Chocolate Avocado Cookies

My son's Health teacher is quite creative.

Last week he had to bring the Real Care Baby 3 home to care for the entire weekend.

This week he has to make and bring in a healthy food.

Guess who is really going to make it?

The first thing I thought of was Chocolate Avocado Cookies. What 16 year old, 11th grader could resist trying these?

So far other students have brought in spicy almonds, trail mix with healthy cereal, and healthy cookies.

He's got this!

Avocados are incredibly healthy. And mixed with chocolate? Win, win.

The avocado makes for a creamy, smooth cookie without any taste of the fruit. There is lots of 100% cacao unsweetened chocolate with milk chocolate chips in these tasty cookies. The recipe is below but first I want to brag on the healthy avocado. If you don't care how healthy it is and just want to get to the chocolate goodness, scroll down!

I had heard of some of the avocado's virtues before this but I decided to Google it for my son to bring in for extra points. This website goes into great detail of the 12 proven benefits of eating avocados, but I will just highlight them here.

1. Avocado is incredibly nutritious including 5 vitamins, folate, and potassium. The fat in them is HEALTHY.

2. They contain more potassium than bananas.

3. They are loaded with heart-healthy monounsaturated fatty acids.

4. They are loaded with fiber.

5. They can lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels.

6. People who eat them tend to be healthier.

7. The fat in them can help absorb nutrients from plant foods.

8.They are loaded with antioxidants that can protect eyes.

9. They may help prevent cancer.

10. Avocado extract may help relieve symptoms of arthritis.

11. THEY MAY HELP YOU LOSE WEIGHT.

12. They are delicious and easy to incorporate in the diet.

I agree wholeheartedly with number 12. I love avocados in salads, on sandwiches, on tacos, and especially in guacamole. And now add to my list chocolate cookies!

For even more detailed benefits Balance Me Beautiful cites 35 more of this delicious fruit.

Okay here is the recipe:

Chocolate Avocado Cookies

1/2 cup butter, 1 stick

3 one ounce squares unsweetened chocolate

3/4 cup sugar

1 cup brown sugar, firmly packed

2 large eggs

1 tsp. vanilla

1/2 tsp. salt

1 tsp. baking powder

1/2 cup mashed avocado (1 large)

3 cups flour, firmly packed

1 cup chocolate chips (I used milk chocolate chips)

Melt the butter with the squares of chocolate in the microwave in 30 second intervals till melted. Let cool.

Combine white sugar with brown sugar in mixer till uniform. Add eggs, one at a time, mixing after each.

Mix in vanilla and beat till light and fluffy.

Mix in the salt and baking powder and beat till combined.

Mash the avocado until it is a smooth puree. Add it to the mix and beat till well blended.

Once the butter/chocolate is cooled, add it to the mix and beat till combined.

Add flour, 1/2 cup at a time, mixing after each addition. Mix till the dough is smooth and well blended.

Add chocolate chips and mix by hand.

Drop by rounded teaspoons onto greased cookie sheets.

Bake at 350 for 13-15 minutes (12 minutes worked great for my oven) ONLY TILL TOP IS DRY. DO NOT OVERCOOK.

Glaze if desired.

I chose not to glaze these this time and they are still really good!

(Note: Every time I post a recipe I wish I could figure out the template for blogs to just insert a recipe which then can be printed. Anyone master this yet?)

I hope you try these and let me know what you think. I have gotten mixed reviews just by mentioning the name of these cookies!

AnnMarie xoxo

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