National Chocolate Chip Day!

By: Tayler Glenn

It’s National Chocolate Chip Day, so what better way to celebrate than to whip up something with those heavenly little morsels! Check out the TLS-approved, healthy versions of your favorite chocolate fixes below!

The flavor of chocolate chips is simply intoxicating which means it’s easy to get a little chocolate wasted and knock yourself off track! There’s a happy medium between deprivation and overindulgence, and we’re going to lead you right to it with our favorite chocolate-based recipes below:

Cookie Dough Energy Bites

national chocolate chip day

 

These delicious Cookie Dough Energy Bites are a few steps up from your usual store-bought cookie dough. Plus, the no-bake recipe means they’re super easy to make! Just whip them up + store them in the fridge (if they make it that far!).

Serves: Makes 13 servings

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Ingredients:

  • ½ cup almond butter
  • ¼ cup honey
  • ½ cup chopped almonds
  • 2 servings TLS Shake – Vanilla
  • 2 Tbsp. dark chocolate chips
  • Nutmeg

Method:

  • Combine almond butter, honey, almonds, TLS Shake, and chocolate chips in a medium bowl
  • Mix well.
  • Roll into thirteen balls, 1-inch in diameter.
  • Dust with nutmeg
  • Store in fridge

 

Reeses Cookies

national chocolate chip day

 

These soft, sweet cookies swap flour for quinoa + maple syrup for processed sugar, making them a surprisingly healthy National Chocolate Chip Day dessert! They’re perfect for a quick energy boost to hold you over until dinner and keep you from sugary, fatty office treats. And, because this recipe yields 24 cookies, there’s enough to share!

Serves: Makes 24 servings

Prep Time: 45-60 minutes

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups cooked quinoa
  • ½ cup almond butter
  • 5 Tbsp. pure maple syrup
  • 1 dash sea salt
  • 1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
  • 1 large egg
  •  cup dark chocolate chips
  • 1/4 cup salted peanuts, crushed

Method: 

  • Preheat oven to 350° F.
  • Lightly coat two large baking sheets with spray.
  • Set aside.
  • Combine quinoa, almond butter, maple syrup, salt, extract, and egg in a large bowl
  • Mix well.
  • Fold in chocolate chips
  • Gently mix until blended.
  • Drop by rounded Tbsp. onto greased baking sheets.
  • Top with crushed peanuts + gently press into dough.
  • Bake for 18 to 22 minutes, or until set.
  • Allow to cool for 5 minutes on baking sheets
  • Remove from sheets and cool completely on a wire rack

 

Vanilla Cookie Dough Dip

national chocolate chip day

 

This is one of our favorite takes on edible cookie dough, and this healthy protein powder recipe requires only 5 simple ingredients! Plus, it’s gluten-free, paleo, plant-based friendly, and ready in 5 minutes! Deliciousness you don’t have to wait for? Count us in! Pair this with your favorite fruit for a delicious, decadent snack!

Serves: Makes 1-2 servings

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Ingredients: 

  • 5 Tbsp TLS Shake – Vanilla
  • Tbsp coconut flour
  • Pinch of sea salt
  • 2 Tbsp + 2 tsp unsweetened applesauce
  • 1 tsp unsweetened vanilla almond milk
  • 1/2 Tbsp. dairy-free chocolate chips

Method:

  • In a medium bowl, whisk together the protein, coconut flour, and sea salt
  • Add in the applesauce, almond mil,  and butter extract.
  • Stir until fluffy and mixed.
  • Stir in the chocolate chips.
  • Serve with apples or your favorite fruit right away, or chill in the fridge for 10-15 minutes!

Chocolate Caramel Apple Chips

national chocolate chip day

 

Have you seen the size of a caramel apple? No doubt they’re beautiful and absolutely delicious, but eating one of those mammoth sugar bombs in one sitting is a blood-sugar disaster, never mind feeding one entire apple to a kid! This healthier take eliminates a ton of sugar but doesn’t sacrifice taste! It’s all about balance, right?

Serves: Makes 8 servings

Prep Time: 90 minutes

Ingredients:

  • 1 large apple
  • 1 tsp. cinnamon
  • Half of a 14-ounce package caramel candies, unwrapped
  • 1 Tbsp. water
  • 1 tsp. shortening
  • 1/2 cup dark chocolate candy melts
  • 1/8 cup crushed almonds

Method:

  • Heat the oven to 250 degrees F.
  • Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
  • Core + cut the apple into very thin slices, about 1/8 inch thick.
  • Arrange on the prepared baking sheet (don’t overlap)
  • Sprinkle with cinnamon, + bake for 45 minutes
  • Slide the parchment onto a cooling rack.
  • Let cool completely.
  • In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine the caramels and water.
  • Heat, stirring constantly, until melted and smooth.
  • Drizzle the caramel over the apple chips + set aside
  • Place the white chocolate bits and shortening in a medium microwave-safe bowl.
  • Microwave on high in 15-second bursts, stirring until melted and smooth.
  • Drizzle over apples + set aside
  • Repeat with dark chocolate, let cool
  • Store in an airtight container for up to a week.

 

Happy National Chocolate Chip Day!