Christmas Cookies to Savor
I have been on an avocado kick this week. I purchased too many and after yesterday's mexican pizza, still needed to use some up. So I went surfing for ideas. I came across this article about substituting avocado for butter in baking . The cold, snow and Christmas music on the radio had me craving cookies, so I went for it.
While these cookies contain lots of healthy ingredients; avocado, oats, walnuts and brazil nuts, I am not pretending they are healthy. They are cookies.
I usually only bake cookies at Christmas, so I feel no guilt about it. I believe that what you eat on a daily basis is far more important than a few cookies once or twice a year. A good Christmas cookie is meant to be savored and enjoyed. A pleasure that, as my daughter says, feeds the soul.
These cookies are somewhat of a cross between toll house cookies and traditional oatmeal cookies. The recipe makes about three dozen. I froze half of them for Christmas eve when the family comes over. We have been thoroughly enjoying the rest! They are rich and delicious, with no hint that they contain avocado.
Avocado Oat Drop Cookies
1/2 of an avocado
1/2 c. butter, softened
1/2 c. packed brown sugar
1/2 c. cane sugar
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla
1 c. whole wheat pastry flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. sea salt
2 c. old fashioned oats
1/2 c. shredded coconut
1/4 c. chopped walnuts
1/4 c. ground brazil nuts
1 c. dark chocolate chips
Preheat oven to 375. Cream avocado, butter, and sugars. Add egg and vanilla, mix well. Add flour, soda, salt, oats , coconut and nuts. Stir in chocolate chips. Drop by tablespoonfuls onto parchment lined baking sheets, bake about 15 min., till golden.
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16 comments:
I've never thought of using avocado in cookies. What a great idea. They look so yummy.
Janet,
Very interesting use of avocado. I would have expected it to leave a slightly green tone but I don't see one in the pic.
I remember someone used avocado to make vegan brioche, or challah ..... I don't remember which one or where I saw it. But your cookies are making me wonder where else avocado can be used in baking. Sounds like some experiments are in my further when I pick up more avocado.
I saw that you still used butter. How do you think it would work to use all avocado? How much butter did you replace with the avocado? Specifically I am wondering if 1 avocado would be the appropriate replacement for all the butter.
thanks for sharing the idea,
Alicia
Thanks Fayinagirl!
Alicia,
There was no green hue at all.
I cut the butter amount in half, since the article I read said that was what they successfully tried. Since the cookies are soft and chewy rather than krispy, I think I will try making these again and leave out the butter entirely and use a whole avacado. I will sub flaxseed for the egg, and I'm still thinking about what to do for the sugar. Agave would make them too wet, it may be time to expirament with a little stevia.
Janet,
Thanks for the input on the avocado. I think the avocado sub really has some great possibilities. I use egg replacer powder, flax eggs or silken tofu now for eggs and all seem to work equally well.
On the sweetener front agave has worked fine for me but I didn't sub it one for one since it is more sweet. Stevia on the other hand was a total bomb. I assume it isn't heat stable but didn't bother to look it up since it was such a disaster. I will be curious to see what happens when you try it.
Alicia
Alicia, I haven't used it yet, but I have read that stevia is supposed to be heat stable up to 400 degrees. Here is some info. I found on subbing with it:
Here is a Stevia conversion chart:
1 Tsp Stevia (powered)=1 Cup Sugar
1 Tsp Stevia (liquid)=1 Cup Sugar
1/2 Tsp Stevia=1 Tbsp Sugar
6 Drops liquid Stevia=1 Tbsp Sugar
A pinch of Stevia=1 Tsp sugar
2 drops liquid stevia=1 Tsp sugar
The bulk or consistency that sugar normally would add can be replaced with applesauce, fruit puree, canned pumpkin, fruit juice, yogurt, or any ingredient that will taste right with your recipe and add moisture. For every one cup of sugar that is replaced by stevia 1/4 to 1/2 a cup of the bulk should be added.
Janet,
You did your research. I just winged it (like I usually do).
The hubby has been bugging me about Christmas baking recently. I normally did a lot and gave it away. We even used to make ten different flavors of chocolate covered marshmallows .... it was a sugar fest at our house. This is the first year I have done nothing and the hubby really misses it. Maybe I should give stevia another chance.
thanks again for sharing your research,
Alicia
Oooh these look so good! Avocado in place of butter..amazing!!
It does make sense that avocado could be used as a fat. I was also surprised by thre lack of green hue. I also think the imgredients are delicious - what a good idea. And yes, a cookie is always a cookie. But its the holidays. Why not?
These look just superb! I love using avocado instead of butter/eggs in baking (there's a muffin recipe on my blog if you're interested). I find that it doesn't really change the flavor but the texture is great. Must try these adapting these cookies! I'm also experimenting w/ baking with stevia. . .a challenge, to be sure. ;)
Chris, thanks for the comment. I've missed reading your posts! Hope all is well for you.
Claudia, I was surprised that there was not a hint that these contained avocado-no green hue nor taste of avocado. It worked out really well.
Ricki, I'm on my way to check out your muffin recipe now, thanks!
I JUST posted about avocado chocolate cupcakes today! I love the look of your cookies :-)
What a wonderful idea! I love avocado so much and I just bought a big bag from Costco, I'll definitely give it a try. Your cookies look so yummy, Janet!
Hi Janet!
You are one of the lucky thinksport winners on my site -- I sent you an email this weekend requesting a few details from you. Once I have this info I can get the bottle sent to you.
Congrats!
Sheri from Green and Crunchy
i keep seeing your blog around today...links to you and on people's bloglists, so something told me to come by :)
I am a meatless mama, too.
And I have a give away going on!
Mardi, avocado chocolate cupcakes sound delicious! Thanks for sharing!
Oraphan, I hope you enjoy them if you try them. I also had a large bag of avocados from Costco!
Sheri, Thankyou so much, I am so excited to have won that awesome bottle. I can't wait to try it with some tea!
Averie, thanks for coming by, I am off to check out your blog too!
Avocado in cookies. Wow. So unique!
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