Walnut and Chocolate Chunk Cookies
There’s no right or wrong time of the year for chocolate chunk cookies. From enjoying with a cup of coffee on a cold evening to sampling when the sun is shining while sitting in the garden, homemade cookies are forever. And these tasty cookies have a touch of crunch in them due to the walnuts! Let’s see how you make Walnut and Chocolate Chunk Cookies.
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Walnut health benefits
Walnuts bring an impressive extra flavour to these cookies but there’s also some solid reasons for getting them into your diet. Walnuts have some good health benefits to consider.
For starters, walnuts have a higher number of antioxidants than any other common nut. This is due to the Vitamin E and plant compounds called polyphenols that are high in the nut. This helps to offset damage to the body caused by free radicals and also fight ‘bad’ LDL cholesterol.
Another benefit is that they are a source of Omega 3, known as ALA when it comes from plants. This can reduce the chance of getting heart disease. Walnuts can help with healthy guts, decrease inflammation and even help with appetite control.
Recipe tips
No walnuts?
But what if you aren’t a fan of walnuts? That’s okay, because there are other nuts you can substitute in for the same tasty cookies but without your least favourite nut involved.
Top of the list is peanuts – these also work if you are allergic to walnuts because they aren’t actually a tree nut but a closer relative to beans and peas. You can also use some seeds like pumpkin or sunflower seeds as these are larger and offer a similar texture.
What is vegetable shortening?
If you are asking ‘what is vegetable shortening’ then it is okay because I have the answer. It is a solid white fat that is made from vegetable oils.
If you are in the UK, you can find it under brand names like Flora White, Trex or Cookeen. For US readers, look for something called Earth Balance while an Australian example is called Copha.
Don’t switch it for vegetable oil alone as it will make the mixture too wet. If all else fails, go for lard – but not butter.
Walnut and Chocolate Chunk Cookies
A simple and easy way to combine walnuts with chocolate in tasty cookies that you can make in batches!
Ingredients
- ½ c. vegetable shortening
- ½ c. unsalted butter
- 1 c. granulated sugar
- 1 c. brown sugar, packed
- 2 large eggs
- 2 t. vanilla extract
- 3 c. all-purpose flour
- 1 t. baking powder
- 1 t. baking soda (bicarbonate of soda)
- ½ t. salt
- 1 c. chocolate chips
- 3-oz. dark chocolate bar, chopped
- 1 c. walnuts, chopped
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375F / 190 C. Line a 20 x 30cm baking tray with greaseproof or parchment paper.
- Cream the shortening and butter with the sugars in a large glass mixing bowl. Mix in the eggs and vanilla until combined.
- Mix in flour, baking powder and baking soda and salt until combined
- Fold in the chocolate chips, chopped chocolate and walnuts until combined.
- Use a large cookie dough scoop to make 24 balls of dough. Place six on the sheet with 1-2 inches between then flatten with the bottom of a glass.
- Place in the oven for 10-12 minutes until golden brown and cooked then allow to cook a little before serving. Repeat for the rest of the batch!
Notes
Make smaller cookies with a small dough scoop (yields 48 cookies).
