Surprise Ingredients!

Holiday season is upon us, here’s a great healthy dip to take to your next game or party, and you won’t feel guilty devouring it.  I like to bring it to potlucks and watch people dig in thinking they are splurging and then gauge their reaction when they realize it’s actually healthy, and made out of BEANS! 

I wish I could take credit for coming up with this but it is from one of my favorite blogs Chocolate Covered Katie.  If you are a dessert lover but are trying to make sure it’s healthy, check out Katie’s blog, you will love it!

This dip is high in protein, gluten-free, and it can even be sugar-free!

Cookie Dough Dip

• 1 1/2 cups chickpeas or white beans (1 can, drained) (250g)
• 1/8 tsp plus 1/16 tsp salt
• tiny bit over 1/8 tsp baking soda
• 2 tsp pure vanilla extract
• 1/4 cup nut butter (scroll back for a great almond butter recipe on the blog)
• up to 1/4 cup milk of choice, only if needed (I prefer almond)
• Sweetener (see note below, for amount)
• 1/3 cup chocolate chips
• 2 to 3 tbsp oats (or flaxmeal) (You can omit for a thinner dip.)

Add all ingredients (except for chocolate chips) to a good food processor (not blender), and blend until very smooth. Then mix in the chocolate chips.

Sweetener Notes: I used 2/3 cup brown sugar when I first made this for the party. Liquid sweeteners (agave, maple, etc.) are fine as well. You can easily get away with less sugar– some people will be perfectly fine with just 3 tbsp for the whole recipe!  (You can also use stevia, if you like the taste of stevia-sweetened desserts. Try 2-3 packets of stevia, and add more sweetener if needed. I wouldn’t recommend serving an all-stevia version to party guests, though.)

You can, of course, just eat this stuff by the spoonful.  For the party, I served it with graham crackers. But fresh fruit might also be nice.