avocado cookies
with dark chocolate chips and nuts
for a healthy treat

Chocolate avocado cookies and a cool glass of milk, yum

avocado cookies

I love reading mysteries.  I especially like the mysteries with recipes involved.  Recently my daughter gave me a book called Cinnamon Roll Mystery by Joanne Fluke.  Of course the book had a recipe for cinnamon rolls, but it also had a recipe for avocado cookies.  I was intrigued.  What a good way to make a treat a little more healthy.  So I got busy this morning and made a batch.  We will see if anyone in my family notices that the cookies are not quite as unhealthy as they like cookies to be.  They might say, "hmmm, I taste antioxidants and fiber in this deceivingly normal chocolate cookie."

I can't eat avodado cookies on my diet (or most cookies), but I will confess that I ate a cookie. Well, I honestly ate two. I had to know if it was good.  It was very nice.  It had a different texture in a good way.  I adapted the recipe some even though it was probably great left alone.  The author called for semi-sweet chocolate chips, but I used dark chocolate chips. I removed 1/4 cup of the flour and substituted 1/4 cup of freshly ground flaxseed.  You could do more or less as you prefer.

It contains healthy dark chocolate--both chips and baking chocolate.  It contains avocados which are good for us. You could probably make more substitutions, but it was nice as it was.  An occasional cookie never hurt anyone.  The problem seems to be that like those chips, you can't eat just one.

Recipe for avocado cookies
(as I adapted them)
The author of the book calls them
"Sinco de cocoa cookies"
The book tells you why

Ingredients for making cookies and Joanne Fluke's mystery book

It goes so much faster if the ingredients are measured and ready before you begin.  I mashed the avocado at last minute so it would be fresh.

Ingredients:

1/2 cup butter (1 cube)
3 one ounce squares unsweetened chocolate
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1 c brown sugar, firmly packed
2 large eggs
1 t vanilla
1/2 t salt
1 t baking powder
1/2 c mashed avocados
3 c flour or my adaption which is 2 3/4 c flour plus 1/4 cup ground flax seed
1 c dark chocolate chips
3/4 c chopped walnuts

Melt butter and chocolate in a microwave bowl or stovetop, then put aside to cool.  Combine sugars in mixer bowl and blend well.  
Add eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition.
Mix in vanilla and beat mixture until light and fluffy.
Mix in salt and baking powder and beat until thoroughly combined.
Mash avocado until it is pureed.  Measure avocado.  Add to sugar mixture.
Add cooled melted chocolate and butter.  Beat to incorporate.

The rest is done by hand.  The original recipe says to add the flour 1/2 cup at a time.  I put it all in at once and gently folded.  Then I folded in the nuts and chocolate chips.  
Drop by spoonsful on baking sheet (may line with parchment paper).  

Bake at 350 degrees for 13 to 15 minutes.  Test doneness by gently placing your fingers on cookies in oven.  If they feel dry, they are ready.  Avocado cookies have been added to my husband's list of favorites.

flour

If you want flour that is not over-processed, try the health food store. Flour which is unbleached is the best, but commercial flours are usually not so healthy.  You should be able to find an alternate flour which is minimally processed at a health or raw food store or you can make nut flour. You can also grind wheat to make your own flour. Sugar should not be genetically modified.  Grocery stores are selling more and more healthier sugars.

Click for a delicious cake made without flour.