Vegan Mofo: Vegan Cranberry Chocolate Chip Cookies

Yesterday was a perfect day. It snowed. I listened to jazz and Christmas music. I cleaned my house from top to bottom. I baked cookies. Did I also mention that my husband took the kids out for most of the day and then in the evening, our awesome babysitter watched the little ones so the mister and I could go on a date? Yep. It was pretty awesome.

I had been creating this cookie in my head for the past few days and did a small sample run of it yesterday. Chewy, yet crispy, sweet and salty. Perfection. The dark brown sugar adds a chewiness to the texture, while the oat flour gives it a nice crisp. Please do use parchment paper on your baking sheets; it will help the cookie cook more evenly.

To make the oat flour, take old fashioned oats and process in a coffee grinder or small food processor until the oats become a fine powder.

Chewy and Crispy (Cranberry) Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe (vegan)
makes about 24-36 cookies

Ingredients

• 1 cup Earth Balance
• 1/2 cup dark brown sugar
• 1/4 vegan sugar
• 2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/4 cup plain vegan yogurt
• 1/2 tsp sea salt (You can use regular table salt, but pink Himalayan is best in this recipe.)
• 1.5 cups AP unbleached flour
• 3/4 cup oat flour (already ground)
• 1.5 tsp baking soda
• 1 bag of semisweet vegan chocolate chips
• 1.5 cups dried cranberries (optional--you could leave out or substitute another dried fruit)
• 1 TB orange zest (optional)

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350.
2. In a stand mixer, combine Earth Balance and sugars and blend until creamy. Add vanilla and yogurt. Mix until well combined.
3. In another small bowl, combine flours, baking soda and salt.
4. Add flour mixture to wet mixture and mix until just combined.
5. Fold in chocolate chips and cranberries (if using).
6. Place rounded tablespoons of the dough on the cookie sheet and flatten slightly. Bake for 9-11 minutes (depending on cookie size) or until the outer edges of the cookies are golden (tops may look ever so slightly undercooked, but that is ok.)
7. Let cool slightly on sheet and then transfer to a wire rack.