dark chocolate bar (the higher cacao content, the better. I recommend at least 70% cacao … I used 85%)
- 1/4 cup pistachios (optional)
- 1/2 tsp. stevia leaf powder (optional … I used just a tiny pinch but I don’t like things overly sweet … taste the mixture to see if it’s sweetened to your liking then add more stevia little-by-little as your heart desires)
How to Make It:
- Mix the egg, flours, and coconut milk together thoroughly with a whisk or mixer.
- Use a large chef’s knife to cut the chocolate bar into chocolate chip-sized pieces.
- Add the baking soda, baking powder, vanilla, protein powder, nuts, stevia, chocolate, and 2 T of the coconut oil and mix again.
- Coat a large baking pan or sheet with the other 2 T of coconut oil.
- Spread the mixture evenly across the pan.
- Bake for 12-15 minutes at 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
Here’s what the final product looks like (with my festive Christmas decor in the background):
And the best part … it’s actually healthy!
Nutrition (per cookie … makes 12 total cookies):
Calories: 188
Fat: 12.5g
Carbs: 12.5g (3g fiber, 3g sugar)
Protein: 9g
If you have a good healthy chocolate chip cookie recipe … or another healthy dessert you think might be good with some Pure Food Protein powder, send me your recipe and I’ll do some experimenting!
P.S. Fashion Santa loves Pure Food.