Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies (A personal favorite!)

(Oatmeal, Walnut and Dried Plum Cookies, by Alicia Silverstone, The Kind Diet)

 

Ingredients:

• 1 cup quick cooking rolled oats

• ¾ cup unbleached all-purpose flour

• 1/3 cup maple sugar

• 2 teaspoons baking powder

• 1 teaspoon baking soda

• ¼ teaspoon fine sea salt

• 1/3 cup maple syrup

• ½ cup safflower oil

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

• ½ teaspoon molasses (sometimes I leave this out)

• ¼ cup chopped walnuts (I usually grind them up in the food processor, but not necessary)

• 1/4 -1/2 cup of non dairy chocolate chips

 

Directions:

• Preheat the oven to 35O degrees F.  Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

• Combine oats, flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a large bowl.  In a separate bowl, combine the syrup, oil, vanilla extract, and molasses.  Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredient, and stir to combine.  Fold in nuts/chocolate chips.

• Using your hands, roll tablespoon-size scoops of dough into balls.  Place the balls onto the prepared baking sheet, and press down slightly on the balls to flatten the tops.  Bake for 8-12 minutes or until slightly browned.  Transfer cookies to a baking rack to cool completely.

• For variety, replace the all purpose flour with whole wheat pastry flour, barley four, spelt flour or a gluten-free baking mix (one that does not include baking soda and baking powder).  You can also substitute any kind of nuts for the walnuts.

Note:  I have tried many different flours and they all taste great.  It just varies the texture and fluffiness of the cookie slightly.  I also like to cook them longer than recommended for extra crunchiness.  ENJOY