Chickpea Chocolate Chip Cookies

Who doesn't love cookies, right? I know I love them but I often find it hard to bake up a gluten-free, dairy-free, batch that doesn't crumble in my hands. However, I just made a bold new discovery that I had to share. Baking with chickpeas. DUN DUN DUN. This exciting realization came to me after making my very first chickpea burger and realizing how well they held together without an egg. It was incredible. Then my mind starting wondering if this could work for a sweet treat too? Well my question has been answered, surprised and satisfied.

These delicious cookies are extra special for several reasons. First of all they are made with chickpeas so they are full of fiber, vitamins and minerals. Have you ever had a cookie made out of a legume?

Welcome to my world of nutrition trickery.

These magical bean/legume cookies are vegan (egg and dairy-free), nut-free and gluten-free. They also are lower in grains and lower in sugar then traditional chocolate chip cookies.

I know the ingredient list might sound strange... But seriously, these are so delicious so don't freak out about these adventurous edits I've made to traditional recipes. These are a perfect tricky treat for little ones or ANYONE whom you WISH ate healthier--Now they will and won't even know it. Sneak a few good ingredients in your loved ones snacks... why not right? And if you really want to smile just think about what you are not giving them: all-purpose flour (potential allergen-wheat, acts sugar that can make kids have bad tantrums), baking soda (just an extra ingredient you don't need), baking powder (could be corn), 1 stick of butter (saturated-fat), lots of sugar (brown and white can make people crazy moody and hyper), eggs (potential allergen).

Break the monotony and tradition. Do something BOLD and adventurous. Surprise yourself. Try these cookies and you really won't regret it. You will LOVE them. 

Ingredients:
1 can of garbanzo (chickpeas) 15 oz can, drained and rinsed
1/3 cup of maple syrup

2 tbsp. of olive oil (any baking-friendly oil will work)

1/3 cup of gluten-free oat flour (or any alternative gluten-free flour should work)

1/3 cup of gluten-free oats
¼ tsp. sea salt
Plus extra coarse sea salt, set aside to top the cookies with

¼ tsp. cayenne pepper

1 cup of (gluten-free, dairy-free) chocolate chips (I used Enjoy Life mini chips) Please note: if you don't care about keeping the recipe gluten-free, any chocolate chips will work

Directions:
(Preheat oven to 375)
1. Place drained and rinsed chickpeas in the blender with the maple syrup. Pulse until smooth.
2. Add the oil, cayenne pepper and salt. Pulse to combine.
3. Transfer chickpea mixture into a large bowl.

4. Add the oat flour and oats and stir to combine well.

5. Fold in 1 cup of (gluten-free, dairy-free and nut-free) chocolate chips. I use Enjoy Life brand found at Whole Foods. Fold in 1/3 cup at a time into the bowl. Stir until chocolate chips seem evenly distributed. If you don't like your cookies really chocolaty you can take 1/3 cup of chocolate chips out and maybe add 1/3 cup of raisins, dried fruit or even just nothing.

6. Scoop cookies out onto a greased pan.

7. Press down on the cookies to make them flat because they will not spread out like "normal" cookies.

7. Top the cookies with coarse sea salt.. it gives them a really nice salty-sweet bite so don't forget that key ingredient!
8. Bake on 375 for 15 minutes.

Please Enjoy!
xo Natalie