VEGAN, MAPLE-SYRUP-SWEETENED, WHOLE GRAIN CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES (WITH OLIVE OIL & ALMONDS)!

I have been trying to create the perfect (healthier) chocolate chip cookie for a while.  I have also been really intrigued by baking with olive oil.  These (after 3 test runs) have finally met my expectations for cookie perfection!  They are crispy on the outside and chewy in the center.  They aren't too sweet, but have a really good complex flavor (thank you olive oil and maple syrup!).  Also, they are made with whole grains, nuts, and dark chocolate...yay!  The best thing is I almost always have all of the ingredients on hand (and are mostly from Trader Joe's!), so whipping up a quick batch is super easy.

Ingredient round-up.

Dough.

Perfect size!

Dark chocolate and almond goodness.

Flatten them out a little with a fork.

Ready for the oven!

Done!!

RECIPE:

(Makes approximately 16 cookies)

-- 1 1/4  cups of whole wheat pastry flour or spelt flour (a little extra to sprinkle in in case dough is too wet) 

-- 1 teaspoon of baking powder

-- 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda

-- 1/4 teaspoon of sea salt

-- 1/3 cup of pure maple syrup (not the fake, corn syrupy kind)

-- 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract

-- generous 1/3 cup of extra virgin olive oil

-- 1/3 cup of dark chocolate chips (I also chopped up a bar of extra dark chocolate for one of the batches)

-- 1/3 cup chopped raw almonds (or any nut)

***  tips:

If you like your cookies sweeter, you can add 1/4 cup of coconut sugar or sucanat without changing any other ingredients.  Also, if you bake them and they are too crispy for your liking (after they have completely cooled) you can store them in a container with a slice of bread (which will soften them up!) overnight.  Take the bread out in the morning-- it will be very dry, as the cookies will have soaked up the moisture.

Preheat your oven to 350* F.   Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.   In a large bowl, mix the flour, baking powder and soda and sea salt until well blended.  In another bowl, whisk the maple syrup, olive oil and vanilla extract (it will thicken as you whisk it).  Combine the wet and dry ingredients until well blended.  Add the chocolate chips and nuts and stir until well combined.  Scoop one tablespoon of dough per cookie onto the lined cookie sheet.  Lightly flatten each cookie with a fork or your fingers.  Bake cookies for approximately 15 minutes.  Scoop onto a cooling rack (allow to cool for about 10 minutes so they can set) and then eat!