Lacy is an expert at turning a naughty recipe into a nicer one. We love TASTY skinny recipes. I’m not a fan of no-fat cheese, mixed with no-fat cream, mixed with no-fat…you get the idea. With reasonable alternatives and wise choices you can make a classic chocolate chip cookie, ‘skinny’, without it TASTING gross! Now that’s what I’m talkin’ about! It’s the holidays, I want to indulge without indulging. Or rather, have a few extra without going over the cliff, just don’t tell her that!!
So let’s talk about this recipe. The inspiration comes straight from the Food Network, so props to them first of all. Now let’s talk about a classic chocolate chip recipe versus our skinny chocolate chip recipe. Here is what a classic Nestle chocolate chip recipe would look like:
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 stick of butter (800 calories)
1/2 cup granulated sugar (387 calories)
1/2 cup packed brown sugar (414 calories)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 large eggs (70 calories)
4 oz of chocolate chips (560 calories)
SKINNY CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES
1 cup whole-wheat pastry flour (440 calories)
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/8 teaspoon salt
4 tbsp of light Smart Balance butter (200 calories)
2/3 cup packed light-brown sugar (480 calories)
3 tablespoons agave nectar (180 calories)
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1 large egg (70 calories)
4 oz of chocolate chips (560 calories)
1/2 cup rolled oats (not quick-cooking) (150 calories)
Total 2,080 calories or about 87 calories per cookie
At first glance I was like WOW! 650 calories difference and about 25% less calories per cookie! Here’s the deal, let’s look at the INGREDIENTS and see why these are a little better for you. First let’s take a look at the flour. Instead of using classic all purpose flour, we’re substituting whole-wheat flour AND oats! Oats will make this cookie stay with you a little longer as well as giving you some FIBER! Gotta love a cookie that helps you go poop! (Who ever thought I’d say that in a chocolate chip cookie recipe post!!) Next we are using half as much butter (I know Paula says it makes it better, but we’re going for SKINNY!). We are also using Smart Balance Light butter. It’s half the calories! The brown sugar is about the same, but we are using agave instead of white sugar. Agave is one of Lacy’s favorite ingredients….why, because it’s a low calorie sweetener that doesn’t affect blood sugar as badly as sugar!. Agave also have tons of health benefits you can read here.
These are really delicious chocolate chip cookies and if you like oatmeal cookies you’re going to REALLY like these!! They were simply amazing and well, there aren’t any left as I’m writing this, which makes me kinda sad!!
The bottom line is that this is a easy recipe to enjoy any time of the year. If you see a bag of chocolate chips laying around the house, whip up this recipe!! Fill your house with that cookie smell, you know, the one that when you walk through the door, your mouth immediately begins to water. Yea, I know you get what I’m sayin’. Just looking at the picture, I want another bite!! Enjoy!
- 1 cup whole-wheat pastry flour (440 calories)
- ¼ teaspoon baking soda
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
- 4 tbsp of light Smart Balance butter (200 calories)
- ⅔ cup packed light-brown sugar (480 calories)
- 3 tablespoons agave nectar (180 calories)
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 1 large egg (70 calories)
- 4 oz of chocolate chips (560 calories)
- ½ cup rolled oats (not quick-cooking) (150 calories)
- Combine wheat flour, baking soda and salt in small bowl.
- Beat butter, agave, brown sugar and vanilla extract in large mixer bowl until creamy. Add egg
- Gradually beat in flour mixture.
- Stir in chocolate chips
- Make rounded tablespoon sized portions and place onto ungreased baking sheets.
Mmhhmm… ‘Skinny’ and ‘cookies’ in the same sentence makes me skeptical!