Carob Chip Cookies

All-purpose flour, chocolate chips, brown sugar, granulated sugar, eggs, butter, vanilla and baking soda. These eight ingredients are the components used to make traditional chocolate chip cookies.

If you have pre-diabetes or diabetes you might find yourself thinking that chocolate chip cookies are off limits. As a dietitian and diabetes educator I am a true believer that there is a way to fit all foods into a healthy diet. Eating certain foods in moderation as well as modifying recipes makes fitting in favorite foods a reality and not just a daydream.

A healthy and diabetes-friendly cookie recipe

This article modifies the traditional chocolate chip cookie using carob chips, SPLENDA, and almond flour. If you choose to eat a cookie once in a while you can feel better about your decision.

Nutrition facts for 1 traditional chocolate chip cookie:

• 100 calories
• 5 g fat
• 13 g carb
• 8 g sugar
• 0.5 g fiber
• 0.7 g protein

Modifying the traditional chocolate chip cookie recipe to use carob chips, SPLENDA, and almond flour reduces the calories, carb, and sugar content of the classic chocolate chip cookie. The carob chip cookie recipe cuts the carb amount by more than 40 percent!

What are carob chips?

Carob chips come from the pod of the carob tree. A carob tree is a medium size evergreen green that originates in the eastern Mediterranean. Carob chips taste similar to chocolate chips, however carob is less bitter and has a natural sweetness in comparison to chocolate. One tablespoon of carob chips contains half the carbs (5 g carb) as one tablespoon of semi-sweet chocolate chips (10 g carb). Carob chips can be replaced one to one for chocolate chips. Carob chips are vegan, making them a nice alternative for someone on a diary free diet.

What are SPLENDA sugar blends?

SPLENDA Brown Sugar and Sugar Blends are made with real brown sugar and real sugar, but contain half the calories and carbohydrate of regular brown sugar and sugar. These blends have been formulated specifically for baking.

What is almond flour?

Almond flour is made from ground, blanched almonds with the skin removed. One-fourth cup almond flour contains 6 g carb, while ¼ cup all-purpose flour contains 24 g carb.

Recipe for diabetes-friendly carob chip cookies

Yield: 5 dozen cookies

Ingredients:

• 1 ¼ cup all-purpose flour
• 1 cup almond flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup butter, softened
• 6 tablespoons SPLENDA Sugar Blend
• 6 tablespoons SPLENDA Brown Sugar Blend
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 large eggs
• 12 oz vegan carob chips

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit
2. Combine flour, salt, and baking soda in bowl
3. Using electric mixer, mix butter, SPLENDA Sugar Blends, and vanilla extract until creamy
4. Mix in eggs, one at a time
5. Gradually add in flour mixture
6. Portion cookies onto greased baking sheet using tablespoon
7. Bake cookies for 9 to 11 minutes
8. Let cookies cool on cooling rack
9. Enjoy!

Nutrition facts for 1 carob chip cookie:

• 82 calories
• 5.3 g fat
• 7.4 g carb
• 4 g sugar
• 0 g fiber
• 1.1 g protein

Do you have a favorite recipe that you have modified? Please share your creations with the Type 2 Diabetes community in the Recipes section.