Healthy Chocolate Chip Cookies

Sometimes it's hard to balance eating healthy with actually enjoying our food, but we all want to do it. We try (and fail) to convince ourselves that kale chips are just as good as the real thing. We claim over and over that "this protein powder tastes way less like farts than my last one" and that we really would rather have carrots over popcorn to munch on when we Netflix and chill. But deep down we know the truth. After the millionth kale chip and celery stick, it's normal to wish for a better, more satisfying healthy option. That's why we at Tenzo wanted to share this healthy chocolate chip cookie recipe with all of you. Vegan and gluten-free, it's a melt in your mouth cookie that also contains antioxidants! The perfect pick me up for afternoon tea time, enjoy our matcha mint chocolate chip cookie and still reach your health goals.

Matcha Mint Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe

This healthy chocolate chip cookie recipe incorporates mint, dark chocolate and matcha green tea. Refreshing and delicious, these healthy chocolate chip cookies can be made in less than 20 minutes! Feel free to experiment with different sweeteners and flours when designing your perfect healthy chocolate chip cookie (I like to use half maple syrup, half honey in mine). 

Ingredients

 

• 2 cups almond flour

• 1/4 cup pure maple syrup

• 3 tablespoons melted coconut oil

• 1/8 teaspoon fine sea salt

• 2 teaspoons matcha green tea powder

• 1/4 teaspoon peppermint extract

• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda

• 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar

• 3/4 cup (vegan) dark chocolate chips

 

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and line a baking sheet with parchment paper (a piece of aluminum foil sprayed with nonstick cooking spray works well too).

2. Combine the almond flour, maple syrup, oil, salt, matcha green tea powder, peppermint extract, baking soda, and vinegar in a large mixing bowl.

3. Stir until a smooth and sticky batter is formed. There are no eggs in this recipe, so feel free to taste the dough and adjust it to your liking.

4. Fold in the chocolate chips. Since there’s no flour or butter in the mix, it may be hard to fold in the chocolate chips with a spoon as they tend not to stick to the batter. An easy trick is to sprinkle some almond flour on clean surface or cutting board. Then spread the dough onto the board in an even layer and sprinkle the chocolate chips over it. Then you can easily press the chips into the dough and use your hands to make sure they are well distributed.

5. Once the chips have been evenly distributed in the dough, scoop tablespoons of dough onto the baking sheet to form about 12 cookies. Shape them into small mounds with your fingers.

6. Bake cookies for about 10 minutes, until they are lightly golden around the edges.

7. Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for about 10 minutes.

8. For the most matcha magic, serve cookies with a cup of hot (or iced) matcha green tea or a matcha almond milk latte.

9. Enjoy!

A Healthy Chocolate Chip Cookie

While "healthy" and "chocolate chip cookie" are two phrases that don't usually occur in the same sentence, there are a few reasons why this cookie is healthier than the rest. The most obvious reasons, of course, are that it is vegan and gluten-free. However, it is the matcha green tea and dark chocolate that make this cookie an antioxidant powerhouse and set it apart from your average dough.

Health Benefits of Matcha

We've probably said it a million times already, but matcha green tea is the healthiest drink on the planet*. If you are new to the blog, matcha is a finely ground green tea powder made from the young and nutrient-rich leaves of the green tea plant. It's full of nourishing vitamins, fiber, minerals and antioxidants. We've already posted about how great matcha green tea is for your body.

• Prevents cancer cell growth

• Prevents cardiovascular disease

• Reduces inflammation and the onset of arthritis

• Boosts metabolism

• Reduces cholesterol and the absorption of fat molecules

• Limits the invasion and growth of viruses and bacteria

• Prevents brain aging and neurodegenerative diseases

Health Benefits of Dark Chocolate

Like matcha green tea, dark chocolate contains tons of antioxidants.This is because both matcha green tea and dark chocolate contain flavonoids called procyanidins & epicatechins. Flavonoids are part of a group of antioxidants known as polyphenols. These give your body boost and result in all kinds of health benefits, making dark chocolate the perfect chip to add to our healthy chocolate chip cookie. Consuming dark chocolate can*:

• Decrease LDL (“bad”) cholesterol oxidation

• Reduce the risk of blood clots

• Increase blood flow in arteries and the heart

• Lower high blood pressure

• Improve mood and pleasure by boosting serotonin and endorphin levels in the brain

• Regular intake is associated with better cognitive performance in the elderly

Oh, and They Taste Great Too!

Not only do matcha green tea and dark chocolate have amazing health benefits, but they pair delectably with each other. The cool mint and earthy matcha complement the rich dark chocolate in these healthy chocolate chip cookies. The coconut oil and maple syrup make these healthy chocolate chip cookies sweet and buttery, so they satisfy just like the traditional cookie without the saturated fat and refined sugar. Kids, co-workers, and college roommates alike will all love to take a bite. Eating well should taste good, and these cookies can help make that possible.

You don't need to be tired. Beat lunchtime fatigue with Tenzo Tea's organic matcha powder!

*The statements on this page have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.
This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.