Healthy Almond Nut Cookies

Why almonds

Almonds are high in phosphorus which is good for bones and teeth. They have more calcium that any other nut. They also have more fiber than any other nut. They contain more magnesium than spinach.

Try to eat organic almonds as nuts have high levels of pesticides.

Another reason to use almonds instead of peanuts is because of higher levels of aflatoxin, this is a carcinogenic mold that flourishes in the shell of peanuts. If you must choose peanuts choose Valencia peanuts as they are grown in a dryer climate where mold is less likely.

Lucy, my 7 year old daughter, and I experimented with a variation of the traditional peanut butter cookie recipe. We don't typically keep peanut butter in the house, much prefer almond butter so used the almond butter instead of peanut butter. I buy the whole foods "365" brand of organic smooth almond butter, it is in a glass jar. I also added chopped up organic raw almonds to the recipe.
So here is the recipe, try to use organic ingredients where you can:


Almond butter Cookies
Heat oven to 375 degrees fahrenheit
1/2 cup of butter at room temperature
1/2 cup of brown sugar
1/2 cup of white sugar
one egg
1 cup of almond butter
1/2 teaspoon of baking soda
1/2 teaspoon of salt, I use salted butter so leave this out.
1 teaspoon of vanilla
1 1/2 cups of all purpose flour
1 cup chopped raw almonds.

Beat butter and add 1/2 cup brown sugar and 1/2 cup white sugar
Beat for about 2 minutes, then add 1 cup of almond butter
Beat for a further 2 minutes
Then add egg and beat until well mixed.
Add 1/2 teaspoon vanilla

In a separate bowl mix 1 1/2 cups flour and 1/2 teaspoon baking soda. If you want to use the salt now would be the time to add it.

Add the dry ingredients to the butter/egg/sugar mixture and beat until combined. once combined add 1 cup chopped raw almonds.

I used 2 cookie trays for this mixture it makes about 24 cookies, 12 on each baking tray. I line the baking trays with unbleached parchment paper.
Then take pieces of the cookie dough, you are going to make balls with the dough, about 1 1/2" in diameter. Then push down gently with a fork, place with about an inch between then as they spread.
Place in heated oven and cook for about 10-12 minutes until just browned, do not over brown.