My son walked down the stairs as I was preparing for a fun Holiday Girls’ Night with a few of my lovely friends. He saw the plate of chocolate chip cookies and was giddy with excitement. He looked at me with big glowing eyes and a cute goofy 6-year-old smile and said, “Mommy, I am so proud of you!”

“Proud of me for what?” I said.

“I am so proud that you put out a whole plate of cookies for people to enjoy. You’ve never done that before!”

The love and sincerity was oozing from him and I chuckled to myself because he was right. I know waaay better than to leave a whole plate of cookies out with two children around who would be more than happy to help themselves to an endless number of cookies.It was adorable how nice he thought it was of me to do that. Little did he know the only reason I was putting out a plate of cookies within arm’s reach is because I was planning for a mainly kids-free night. My cuties did visit us a few times throughout the evening to disperse hugs and help themselves to a cookie or 2 of course 😉

The chocolate chip cookies were a hit! In fact, the most common response was that you would never know they are vegan, which was exactly what I was hoping for. A classic chocolate chip cookie that can instantly transport you back to childhood and is 100% plant based.

Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe

Adapted from OhSheGlows.com

Ingredients:

• 1 tbsp ground flaxseed meal
• 3 tbsp water
• 7 tbsp Earth Balance (1 stick)
• 1/4 cup cane sugar
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
• 1 tsp vanilla extract (or 8 drops of liquid vanilla stevia)
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/8 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 1/4 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cup semi-sweet dairy-free chocolate chips

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350F.

In a small bowl combine ground flaxseeds with 3 tablespoons of water. Stir and set aside.

In a large mixing bowl cream Earth Balance until light and fluffy. Add sugars to the mixing bowl and continue to beat for about 2 minutes.

Add flaxseed/water mixture and beat until combined. Add olive oil and vanilla to the mixing bowl and beat until mixed in.

Next, add salt, baking soda and cinnamon until mixed. Add flour and mix until combined. Stir in chocolate chips.

Drop 1 tbsp size balls of cookie dough spaced apart onto a baking sheet (I lined mine with a silpat).

Bake for approximately 10 to 12 minutes until light golden brown around the edges.

Yields: approximately 29 cookies (using 1 tbsp of dough per cookie)

To Print, Email, or Text Recipe click here.

Enjoy, and if Santa visits your house be sure to leave out a couple for him, with treats for the reindeer of course 😉

Do you have any special chocolate chip cookie memories you can share with us? Do you leave out cookies for Santa? What kind? What are your favorite holiday traditions?

With love & gratitude,
Wendy Irene