Chocolate chip cookies are one of the most popular cookies consumed in the world, with Americans winning the spot for the country that is number one in the amounts of them eaten within a year. Statista found that last year 245 million Americans ate ready-to-eat cookies. That is not to say that these were all chocolate chip varieties. It also does not cover the amounts consumed that were made at home from scratch. Let us just suffice it to say that Americans love their cookies that contain warm, gooey, chocolate chips.
A quick internet search will show you numerous ways to make chocolate chip cookies. Every site has their versions, and every author has suggestions on what to do, and what not to do. If you compile all the advice together you can produce a recipe that you enjoy. Once you have a set recipe, whether it is found online or in a cookbook passed down through your family, there are some remarkably simple additions and changes that you can make to maintain the amazing taste of the chocolate chip cooking, while adding, or replacing, healthy ingredients.
Sugar -Sugar is one of the main ingredients in any recipe. It is also one of the unhealthiest aspects of the cookies. Change it up a little and replace the basic sugar with coconut sugar. It will add fiber and essential minerals and give the cookie a slight taste variation. Taking away the granulated sugar can reduce the amount of fat calories that will be consumed with the cookie. The average chocolate chip cookie has around two hundred calories per cookie, with the total amount of fat being around 7% of your daily needs.
Butter -This is the second most damaging ingredient that homemade cookies call for. You can use low fat substitutes, margarine, or replace it entirely with olive or avocado oil. You can also replace part of the butter with tahini-a sesame seed puree. This will replace the excessive fat content while bringing a subtle nut taste to your cookie.
Salt - You have heard more than once that sea salt can replace regular salt to reduce the harmful effects that it has. When cooking them from scratch use the same amount of sea salt that the recipe calls for, instead of table salt. If you choose to buy cookie with sea salt and chocolate chunk, make sure you read through the ingredient list to make sure the substitutions have been made.
Flour - White flour is part of the ingredient list in most recipes, but chocolate chip cookies can be made with whole wheat flour instead. This will make the cookies more ‘heart healthy’ than the average one. It may make the cookie a little tougher, and it will have a different type of taste. Once you become accustomed to the flavor, though, it is well worth the healthier outcome.
Nuts - Add some nuts to your recipe. Various nuts will give you several types of health advantages, but the addition of protein is the main one. Nuts will boost the flavor of the cookie and will give it a nice crunch.
Oatmeal - Chocolate chip oatmeal cookies are tasty and more satisfying to your palate. Oatmeal adds a healthy kick to your cookie and adds a pleasing texture that satisfies all your taste buds at once.
Now let us all be honest. How many of you only eat one cookie at a time? The average American will eat around 35,000 cookies in their lifetime, according to Answers To All. You can do the math if you want. You may even consider giving up on your chocolate chip cookie indulgence. Or, you can add some of the healthy options given above and enjoy the cookies that you crave, while getting a healthy side effect.
