Quinoa Chocolate Chip Cookies
If you haven’t heard of quinoa then you might be saying to yourself, “Kwinoah…what the heck is that?” (Ha, like that guy on Emily’s season of the Bachelorette! “Is this quinoa? It is quinoa. You guys like quinoa? It’s a very good fiber.” And then he cried when he got sent home.)
Quinoa is pronounced “Keenwah” and it is a whole grain (technically speaking, a seed) that is high in fiber and is a complete protein (provides all 9 essential amino acids). It is most commonly used in its whole form as a side item or as an entrée much like rice would be used. Lucky for me, it can also be ground into flour for baking!
For my go-to chocolate chip cookie recipe, I like to use quinoa flour as an ingredient. It has a pretty mild flavor and enhances the nutritional content of cookies. What could be better than that?!
Quinoa Chocolate Chip Cookies
Adapted from Smitten Kitchen
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 cup quinoa flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup Earth Balance (1 stick)
- 1/4 cup non-hydrogenated vegetable shortening
- 3/4 cup packed brown sugar
- 1/2 cup white sugar
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1 egg
- 1 egg yolk
- 2 cups semisweet chocolate chips (I used one bag)
First of all, I like to put on some jammin’ tunes while I bake.
Okay, start by preheating the oven to 325°F (165°C). Then grab a bowl for your dry ingredients and add one cup quinoa flour,
one cup all purpose flour,
half of a teaspoon baking soda and one teaspoon salt.
Sift together and then set aside. Next, grab a stick of Earth Balance (1/2 cup) and melt in the microwave for 30 seconds.
Then add 1/4 cup non-hydrogenated vegetable shortening to the melted Earth Balance and melt for another 30 seconds in the microwave.
Grab a second bowl for the sugars and then add the melted Earth Balance.
Beat ingredients until well blended.
Next, add in a whole egg, one egg yolk, and the vanilla extract.
Beat again until mixed well.
Then slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet while continuing to use the mixer.
Once you have added all of the flour, a dough-like consistency should form.
Add in an entire bag of chocolate chips (yes!) and fold in with a spatula.
I personally like to refrigerate the dough for 30 minutes to an hour before I roll them into cookies. Once the dough is ready, roll into one inch size balls and place on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper.
Cook in the preheated oven for about 15 minutes or until light brown around the edges. These cookies are meant to be crispy on the edges yet chewy in the middle so if you like more of a crispy cookie or if you want to make them larger then just cook them for a little longer.
Be sure to enjoy your warm cookie with a cold glass of milk.
Speaking of milk, I am in love with this milk glass I found at Anthropologie a while back. It has the word milk written in five different languages.
1. English (obviously!)
2. Swedish
3. Spanish
4. French
5. and German
Isn’t it cute?
Well, I’m off to get dinner ready and then catch up on a few episodes of Girls.
I hope you all are having or have had a relaxing Sunday evening! See you soon…
An article of possible interest:
I love quinoa and I love chocolate chip cookies! these look great. Annnd don’t even get me started on Girls. I love that show SO much. It is my highlight during the dark winter!
Girls is something to look forward to on a Sunday, for sure. Tonight’s episode was a little out there though…the part with all of the TV’s totally freaked me out.
Sarah! Those look so yummy! And you know I am a fan of quinoa! I just started watching girls…half way through season 1…and i think I’m addicted. But, still a teensy bit undecided! :)
You can use butter in place of the Earth Balance and shortening! ;)
That’s a good show to watch when you’re laid up in bed sick…you poor thing! Girls is really quirky but mostly good. I hope you are feeling better.
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Hi Sarah, I stumbled across your blog and your quinoa chocolate chip recipe from a recent HLB. I have to say “thank you!” because it’s The Perfect Cookie, EVER. :) I also blogged about making it this weekend. LOVE it. I’m a cookie convert finally! http://wp.me/p2Kg7Y-6J
Hi Josie! I am so happy to hear they turned out good for you! Thanks for letting me know. :)
OMG these cookies look DELICIOUS!! I love your blog and you are beautiful!
Aw, thank you so much Melanie! :) I appreciate you stopping by!
I have been looking for new ways to cook/bake for my family. I`’ve just started incorporating quinoa into our daily food intake. Thanks for the fun, New ideas !