As obesity is increasingly becoming more of a concern for Americans, Many people have became concerned that their favorite sweets and treats are no longer worth the calories. However, this problem does have a solution: healthier versions of these beloved desserts.
This recipe is an excellent alternative to the empty-calories present in the chocolate chip cookies we all know and love. While certain ingredients are high in saturated fat content, substitutes were used to create a healthier version of the cookie.
In this recipe, milk chocolate is replaced by dark chocolate because of the health benefits to the heart: milk chocolate lowers high blood pressure. Almonds are a preferable alternative to peanuts because one ounce of the nuts will provide half of your necessary Vitamin E for the day. Butter is composed almost entirely of saturated fat, so it is replaced with its healthier counterpart: margarine. Although this recipe can replace the typical chocolate chip cookies for a special sweet treat, individuals should watch portion sizing to maintain a healthy diet.
How to: Make Healthy Cookies
1 cup margarine
1 cup artificial sweetener
1 cup brown sugar
½ cup egg whites
1 tsp vanilla extract
3 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp hot water
1 tsp salt
2 cups dark chocolate chips
1 cup chopped almonds
Directions
- Preheat the oven to 350˚.
- Combine the margarine, artificial sweetener, and brown sugar in a mixing bowl. Stir the ingredients until the consistency is smooth.
- In a separate bowl, beat the eggs, then add the vanilla in.
- In hot water, stir in baking soda until it dissolves.
- Next, add the baking soda and salt to the batter in the mixing bowl.
- Now add in the dry ingredients: flour, chocolate chips, and nuts.
- Scoop spoonfuls of the prepared batter and place them on pans. The pans should not be greased.
- Bake for 10 minutes or until golden brown.
- Once the cookies are ready, you may either place them on a drying rack to cool or serve them warm.
- Once the cookies finished cooling, they are ready to enjoy!
