Healthy Recipes That Use Chocolate Chips
Craving something sweet but don't want the guilt after indulging? We've put together a list of five recipes for a healthy version of your favorite chocolate chip treats!
1. Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Frozen Yogurt
I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream! Or … maybe some frozen yogurt to cut down the fat and calories. Here's a super simple recipe for healthy chocolate chip peanut butter frozen yogurt:
Ingredients:
- 3 frozen bananas, sliced
- 1 cup Greek yogurt
- 1 cup peanut butter
- 1/2 cup mini dark chocolate chips
Instructions:
- Combine all ingredients except the chocolate chips into a food processor or high-speed blender.
- Pour into a pan. Mix in dark chocolate chips and smooth into an even layer.
- Freeze for 2 hours or until frozen, but still a little soft for scooping.
- Scoop into a bowl and top with your favorite toppings.
Check out BuzzFeed for more flavorful frozen yogurt recipes!
2. Chocolate Chip Cookies
This recipe from Chelsea's Messy Apron claims to be the "best ever" healthy chocolate chip cookie. Make 18 cookies with no butter, white flour, or refined white sugar.
Ingredients:
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 1 large egg
- 4 tablespoons dark brown sugar, lightly packed
- 1/2 cup coconut oil
- 1½ cups oat flour (regular oats blended in a blender)
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- Pinch of salt
- 1/2 cup dark chocolate chips
- Coarse sea salt (optional)
Instructions:
- For oat flour, take regular old-fashioned oats or quick oats and blend them until they resemble a flour or powder in a blender or food processor.
- Combine the vanilla extract, large egg, and brown sugar in a bowl. Melt the coconut oil and let it cool slightly before adding to the bowl. Beat everything together until just combined.
- Stir in the oat flour (measured AFTER blending), baking soda, cinnamon and salt.
- Stir until just combined and then fold in the dark chocolate chips.
- Chill the dough for at least one hour and preheat the oven to 350°F.
- Using a cookie scoop (packed tightly), scoop out balls of the dough onto a parchment-lined cookie sheet. Press a few more chocolate chips in the tops if desired.
- Bake for 8–10 minutes or until lightly browned around the edges.
- Remove and keep on the baking sheet for another 2 minutes before moving to a wire cooling rack.
3. Chocolate Chip Banana Bread
Moist and flavorful, you've got to try this healthy chocolate chip banana bread recipe from Well Plated by Erin.
Ingredients:
- 1½ cups mashed overripe bananas (3 large)
- 1 large egg
- 1/3 cup plain Greek yogurt
- 2 tablespoons canola oil
- 1/3 cup light brown sugar
- 1/4 cup pure maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1½ cups Bob's Red Mill® Organic Ivory Wheat Flour
- 3/4 cups semi-sweet or dark chocolate chips
Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Lightly grease an 8-by-4-inch loaf pan and set aside.
- Mash bananas in the bottom of a large bowl until smooth. Whisk in the egg, then the yogurt and oil. Whisk in brown sugar, maple syrup and vanilla. Sprinkle the baking soda, salt and cinnamon then stir. Gently stir in flour until barely combined then fold in the chocolate chips.
- Scrape the mixture into the prepared pan and bake on middle rack for 50–60 minutes. Let cool for 15 minutes then remove from pan.
4. Chocolate Chip Muffins
These healthy bakery style chocolate chip muffins are sugar-free, gluten-free and butter-free in just three steps!
Ingredients:
- 2 cups oat flour (refer to step 1 from chocolate chip cookie recipe)
- 1/2 cup mini chocolate chips
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 1/4 teaspoons cinnamon
- Pinch ground ginger (optional)
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2/3 cup maple syrup
- 2 large eggs, room temperature
- 1/3 cup coconut oil, olive oil, OR unsalted butter, melted
- 1 cup unsweetened applesauce
- 1/2 cup unsweetened almond milk
Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 450°F. Line a muffin tin with 6 paper or foil liners; set aside.
- In a large bowl combine the oat flour, mini chocolate chips, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, ginger (if using), and salt; whisk well to combine. In a separate bowl whisk together the maple syrup, eggs, oil (or butter), applesauce, and milk; mix well until thoroughly combined. Gradually add the wet mixture into the dry mixture, stirring until combined. The batter will be quite thin — not to worry!
- Divide the mixture among the prepared muffins. Bake for 10 minutes, then reduce the heat to 400° and continue baking for another 10 minutes. Remove pan from oven and allow the muffins to cool completely in the muffin tin.
For more in-depth instructions visit: Baker by Nature.
5. Chocolate Chip Blondies
This no bake recipe serves about 6 blondies to satisfy your (and your friends') craving in the simplest method!
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons coconut flour, sifted
- 1/2 cup mashed banana
- 1/4 cup peanut butter
- 1/4 cup honey or maple syrup
- 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 2 tablespoons mini chocolate chips
Instructions:
- Line an 8-by-4-inch loaf pan with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, mash the banana, add peanut butter, honey and vanilla. Once the mixture is cohesive and creamy, add in the coconut flour and combine well. Finally add in chocolate chips and combine.
- Spread mixture into a lined pan with your hands, pressing down and spreading evenly, to about 1/2-inch thickness. Refrigerate for 1–2 hours until firm.
- Picking up the parchment paper, remove from pan and cut into individual squares.
- You can wrap them individually or in an airtight container and refrigerate them for a week. They can also be wrapped individually and frozen for up to a month.
Watch a step-by-step video and get more recipe details from Laura Fuentes.
*In August 2017, we tried out all of these recipes and shared our experience with our Instagram followers. Follow us @njminsurance for genuine insight on these healthy alternatives! Comment with which recipe you're interested in trying!
