Cookie #2- A healthier Chocolate Chip Cookie

I like cookies as much as the next person, however cookies tend to involve a bit of sugar. Despite having quite the sweet tooth, sugar and I don't have the best relationship... it gives me migraines if I eat too much.

It is for this reason that I love these cookies, a delicious sweet cookie without the sugar overload. These cookies can either be sugar free or made with a little bit of sugar. These use banana to naturally add sweetness, but if you are not a banana fan (AKA hungry male) these could also be made with apple puree.

Makes 12 cookies

Ingredients
1 large banana (or 1/2 cup apple puree)
1/4 cup peanut butter (You could you a hazelnut spread too)
1 tsp vanilla essence
1 tsp baking powder
4 Tbsp chocolate chips
1/2 cup rolled oats
1/2 cup plain flour
1 Tbsp stevia powder or 1/4 cup sugar

1. Mash together the banana and nut butter until very creamy.
2. Stir in the vanilla essence.
3. Add the other ingredients and stir well.
4. Scoop tablespoon fulls of mixture on to a baking tray.
5. Bake at 180 degrees C for 12-15 minutes.
6. Halfway through cooking, flatten the cookies put with the back of a metal spoon.
7. Cool on the tray for 5 minutes, then cool completely on a wire rack.

Choc Chip Cookie's 2 Ways

The other day I bought myself a huge cookie jar, so today I set about baking some cookie to fill it. I decided that I wanted to bake some delicious treat cookies as well as some healthier cookies that I can scoff down without getting a sugar overload. Therefore I made 2 versions of chocolate chip cookies.

Think of this as like online cookie dating. You can read the two profiles of the cookies and choose which one is the best for you. I will post one recipe today and the other one tomorrow.

Cookie #1= This cookie is your traditional, American soft-style cookie. Think soft, chewy and full of chocolate chips. I don't usually dip cookies into milk, but if I was going to, this would be the cookie. A hungry male favourite.

Cookie #2= This is the ultimate guilt-free cookie. This cookie is for those who like their cookies a big more chunky and hearty and the bonus? You won't get a sugar overload with these and get some health benefits while eating them. Perfect to feed children who you don't want on a sugar high.

Recipe Cookie #1

The recipe for this cookie comes from "Real Girls Eat". It makes extremely delicious, soft, chewy cookies. However, these are more of a 'sometimes food' cookie.

This recipe is also a great time saver. You can whip up a batch of cookie dough, cook half of the cookies then and then freeze the other half of the dough for later.

Makes 30-40 cookies

Ingredients
230g butter
1 cup white sugar
1 1/2 cups brown sugar
1 tsp vanilla essence
3 eggs
3 cups plain flour
1 1/2 tsp baking soda
pinch salt
2 cups chocolate chips

1. In a large bowl, cream together the butter and the 2 sugars (Beat with an electric mixer for around 5 minutes until creamy).
2. Beat in the vanilla essence.
3. Add the eggs one at a time and beat until combined.
4. Sift in the flour, baking powder and salt.
5. Add the chocolate chips
6. Fold all of the ingredients together until just combined.
7. Place the mixture in the fridge for 1/2 and hour.
8. If not using now, shape the mixture into a log, roll in plastic wrap and freeze.
9. Roll tablespoon-full lots of mixture into balls and place on a baking tray (These spread heaps, so give them plenty of room).
10. Gently flatten the balls with a fork.
11. Bake at 180 degrees C. for 9-10 minutes or until the edges are golden.
12. Leave to cool for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

Afghans

Last week was cheese rolls, this week another kiwi classic, afghans. These would have to be hungry males favourite bikkies. For those of you who don't have a clue what an afghan is, it is a delicious chocolate biscuits, made with cornflakes and then iced.

Now there are a few variations as to what can go on top of these afghans. I believe that the traditional way is half a walnut, some like just a sprinkling of coconut while hungry male sticks only with the chocolate icing.

I think the walnut looks the best...

I usually try to lighten up my recipes a little bit, but because this is such a classic, I didn't want to alter it al all. These are just something to enjoy in moderation.

Ingredients

200g butter

1/2 cup sugar

1 1/4 cups flour

1/4 cup cocoa

2 cups cornflakes

200g dark chocolate

25g butter

Icing sugar

Walnuts or shredded coconut

1. Soften the butter.

2. Add the sugar and cream until light and fluffy.

3. Sift in the flour and cocoa powder.

4. Stir into the creamed mixture then fold in the cornflakes.

5. Spoon tablespoons of mixture onto a greased baking tray, pushing together gently.

6. Baked at 180 degrees C. for 15 minutes.

7. Leave the cool.

8. Meanwhile, gently melt together the chocolate and butter.

9. Gradually add icing sugar, until a thick icing is made.

10. Spread a little icing on to each biscuit and then top with a walnut half or some coconut.