Valentine’s Day Recipe: Black Bean Chocolate Chili Cherry Cookies

With Valentine’s day around the corner, I was inspired to bake a little something for my sweet-toothed man.  Being me, I didn’t want to just make him anything…I wanted to make him something that not only tasted great but, was also healthy!  And, although there are more and more gluten-free, no refined sugar added and eggless baking recipes out there…to say that all (even most) of them are delicious would be flat out lying.  Well, let’s just say that I am thankful for Canadian Choice Wholesalers (CCW) who have come up with this BRILLIANT and easy-to-make recipe!  These cookies are moist, rich, fudgy and filling, with just a tickle of spice that is oh-so unexpected and palette-warming-ly welcomed!  So go ahead and treat yourself and the ones you love with this GUILT-FREE healthy recipe!!

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Black Bean Chocolate Chili Cherry Cookies

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Ingredients

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1 1/2 cups black beans, very soft (or one 15 oz. can)
2 Tbsp coconut oil
1/3 cup Dagoba cocoa powder
1/4 tsp Cape Herb & Spice Atlantic sea salt (coarsely ground), plus more for sprinkling
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
1/3 cup organic honey or organic maple syrup
2 Tbsp TruRoots Chia seeds
1 tsp Vanilla extract
1/3 cup chopped Dagoba dark chocolate (80% of higher)
1/4 cup chopped organic dried cherries (or organic dried cranberries)

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Instructions

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Preheat oven to 375°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.  Mix chia seeds, honey/maple syrup, and vanilla in a bowl and set aside.  Place drained and well-rinsed beans, coconut oil, cocoa, salt and cayenne in a food processor and blend until well combined. Add maple syrup and chia mixture and pulse to incorporate.  The batter will be quite liquid-y, but still hold together.  Remove blade from the food processor and add chopped chocolate and cherries.  Fold to incorporate.  Spoon cookie batter onto lined baking sheet.  Using the back of the spoon, flatten top of cookies slightly, as they will not spread when baking.  Sprinkle with coarse sea salt (important!).  Bake for 15 minutes until the edges are browning.  Cool and eat.  Store in the fridge.

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Healthy Tidbit

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Chia seeds are very high in omega-3 essential fatty acids, are rich in fiber, antioxidants and proteins.  In fact, 2 tbsp of chia seeds provides 5 grams of protein!  Furthermore, the mucilaginous gel that forms around chia seeds when they are immersed in water, prevents the quick breakdown of carbohydrates into simple sugars, thus, preventing spikes in blood sugar levels!