Healthy M & Ms cookie with Quinoa Flour

Adapted from :
http://www.semihealthyblog.com/2012/01/semi-healthy-m-cookies.html

*updated 9 November 2013 - This is my version after 3 tweakings and bakings.

Ingredients (i double them to bake in bulk)
1 cup (226 gms) crisco -i used butter instead
1/2 cup brown sugar
2/3 cup sugar
4 TBS milk 
2 TBS vanilla
2 TBS chia seeds + 6 TBS warm water = chia gel (let sit for 5 minutes to get thick)
Dry ingredients:
3 cup whole wheat flour - i used oat flour
1/2 cup flaxseed flour - i used quinoa flour
2 tsp salt
2 tsp baking soda
1 cup dark chocolate m&ms or smarties
1/2 cup of toasted sunflower seeds. You can add more nuts/seeds of any kind. I will increase to 1 cup next time. I was baking for a boy that may not tolerate nuts so i just used up my sunflower seeds

How To:

1. Cream together sugars and butter. Add milk, vanilla and chia gel. (make sure all ingredients are room temperature)
2. In a separate bowl, mix dry ingredients (not m&ms) together. I made my flour on the Thermomix Speed 9 for 9seconds or until fine.
3. Slowly add dry ingredients and carefully stir. Add seeds/nuts
4. Either scoop cookies onto greased baking sheet if you are baking immediately, i put 3 M&Ms or smarties on each cookie. You can opt for just 2. I put the separately like this cause i don't like it to get crushed in the batter.
5. Bake 10-15 minutes at 325 degrees F. 

How I love creating healthy version of cookies, cakes and anything sinful. My son eats snacks that are mostly made from scratch at home. If i do not have time, i will get him store bought treats. But nothing beats having fresh cookies in the lunch box.

I found this recipe where it does not use any egg or flour. Not that i am against it but i love using chia seeds. And this is another method of replacing eggs in baking. - chia gel!

i modified the recipe as it calls for flaxseed meal and wholemeal. I used oat flour and quinoa flour. The distinct smell of quinoa is just lovely. I used the thermomix to mill them into flour.

 

This is my chia gel after sitting in 3 TBS of water for 10 mintues. 

 

 

Unlike the recipe where it mix the M & Ms in the batter, i individually place them as i do not want them squashed

 

 

The recipe was abit sweet. Or i might have put too many M & M on each cookie. But it taste really nice and light. And so good for the kids. I also need to bake it longer as it was too soft. It took me around 15 minutes of baking time. I think it is due to the type of flour i have used in this recipe.

Verdict, the kids love it and i will definitely make more of them soon

 

Oops upside down pic of my smarties cookies. I have adapted this recipe to the right taste/texture.