Tuesday, March 24, 2009

I Can't Believe It's a Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookie

It's hard to bake without using eggs and butter. There are a lot of recipes out there that suggest using bananas, apple sauce, baby food, or even steamed carrots as substitutes, but the resulting product usually tastes a little off. And I can tell how my kids feel about the results as they will eat the first one I give them to try, but decline seconds. The following recipe, however, is one exception to this rule.

I found this recipe at Post Punk Kitchen and it is to die for. I modified it a little bit to avoid the use of so much refined sugar, but it still tastes so much like a "real" chocolate chip cookie and my kids can't get enough of them. I'm not going to lie to you. I wouldn't call this health food, but it's animal free and it's a great snack to send to school when your kids need to provide a treat for the classroom, for a church activity or just as an after-school indulgence. Here's the recipe...

Ingredients
1 cup agave nectar
1/2 white sugar
1 1/3 cup canola oil
1/2 cup unsweetened almond milk (or your favorite non-dairy milk)
2 tablespoon corn starch
4 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
4 cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups chocolate chips

Directions
Step 1: Preheat oven to 350 F. Lightly grease two large light metal baking sheets.

Step 2: Combine agave nectar, sugar, oil, almond milk, and corn starch in a medium-sized bowl with a mixer for two minutes. Don't get lazy and skip this step. It's important to keep combining with the mixer until it looks like a caramel syrup. If you don't, your results will be an oily, spread-out mess.

Step 3: Mix in vanilla.

Step 4: Add in flour, baking soda, and salt and combine until mixed thoroughly.

Step 5: Fold in chocolate chips.

Step 6: Spoon 1-inch balls onto baking sheets and bake for 6 to 9 minutes, or until the edges are just barely lightly browned.

Now here is the way I served this recipe at my lady luncheon today. I made the dough. I asked my friends if they would prefer the dough baked into cookies or just raw. They all voted for raw, so I got one of my prettiest bowls, spooned most of the dough into the bowl, stuck four spoons in it and set it on the table for all to enjoy....


Do with it what you will....

(Here is the baked result, if you get that far....)



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15 comments:

Jill @ Sneaky Momma said...

I cannot wait to try this! Thank you so much for posting your recipes. You never know what vegan stuff tastes like. I like being able to see your photos and hear how your kids react! :)

Lisa@BlessedwithGrace said...

This recipe sounds very tasty. Thanks for sharing your recipe and linking up to Tempt My Tummy Tuesday.

Unknown said...

i totally would have gone raw too. love choc chip cookie dough and that pic looks so yummy.

Unknown said...

shut up! I am totally making these today!

Carla said...

now this is smart! I am SO going to have to get some Agave!

C said...

I was at the lunch.

I ate half the bowl.

It made me really happy :-)

Thank you Jen!!

C

Connie said...

I have to admit...the dough looks dang good! Glad you're enjoying your lifestyle change!

Anonymous said...

I miss sharing raw cookie dough with you and the girls!!!!

Elder Romney's mission said...

Im not a vegan nor would ever care to be one! No offense JEn but I have to say the cookie dough was great! Couldnt tell the difference, Now add some oatmeal and coconut and ummmm....:))

momstheword said...

I love chocolate chip cookies. If this recipe is even close to it I'm sure we'd like it!

MikeandCharlsie said...

First of all let me say that I love your blog! It has great posts, it's funny, wonderful recipes, etc...I just finished making the almond milk recipe you have and was wondering what you do with all of the almond pulp? Any tips would be great!

MomItForward Jyl and Carissa said...

I'm all over these,
1. I love to experiment

2. I have these 'accidental Vegan moments'!

Hi From BlogHer.. am on the boards with you today!

Carissa(GoodnCrazy) said...

Whoops.. forgot who I was for a second there..

@carissa_momif

THIS is my blogher site..

Andrew's Mom said...

Amazing blog! I wonder if they'd taste much different with rice flour...I recently found I am allergic to wheat! :(

Jennifer said...

C- I would have eaten the other half of the bowl! Good thing about not using eggs- the dough is safe to eat raw.