Photo: Emma Chapman and Elsie Larson

The Stealthily Dressed-Up Classic
There's a little bit of whole wheat flour in this recipe—but you'd never know it, promise Emma Chapman and Elsie Larson in their new cookbook, A Beautiful Mess Weekday Weekend. What the ingredient does add is a bit of nutrition (it has more vitamins than white flour), as does the smattering of sesame seeds on top of the cookies (they're a good source of calcium, iron and zinc). And using dark chocolate chips instead of semi-sweet chocolate means you get additional health benefits. Sprinkling each cookie with coarse sea salt adds a new dimension of flavor and a bit of crunch.

Get the recipe: Sesame, Sea Salt and Dark Chocolate Cookies

Photo: Emma Chapman and Elsie Larson

A Delicious Combo of 2 Familiar Treats, Minus the Sugar Overload
If you love banana bread and peanut butter cookies, these treats have your number. Instead of using bananas, though, the recipe—from Chapman and Larson—calls for a ripe plantain. The thicker-skinned fruit is less sweet than its more familiar relation (especially the overripe ones we tend to use in banana bread) and adds a subtle flavor that's an ideal match for nut butter. Plus, its texture helps keep the center of the cookies soft and chewy, even well after they've been baked. You can leave them plain or, depending on how healthy you're feeling, add some chopped nuts or chocolate chips.

Get the recipe: Peanut Butter and Plantain Cookies

Photo: Christopher Testani

A Get-Up-and-Go Spin on Grandma's Specialty
While Curtis Stone refers to these as "breakfast cookies," we'd happily eat them as a snack or dessert. They're soft, sweet, hefty and would be just as tasty with a glass of milk or a cup of coffee. And they're no slouch in the health department, either, with two full cups of walnuts (which are rich in omega-3 essential fatty acids), as well as other nutritious ingredients, including whole wheat flour, flaxseed, orange zest, low-fat yogurt and dates.

Get the recipe: Breakfast Cookies

Photo: Pure Sweets

Proof That Uncomplicated Doesn't Mean Uninteresting
The ingredient list for these fast and easy treats is so short, you may do a double-take: almond flour, maple syrup, almond butter, vanilla extract and dark chocolate. Together, they produce a cookie that's simple yet chewy and rich, with a toasty flavor. And there's no white flour or sugar in sight.

Get the recipe: Dingo Cookies
Published 11/13/2017