Healthy Chocolate Chip Cookies

What's the worst part about trying to eat healthy? The worst part is that you end up missing out on a lot of delicious food because it isn't healthy. You end up forgoing those recipes that are full of sugar, oil, starches, and preservatives because they aren't good for you.

If you are trying to eat healthier, one of the best things you can do for yourself is to learn how to cook. If you know how to cook, you can take your favorite recipes and turn them into healthier alternatives. Change this ingredient, cut back on that, and so on. Doing this can allow you to eat the things you love without feeling as guilty. Of course, you still shouldn't over-indulge, but getting to try some classic treats is a big help to keep you on course.

Healthy chocolate chip cookies sounds kind of like an oxymoron. How can chocolate chip cookies be healthy? They may never be as healthy as an apple or a carrot, but you can make healthier chocolate chip cookies by changing up the list of ingredients just a bit.

Ingredients:

3/4 cup rolled oats
1 cup whole-wheat flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup butter, softened
1/4 cup applesauce
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1/3 cup brown sugar
1 egg, lightly beaten
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup chocolate chips

1. Grind the oats in a blender or a food processor. A coffee grinder works very well for this step. Put into a bowl and mix with the flour, baking soda, and salt. Mix it thoroughly to remove lumps and combine it well.
2. In a separate bowl, beat the butter. Use an electric mixer to make it easier. Beat for 1 to 2 minutes until it is fluffy and creamy. Mix in the applesauce, granulated sugar, brown sugar, egg, and vanilla. Beat just until the mixture is smooth and creamy.
   
3. Stir the dry ingredients in gently. If you are using a mixer, put it at the lowest setting. Stir until it is just combined. Stir in the chocolate chips and refrigerate the dough for about an hour.
4. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and lightly grease two cookie sheets.
5. Form the dough into 1 inch balls and space them 1 to 2 inches apart on the cookie sheet. Bake them for about 15 minutes, baking one sheet at a time. The should be firm on the edges and golden brown on the top. Let the cool on the sheet for 2 minutes and then transfer them to a wire rack to finish cooling.

These healthy chocolate chip cookies are a great alternative to regular chocolate chip cookies. They aren't packed with sugar and they have healthier ingredients such as whole wheat flour, oatmeal, and applesauce. Plus, they are very delicious.