Not So Chunky Monkey Cookies

Finally a cookie that you can feel good about giving your kids.  These cookies are loaded with gluttonous flavors but no need to feel guilty, they are actually chock full of healthy ingredients!  I have modified a regular chocolate chip cookie recipe to cut back on the not so good for you ingredients and replaced them with more nutritious ingredients.

Nestle Toll House Chocolate Chip Cookies  VS   My Not So Chunky Monkey Cookies

I reduced the butter from 16 Tbl of butter to 6 Tbl + 6 Tbl Natural Peanut Butter (Peanut butter is rich in mono and poly-unsaturated fats, which are the "good," cholesterol lowering fats and full of protein)

I reduced the white and brown sugars from 3/4 cup each to 1/3 cup each. + 1 1/2 cup ripe bananas (Bananas are very high in vitamin B6 and C, high in potassium, magnesium, fiber and antioxidants, just to name a few)

I reduced the flour from 2 1/4 cups to 1 1/2 cup + 1 1/2 cup ground whole oats (Oatmeal is high in thiamine, phosphorus, magnesium, iron, fiber and protein)

I reduced the chocolate chips from 2 cups to 2/3 cup + 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder ( Cocoa powder is high in iron, magnesium, copper, fiber and full of antioxidants)

Now that I have you drooling with all this nutritional value junk, lets make some cookies!

Ingredients:

6 Tbl          Butter, softened (if you do not have any softened simply but into chunks and microwave on defrost for a few seconds)

6 Tbl           Peanut Butter (chunky or smooth is fine, I buy the Natural kind)

1/3 Cup      Sugar

1/3 Cup      Dark Brown Sugar  (dark brown sugar has more molasses which makes it more flavorful)

1 1/2 Cup   Very Ripe Bananas (2-3 depending on size)

2 ea             Eggs

1 1/2 Cup    Flour

1 1/2 Cup    Oatmeal, ground (use your food processor to grind until it is super fine)

1/2 Tsp        Salt

1 Tsp           Baking Powder

1 Tsp           Baking Soda

1/2 Cup       Unsweetened Cocoa Powder

2/3 Cup       Chocolate Chips

Pre heat your oven to 350'.  In your kitchen aid mixer with the paddle attachment, combine butter, peanut butter and sugars.  Add both eggs, one at a time.  It should look very creamy at this point.  Add Bananas and mix until bananas are well mashed. 
Put all remaining ingredients (except chocolate chips)  into a bowl and lightly whisk to combine.  Slowly add all dry ingredients to the mixer.  Scrap down the wall of the bowl, mix once more.  Add chocolate chips and mix again.

Scoop 1 tsp balls onto a parchment paper lined baking sheet that has been sprayed with pan spray.  Leave 2" between dollops.

Bake for 8 min.  They cookies should be just firm to the touch.  Let cool slightly and enjoy.  Store in a air tight container.

Makes approx 80 small cookies

Notes:
Feel free to add chopped nuts instead of chocolate chips if you would like

I usually add 2 Tbl of fresh ground flax seed to my cookie recipes, it is totally unnoticeable and adds tons of fiber and flax seed is known to reduce the risk of cancers.

I use a small ice cream scoop for making cookies, the one I have is actually a truffle scoop.  I like it because it makes small 2 bite cookies.  This is just enough to cure a sweet tooth, but not so much that I feel guilty for eating cookies.  It is also the perfect size for a toddlers treat. 

If you enjoy fresh baked cookies as much as I do, simply don't bake them all at once.  Bake only a few.  Scoop all the rest onto a parchment paper lined baking sheet and freeze.  Once frozen pop of sheet and store in a zip lock bag.  When you are in the mood for cookies, defrost right on parchment lined baking sheet and bake as normal.  Viola, fresh baked cookies on a whim.

Every professional kitchen in the world uses baking sheets (aka sheet pans) and parchment paper.  This makes clean up a breeze and bakes cookies very evenly.

Find sheet pans at http://www.amazon.com/Nordic-Ware-Bakers-Half-Sheet/dp/B000G0KJG4/ref=sr_1_1?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1335752855&sr=1-1

Find Parchment paper at http://www.amazon.com/UltraBake-Parchment-Paper-Sheets-16%C2%BD/dp/B000E7A6BM/ref=sr_1_2?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1335752908&sr=1-2

Find a truffle scoop at http://www.amazon.com/Norpro-Stainless-Steel-Scoop-Teaspoon/dp/B00004UE83