Almond chocolate chip cookies

makes 24 mini cookies
prep time: 5 minutes
cook time: 11 minutes

ingredients:

• 3 TB sweetener of choice 
• 2 tb earth balance (or butter)
• 1 tb unsweetened applesauce
• 1 egg
• 1 tsp vanilla  extract
• 1 1/3 C. almond meal/flour 
• 1 scoop vanilla protein powder
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp baking soda
• 1/4 c chocolate chips (special dark)

directions:

1. preheat oven to 375 degrees.
2. in a stand mixer or using a hand mixer, mix Sweetener and butter until just combined.
3. add applesauce, egg, and vanilla and mix until just combined.
4. in a separate bowl, combine almond flour, protein powder, salt, and baking soda.
5. with mixer on low, slowly add almond flour mixture to the bowl. mix until just combined.
6. fold in chocolate chips.
7. drop 1” balls of batter onto a cookie sheet lined with a silicone mat, cooking spray, or parchment paper. flatten cookies just slightly with a spatula because they will not spread much.
8. bake for 11 minutes.
9. let cool before eating, store extras in an airtight container.