“Cookies? For dessert?!?”
“Ooh! They have chocolate!”
We don’t have dessert that often. Though I have a huge sweet tooth, I like dessert to be a happy surprise for special days or just because. So when I whipped up cookies while making dinner this weekend, the kids were thrilled. And I was thrilled because they are no ordinary chocolate chip cookies. They walk a little closer to goodness because they are multigrain chocolate chip cookies with whole wheat flour, oats and quinoa baked into them. And the chocolate chips? I use a 60% cacao one (dark chocolate!) ensuring that they come with antioxidants too.
Let me be clear though … while these cookies are packed with whole grain goodness and antioxidant-rich dark chocolate, they are still cookies (read: butter! sugar!) so they are still a once in a while treat. Healthy? Not so much … but you can definitely feel good about serving these instead of traditional cookies since they have more healthful qualities. Plus, these big cookies (they are about 3 1/2-inches wide!) are satisfying enough that you really can happily enjoy just one.
And the kids? They loved ’em … and so did I.
Multigrain Dark Chocolate Chip Cookies
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
- 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
- 1/4 cup coconut sugar, or granulated sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/4 cup egg substitute, or 1 large egg
- 1 cup whole wheat flour
- 1/2 cup old fashioned oats, not instant
- 1/2 cup prepared quinoa
- 1/2 tsp kosher salt
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 10- oz package 60% Cacao bittersweet chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper (or nonstick aluminum foil).
- Combine the butter and sugars in the bowl of a stand mixer. Beat on medium speed until well combined. Add the vanilla extract and egg substitute (or egg) and beat until well-combined.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, oats, quinoa, salt and baking soda.
- With the stand mixer running on its lowest speed, add the flour mixture to the butter mixture one scoop at a time, until just incorporated. Stir in the chocolate chips.
- Using a large cookie scoop (3 tablespoon), scoop the cookie dough onto the cookie sheet, leaving about 2-inches between the mounds.
- Slide the tray into the oven and bake for 10-12 minutes, until golden on the edges. Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 3 minutes before transferring to a cooling rack.
Kate
Tuesday 11th of September 2012
I want to introduce dessert as a happy surprise and not an everyday thing also.
Cathy @ Noble Pig
Monday 10th of September 2012
Interesting with the quinoa. I heard there is also quinoa flour out there, I haven't seen it though.
Sarah W. Caron
Monday 10th of September 2012
Thanks! The quinoa adds a little crunchiness to the cookie -- especially the outside. I haven't heard of the quinoa flour, but now I am going to keep an eye out for it.