Chewy chocolate cookies with a cold glass of milk. YUM! If you’re like me, chocolate is a MUST, not just a want. My family loves chocolate cookies so I decided we needed to make our favorite dessert just a bit (or a lot) healthier. 

These chocolate tahini cookies have all the goodness of a regular chocolate cookie, without all the ‘badness’ of animal products, processed flour, etc. So let’s dive in and see what makes this Planted recipe so good. 

The Health Benefits Of This Recipe

You wouldn’t think there would be health benefits to this recipe because, well, they are COOKIES. But alas, there are many health benefits to these plant-based chocolate tahini cookies. 

By using chia seeds instead of eggs, tahini instead of butter, oats instead of flour, and cacao powder instead of chocolate, we ramp up the vitamin and mineral content while we lower the sugar, processed carb, and saturated fat content. 

The Health Benefits Of Tahini

1. Consuming sesame seeds may decrease your risk of certain conditions, such as type 2 diabetes and heart disease. This may be due to its monounsaturated fat content as well as its antioxidant content. 

2. Tahini contains antioxidants called lignans, which help prevent free radical damage in your body and may reduce your risk of disease. 

3. Tahini contains compounds that may improve brain health and decrease your risk of developing neurodegenerative diseases like dementia. Interestingly enough, Sesame seed antioxidants can cross the blood-brain barrier, meaning they can leave your bloodstream and directly affect your brain and central nervous system. 

Sources:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30475504/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5331469/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27074618/

The Health Benefits Of Cacao Powder

Cacao is abundant in flavanols, which have potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. However, processing and heating cocoa can cause it to lose its beneficial properties. It’s also often treated with alkaline to reduce bitterness, which results in a 60% decrease in flavanol content. This is why your cacao powder matters. You want the best bang for your buck and in my humble opinion, that would be this brand.

1. Cacao is one of the richest sources of polyphenols, which are naturally occurring antioxidants found in foods like fruits, vegetables, tea, chocolate and wine. Polyphenols may help prevent blood clots, reduce blood sugar levels, and lower heart disease risk, among some other benefits still being studied.

2. The polyphenols found in cacao powder may reduce your risk of neurodegenerative diseases by improving brain function and blood flow.

3. Cacao may help regulate the use of energy, reduce one's appetite and inflammation and increase fat oxidation and feelings of fullness.

Sources:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28824916/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24259381/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24000103/
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/11-brain-foods

Can You Freeze These Cookies?

Yes! I actually enjoy them more when they’re frozen so I can dip them in a fresh cup of coffee or hot cocoa. They freeze extremely well, will last for up to 6 months, and when you’re ready to enjoy them, they don’t even need to thaw out (they may just be a bit chewier in texture when cold). 

What You’ll Need To Make Chocolate Tahini Cookies

• Baking Sheet
• Oven

• Chia seeds
• Tahini (I like this brand)
• Pure maple syrup
• Oats 
• Almond flour 
• Cacao powder
• Baking powder
• Dark chocolate chips (EnjoyLife are my favorite)

How To make Chocolate Tahini Cookies

First, preheat your oven to 350F.

Prepare your chia eggs in a large bowl by mixing 2 tbsp milled chia seeds (or milled flaxseed) with 6 tbsp of water. Leave this mixture for 10 minutes to set.

In the same bowl, add the tahini and maple syrup to mix with the chia eggs. 

Then add in the almond flour, oat flour, cacao, and baking powder. Mix well to combine, then fold in the chocolate chips.

Scoop out the batter and arrange onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
Press the cookies down into round discs and bake for 15 minutes.

Leave to cool completely. The cookies will firm up as they cool.  

Chocolate Tahini Cookies

Chewy, chocolaty heaven awaits! These cookies are made using all plant-based, vegan ingredients but do not sacrifice in taste. Tahini contributes chewiness while oat flour makes them light and fluffy. 

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 15 minutes mins

Total Time 25 minutes mins

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Servings 8

Equipment

• Oven
• Baking Sheet

Ingredients

  

• 2 chia eggs 2 tbsp milled chia seeds + 6 tbsp water
• 2/3 cup tahini the runnier, the better
• 1/2 cup pure maple syrup
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 cup oat flour ground oats
• 5 tbsp cacao powder
• ¼ cup almond flour
• 1/2 cup dark chocolate chips

Instructions

 

• Preheat your oven to 350F°.
• Prepare your chia eggs in a large bowl by mixing 2 tbsp milled chia seeds (or milled flaxseed) with 6 tbsp of water. Leave for 10 minutes to set.
• In the same bowl, add together the tahini and maple syrup to mix with the chia eggs.
• Add in the almond flour, oat flour, cacao, and baking powder. Mix well to combine, then fold in the chocolate chips.
• Scoop out the batter and arrange onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
• Press the cookies down into round discs and bake for 15 minutes.
• Leave to cool completely. The cookies will firm up as they cool.

Video

Keyword Cookies