We understand how crazy we must sound. First we put lentils in your brownies and now we've put avocado in your cookies. You might be thinking, "Hey Co-op, why don't keep your paws off my chocolate?" Or in this case, "You did what to my guacamole?" But hear us out! Avocados, with their silky, creamy texture make a great replacement for oil or butter in baked goods. If you have a really sensitive palate, you may be able to taste a tiny bit of avocado flavor, but most of the people we had try these cookies, said it wasn't detectable. While someone else said they were detestable− but we never listen to that person anyway! Overall, folks were really pleased with the flavor, texture and the health benefits of these chocolaty treats. Keep reading for all you ever wanted to know about avocados and the recipe!
5 Fun Facts
- For 10 to 15 years the Super Bowl and Cinco de Mayo played tag with each other in the statistics department for top consumption of avocados, but in 2012 the Fourth of July beat them both!
- You may have thought avocados were a vegetable, but they’re really a fruit – technically a berry even!
- The creamy texture and healthy fats make avocados a great butter substitution. In the right ratios, you can use avocado for healthier chocolate chip cookies, banana bread and brownies. Check out the Beet Box blog for an amazing cookie/mousse recipe!
- All avocados are picked by hand. Avocado trees are high, so a 16-foot pole with a pouch and clipper at one end is used to pick the out-of-reach fruit.
- If you have a latex allergy, talk to your doctor before adding avocado to your diet. People with a serious allergy to latex may also experience symptoms after eating avocado.
5 Health Benefits
- Avocados are one of the only fruits that contain heart-healthy monounsaturated fat (the good-for-you fat) that helps boost good (HDL) cholesterol and lowers bad (LDL) cholesterol.
- An avocado has more potassium than an avocado. An avocado has 975 milligrams of potassium, while a banana only provides 487 milligrams.
- There are 10 grams of fiber in one medium-sized avocado.
- Avocados also contribute nearly 20 vitamins, minerals and beneficial plant compounds that can contribute to the nutrient quality of your diet.
- One cup of fresh avocado (150 grams) added to a salad of romaine lettuce, spinach, and carrots increased absorption of carotenoids from this salad between 200-400%. This research result makes perfect sense to us because carotenoids are fat-soluble and would be provided with the fat they need for absorption from the addition of avocado. To make these cookies you will need: 3/4 cup avocado (very ripe, but not brown) 1/2 cup coconut sugar 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder 1 egg 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 teaspoon vanilla pinch of salt 1/2 cup dark chocolate chips
Preheat oven to 325°. Using a hand mixer or food processor, whip the avocado with the coconut sugar until creamy. Add in the egg and vanilla and mix until it is well incorporated. Add in cocoa powder, baking soda and salt and whip until all ingredients are smooth. Stir in the chocolate chips by hand. On a parchment lined cookie sheet, place tablespoonfuls of cookie batter about 1-2 inches apart. Using the back of a spoon or your fingers, slightly flatten the cookies. Bake for 10-12 minutes. Keep in the refrigerator for 4-5 days.