Amazing @Quaker Chocolate Chip Cookies #gardencuizine @CaWalnuts @GeorgiaPecans

Amazing 

Chocolate Chip Cookies

3-times more Fiber, Low Sodium

Adults and Kids love 'em
serve with a glass of milk for even more calcium

Baked goodies can be part of a healthy diet when enjoyed in moderation. To modify baked goods recipes to healthier versions, experiment by reducing the salt and sugar. Add wholegrain flour or ground oats for added dietary fiber. Nonfat dry milk works great for adding calcium. Optional tree nuts add beneficial antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, protein, flavonoids and phytosterols.

The cookie lovers in my life give these amazing chocolate chip cookies two thumbs up! The recipe was inspired from a recipe that my gardening and baking friend, Johanna, gave me. She got the recipe online, called the $250 Neiman Marcus Cookies, based on an urban legand.

This RD revised recipe is worth the effort. I guarantee you will save it as a winner among your favorite cookie recipes collection.

Add Fiber to Cookies

Wholegrain flour and ground rolled oats add healthy dietary fiber to the cookies. The fiber content helps you feel more content and full, aiding in greater satiety and satisfaction, after eating just one or two cookies.

Cookie Jar Favorite
This recipe makes plenty to refill your cookie jars and will fill the bowl of your mixer to the brim.

Cookie Dough Freezes

The dough freezes well too. Form the dough into several one-inch thick discs, wrap in clear wrap, label, date - put in zip-lock freezer baggies and freeze until ready to thaw and bake off. 

Thaw  frozen cookie dough in the refrigerator a day before using. If the dough seems dry and too crumbly to mold, simply moisten hands with water when rolling into balls and flattening out cookies on the sheet pans. Trust me, they will taste and turn out just fine.

Add Calcium to Cookie Dough

Powdered dry milk adds calcium to the recipe. 

Yields: 105 cookies
about 5 discs of dough (~2370g total); each disc yields approximately 21, 2 1/2-inch cookies

Ingredients 
4 cups rolled oats ground in a food processor to powder
2 1/2 cups (345g)  unbleached all purpose flour
1 cup (128g) white whole wheat flour
1/2 cup (42g) instant nonfat dry milk fortified with vitamins A and D
1.5 teaspoons (8g) baking soda 
2 teaspoons (10g) baking powder
1.75 oz (50g) dark chocolate bar grated

1 cup (208g) sugar 
2 cups (334g) brown sugar, lightly packed
2 cups butter, unsalted 
4 eggs (I prefer cage-free omega 3 enhanced, or local eggs) 
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract 
1/4 teaspoon salt

11.5 ounces (326g) 60% bittersweet chocolate chips (whole bag Ghiradelli or other premium quality baking chips)
2 cups (200g) chopped nuts (pecans or walnuts) - optional

Putting it all together

Line a cookie baking sheet with foil and roast nuts in 350 oven until lightly roasted; set aside to cool. When cool, break up nuts using clean hands. Save and use the same cookie sheet for baking cookies.

• In a large bowl, combine the dry ingredients (except salt), stir in the grated chocolate
• In a separate mixing bowl, whip the butter and add in the sugar
• In a small bowl, crack and add the eggs, add vanilla
• Add the egg/vanilla mixture and salt to the butter and mix well
• Add in the remaining dry ingredients, slowly pulsing since the volume is so large 
• Add in the chocolate chips and nuts last

Portion the dough into 5 discs (about 450-500g each) and wrap in clear wrap and store in refrigerator or label and freeze and store in the freezer. Thaw dough in refrigerator as needed.

To bake: pick off dough and roll into golf ball size portions and flatten with palm of hand on prepared baking sheet. 

• Bake 350 degrees 10-12 minutes; do not over bake!

Celebration Cookies

To make special jumbo cookies or bars, press the dough into a heart, rectangle or round baking dish. Cookie cutter shapes can also be used to mold cookie dough pressed down with fingers. Bake, cool and decorate as desired. 

• Ideal for Birthday, Valentine's Day, Graduation parties or any special occasion. 
• The cookies can also be broken in half and inserted into the mouth of Cookie Monster Cupcakes!

GardenCuizine Nutrition Analysis: One, 2 1/2 -inch size cookie: approximate calories: 99 (116 w/nuts), calories from fat: 48 (60 w/nuts); total fat: 5g (7g w/nuts), saturated fat: 3g; trans fat: 0g; cholesterol: 18mg (6%DV); sodium: 40mg (2%DV); total carbohydrate: 12g (1 CHO serving); dietary fiber: 1g (4%DV); sugars: 6g, protein: 2g (4%DV); Vitamin A: 131IU (3%DV); Calcium: 21mg (2%DV)
Cookie clip art © Bobbie Jean Peachey

Related Links: 

How Oats Work
Walnut Nutrition Information 
Pecans Nutrition
Percent Daily Values (%DV) are reference values based on eating 2,000 calories for adults and children age 4 or older. Your daily values may be higher or lower based on your individual needs.
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