I try to make EVERY baked good healthy. I'll throw in flax, substitute whole wheat flour for white and even skip the butter....
I am also terrible at following recipes when baking (because im doing all these substitutions + additions).
This all equals out for the potential for disaster.
Which, I have actually been lucky enough to have photos of for your viewing pleasure.
Disaster number one:
Spinach Brownies
I didn't think they were actually that bad, but my mom couldn't swallow it.
I think it's because i used whole leaf frozen spinach and didn't even bother to blend it up.
This equals large chunks of spinach coming out of your mouth.....
White Bean Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies
These were just down right horrible. I replaced ALL OF THE BUTTER for
Cannelloni beans. Bad, bad, bad mistake. Oh, and I barely used sugar.
So, maybe I just shouldn't try to bake healthy foods?
ABSOLUTELY NOT!
I just needed to find a balance....
Now, for the cookies!
Don't be alarmed, but THIS is the main ingredient:
I had done some research on these cookies. At first I was fearful of using a bean in a cookie from my previous disaster. However, I had faith. I would not eliminate the sugar and I would add a tiny fat. I mean, of course I didn't follow a recipe and I made substitutions and added things....but that's just my nature and I am going to except that.
Preview:
Chocolate Chip Chickpea Cookies:
1 can chickpeas
1 cup whole wheat flour
2/3 cup quick oats
1 tbsp ground flax
6 tbsp egg white beater
Drizzle of honey
1/3 cup brown sugar
1 tbsp maple syrup
2 tsp vanilla
2 tbsp canola butter, melted
1/4 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 cup dark chocolate chips
In a food processor, purée chickpeas until smooth. I added the vanilla, butter, maple syrup, honey and egg whites to help them purée.
Place into bowl. Add brown sugar and mix well.
Add flour flax, baking soda and salt.
Mix in the oats.
And finally, add the chocolate chips
Bake for 10 minutes in a 350 degree oven
They turned out quite lovely! I am so proud. I learned that it is okay to have a little fat and a little sugar. It is a COOKIE after all.....
Have you ever failed or succeeded at altering recipes to make them healthier?
Oh wow! These are definitely creative! I seen your comment on Jenna's blog and had to check it out. Great blog :)
ReplyDeletethank you!!
ReplyDeleteI am still amazed that i can't even taste the chickpeas. It adds such a nice texture too.
I've used Jessica Seinfeld's recipe for spinach brownies and the chickpea cookies and they were quite delicious! And like you mentioned, you don't even taste the chickpeas-isn't that funny! :P
ReplyDeletethings like this are why my parents HATE it when I bake! I want to try these though- they look tasty. I've heard of black beans in brownies- have you tried those?
ReplyDeleteMy parent's were never fond of my healthy "experiments". I love it though, my dad would still eat it and say they weren't that bad.
ReplyDeleteI've heard of the black bean brownies too! I haven't made them yet, but the whole "bean" concept is so interesting to me. I deffinately think chickpeas have the best potential for baking though.
The cookies look great!! I bet you couldn't even taste the beans!
ReplyDeleteThe black bean brownies are terrible. They look like brownies but they taste like blocks of black beans. I love black beans but they do not translate into a brownie.
ReplyDeletehi aubrey,
ReplyDeletefound your blog in the papillote. visited last friday and loved the lemon tart made in the apple pie bakery cafe. could you show it on your blog, assuming you even like it:]...it was a bite out of heaven!!!!
thx,
tom
ps-great blog and even better recipes