Cookies are an iconic American treat for the holidays and chocolate chip cookies are adored by young and old alike. Numerous variations of this small, sweet single serving finger food are available and several requests from readers indicated that a healthier variation was needed. As a drop cookie, the dough is a blend of nut butter and honey that can be baked as soon as mixed or stored in the refrigerator or freezer until hot, fresh-baked cookies are desired.
The baby boom generation was raised on tollhouse cookies made from butter, flour, sugar, nuts and chocolate pieces. With nutrition the bussword of the decade, and gluten-free the special diet of the day, this healthy chocolate chip cookie recipe features nut butter and honey.
Brazil nut butter offers so much more nutrition than almond butter or peanut butter. Brazil nut better is not as commonly available and not readily advertised because the nuts are not grown in the U.S. and do not have a trade association marketing them in print and media outlets.
Brazil nut better contains 537 mcg selenium per ounce compared to 0.7 mcg selenium in almonds per ounce. Selenium is an antioxidant that enhances detoxification and provides protection from oxidative stressors like cigarette smoke, diesel fumes, formaldehyde, etc. Selenium is also required to convert the less active T4 thyroid hormone into the more active T3 hormone to enhance energy production in the mitochondria.
Another reason Brazil nut butter is used in the recipe is because selenium in plant foods is minimal directly related to soil content. The best food sources are fish, grass-fed and pastured meats so vegetarians need to consume Brazil nuts to meet their daily selenium requirements.
A super nutrition variation of the recipe can be made by substituting 2 tablespoons maca powder for 2 tablespoons arrowroot flour. Maca is a turnip-like root that is grown in the Andes of Peru and hailed as energy powder and aphrodisiac. You might want to consider doubling the recipe if those ingredient attributes are mentioned.
Healthy Chocolate Chip Cookies
1/2 cup nut butter
2 tablespoons raw honey
1 large egg
1/4 cup brown rice flour
1/4 cup arrowroot flour
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 cup chocolate chip pieces
Chopped Brazil nuts
Blend together nut butter, honey and egg. Sprinkle flours and baking soda over nut butter mixture. Mix well with wooden spoon. Stir in chocolate chips. Drop spoonfuls onto lightly oiled cookie sheet. Sprinkle chopped nut pieces onto cookie dough. Bake in 350 degree F oven 10 – 12 minutes, or until lightly browned. Do not overcook. Makes 1 dozen cookies.
Calories per cookie 162
Protein 5 g
Carbohydrates 11 g
Fat 12 g
Sodium 129 mg