chunky wholewheat dark chocolate chunk cookies (vegan)

Let's talk about important things. And by talk, I mean me sitting behind a computer, clickity-clacking away at some words my invisible internet friends will read. And by important things I mean cookies. Duh, what else? 

I have been on the search for a healthy chocolate chip cookie that actually resembled a chocolate chip cookie for forever. It's like my heart's desire. My life's purpose.

Turns out, it's pretty dang hard to make good cookies without eggs or dairy. I've tried all kinds of fats (banana, yogurt, date paste, peanut butter) and nothing comes close. They always turn out kind of… Spongey? Muffiny? Definitely not anywhere near what you want your cookies to be. 

Then all of a sudden, I was like "YOOOO. Why have I not used oil?" I was reading about healthy oils the other day (I'm a health-food geek.) and canola oil is one of the best out there! It has the least amount of saturated fats- the bad kind- even less than olive oil! It's packed full of unsaturated fats and good-for-you fatty acids. Let's get on this thaaaaaaang.

I rushed into the kitchen to give my idea ago and produced these great nuggets of my dreams. These cookies nailed my chocolate chip cookie craving in the BUTT. I may or may not have devoured one or three straight from the oven all cave-woman-like. I get so excited when I have a success in the kitchen, I just can't help myself! 

These cookies are chunky, puffy, chewy, and NOT cakey. There's a difference between puffy and cakey, you know. Not really sure what it IS exactly, but there is difference. My family loved these cookies {although they weren't really fans of the 85% chocolate I used, making weird faces like they'd just sucked on a lemon rind.} The weird thing was, my dad claimed he'd love the cookie plain. Like wholewheat cookies without anything in them? I don't really understand. 

Bottom line, MAKE THESE COOKIES. They're kind of amazing, hearty, and vegan. The best thing about vegan baking is that you can eat the dough and feel no shame. Also breakfast. Cookies. For. Breakfast. HEYOOO. 

chunky wholewheat dark chocolate chunk cookies (vegan)

1 flax egg (1.5 tbsp. ground flax seed + 2 tbsp. water) or regular egg for non-vegan

6 tbsp. maple syrup

1 tsp. vanilla extract

2 tbsp. non-dairy milk

1/4 c. canola oil

3 tbsp. pure white sugar

1 1/2 c. wholewheat flour

1 1/2 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. sea salt

1/4 c. chopped dark chocolate (I used 85%)

Preheat oven to 350ºF and grease or line a cookie sheet with parchment paper. In a large bowl, whisk the flax egg, maple syrup, oil, sugar, milk, and vanilla. Add flour, salt, and baking powder. Stir until smooth and combined. Fold in chocolate chunks and stir until evenly distributed throughout. Scoop batter onto prepared cookie sheet and bake for about 10-15 minutes or until golden brown. Let cool before removing to a wire rack with a spatula. Yields about 12 cookies.