Chickpea-nut Butter Cookies & A Tropical Traditions Giveaway

I was pretty excited when I was selected by Tropical Traditions to review their Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil.   I'm not a dietician, so I won't get into the merits of coconut oil in my post, but I will say that after many years of reading and research on the subject, I have no problems using it when cooking for my family and actually, it is one of my preferred oils.  I was very impressed with the quality of this oil, it is top of the line and is so luxurious in every way (I love simply rubbing it into my skin... and it smells so good).

I'll post some more info on coconut oil later in this post, but I want to move on the cookies!

This recipe is adapted from my friend Heather's adapted Weight Watchers recipe and with all of the changes that have been made, it's even healthier and I was astonished when Chelsea came back for a third one! I found these a bit too healthy tasting for me (I think I might use regular whole wheat flour to see if I like them better), but the fact that Chelsea ate them like candy was so nice to see.  These cookies are soft and if you find the dough too soft to roll into balls, just drop them like I did... not all cookies have to be perfectly round :)  I loved the oh so mild coconut flavour the coconut oil imparted on the cookies, if you didn't know it was an ingredient you probably wouldn't notice, but I could sense it's presence.

Chickpea-nut Butter Cookies

Makes approx. 30 large cookies

1/2 cup canned chickpeas, drained and rinsed plus about 2 tbsp water

1 cup peanut butter (I used Skippy)

1/4 cup Virgin Coconut Oil

3/4 cup packed light brown sugar

1 tsp pure vanilla extract

1 lg egg

1 cup whole grain spelt flour (I had to use 2 cups because I had used too much water with the chickpeas, so start at 1 cup, but feel free to add more until the dough gets to a consistency where you could roll it)

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips (optional)

In a small food processor or blender, purée chickpeas with water set aside.  In stand mixer fitted with paddle attachment, beat together the peanut butter, coconut oil and brown sugar.  When light and fluffy, add the egg, vanilla and chickpea puree.  Add the flour, baking soda and salt and mix until combined.  Stir in chocolate chips (if using) by hand.  Drop by tablespoons (or roll into balls like traditional peanut butter cookies) onto an ungreased baking sheet, flatten tops slightly with a floured fork, and bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for 12 minutes.  Allow to cool 1 to 2 minutes on baking sheet before removing.  Allow to cool completely on wire racks and store in air-tight container.

For more information on coconut oil, and more specifically, what makes Tropical Traditions Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil so special, read on and watch the short video a bit further down...

Win 1 quart of  Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil!

Tropical Traditions is America's source for coconut oil. Their Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil is hand crafted in small batches by family producers, and it is the highest quality coconut oil they offer. You can read more about how virgin coconut oil is different from other coconut oils on their website: What is Virgin Coconut Oil? You can also watch the video they produced about Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil:

Tropical Traditions also carries other varieties of affordable high quality coconut oil. Visit their website to check on current sales, to learn about the many uses of coconut oil, and to read about all the  advantages of buying coconut oil online. Since the FDA does not want us to discuss the health benefits of coconut oil on a page where it is being sold or given away, here is the best website to read about the health benefits of coconut oil.

If you'd like to win a 1-quart (32 oz glass jar) of Tropical Traditions Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil, please fill out the Rafflecopter below.  Giveaway is open to Canadian & US residents only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclaimer: Tropical Traditions provided me with a free sample of this product to review, and I was under no obligation to review it if I so chose.  Nor was I under any obligation to write a positive review or sponsor a product giveaway in return for the free product.  If you order by clicking on any of my links and have never ordered from Tropical Traditions in the past, you will receive a free book on Virgin Coconut Oil, and I will receive a discount coupon for referring you.