Chocolate Spiderweb Cookies

These cookies might have been made healthier with whole wheat flour, Greek yogurt and flax seed, but they are still chewy, chocolatey-delicious and so much fun!

Today is a special day in the Kelly house, it’s two of my little guys’ birthdays!

Yup, I said birthdays.

No, I do not have twins.

As random as this sounds, I had my second little guy on my first little guy’s 2nd birthday! I guess it’s not the craziest thing in the world, but what are the chances, right?

And no, we didn’t plan it.  (Why would anyone plan that?)

It was a beautiful October day when my oldest turned 2.  It was sunny and cool and I was so excited to celebrate his special day.  I had about 2 weeks left to go before this baby was due and I really wanted to take advantage of the alone time with him.  And then, it happened. Those damn contractions.  I knew exactly what they felt like even though I was only allowed to have c-sections.  But I thought they’d pass since my scheduled c-section wasn’t for two more weeks.  Right? Wrong.

I had to leave my baby on his 2nd birthday.  I was a mess.  A huge, hormonal mess.  I prayed that I was wrong and they would immediately send me home.  I left the house for hospital at 11:30 A.M. and my oldest was born at 6:04 P.M.  I’ll be back in time by then.  I was sure.

But wouldn’t you know it, my second little guy decided it was time to meet us.  At 6:15 P.M.  Seriously?  How weird! My little guys were 2 years (and 11 minutes) apart.  Really strange.  But I was thrilled.  Two little blessings.

So now, fast forward and it’s their 9th and 11th birthdays.  I try to do something special for each of them separately and I started with these fun cookies.

Print

Spiderweb Chocolate Cookies

Course Dessert, treat

Servings 4 dozen cookies

Author Lauren Kelly Nutrition

Ingredients

• Cookies:
• 1 cup whole wheat flour
• 1 cups all purpose flour
• 1/2 cup cocoa powder
• 1/2 cup groundflax seed
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/2 cup butter room temperature
• 1 cup unrefined brown sugar
• 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
• 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1 egg
• Icing:
• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 1-2 teaspoons milk

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. In a medium bowl, combine flours, cocoa powder, flax seed, baking powder, baking soda, salt and cinnamon. Mix well and set aside.
3. In another medium bowl, cream the butter and sugars together until smooth. Add the applesauce, Greek yogurt, vanilla and egg. Mix well.
4. Add the flour mixture 1 cup at a time to the Greek yogurt combination. Mix until combined, be careful not to over mix.
5. Drop by rounded teaspoonfuls onto an ungreased nonstick baking tray.
6. Bake for 12-15 minutes until browned.
7. Cool on the tray for 5 minutes before moving to a wire rack to col completely.
8. While cookies are cooling, prepare icing by mixing powdered sugar and milk.
9. Pour icing into heavy duty plastic bag (it will be thick) and carefully snip the small end of the bag.
10. Squeeze icing out and make 3 concentric circles.
11. Next, trace lines outside each circle to form a spider web.

I am not the best cookie or cake decorator.  I am not the worst either, but I am definitely not the best.  The beauty of these cookies is that spiderwebs don’t have to be perfect, right?  Go ahead and mess up (like I did.) They still taste really awesome.

Not all cookies and treats have to be packed with unnecessary junk! And they can also be decorated really cute for Halloween.  Or your kids’ birthdays 🙂

Thank you to everyone who sent me kind and thoughtful messages about my melanoma.   I just got a call from my doctor saying the surgery was a success and I am all clear! Great news! Now go to your dermatologist and get your skin checked! That’s an order 😉