Her Coconess - Bittersweet Nibby Rocky Road - January 31, 2013

Chocolate of the Day: 

Her Coconess Confections
Bittersweet Nibby Rocky Road
Good +
Weight: 1.7 oz. (48.1 g.) in 1 package, piece
Calories: 240 calories (estimate) for 1 package
Cost: $?
Purchased from: Serendipity, San Carlos, CA

Today was Day #2 of Chocolate and Nibs Theme Week.

Cacao nibs added pleasant crunchy texture to an old favorite (rocky road) in this simply packaged Bittersweet Nibby Rocky Road from Her Coconess Confections (Belmont, CA).

With a great company name like Her Coconess I felt I should perform a small curtsy before trying a bite of this dark chocolate confection -- made with marshmallows, almonds and the aforementioned nibs. But, the last bite of this square seemed to have disappeared into my mouth before I got the chance.

Raw Decadence - Biscolinos! Coconut and Cacao Nibs - January 30, 2013

Chocolate of the Day: 

Raw Decadence
Biscolinos! - Coconut and Cacao Nibs
Good + - Very Good
Weight: 2 oz. (56.6 g.) in total package
Calories: 180 calories in 1 package, 3 pieces
Cost: $3.99 for 1 package of 3 pieces
Purchased from: Miki's Farm Fresh Market, Palo Alto, CA

Today was the last day of Chocolate and Gluten-Free Cookie Theme Week, and the beginning (Day #1) of Chocolate and Nibs Theme Week.

I love cacao nibs. Crunchy, nutty bits chocked full of the essence of cacao without the sugar. I wondered if that was why I was so pleasantly surprised by these gluten-free, vegan, Coconut and Cacao Nibs Biscolinos! from Raw Decadence (Redwood City, CA). Maybe.

Three other reasons why I liked these:

1.  The subdued sweetness of unsweetened coconut, and the use of agave and monk fruit as sweeteners instead of corn syrup and sugar
2. The nutty flavor -- from ground California almonds 
3. The perfect hint of sea salt that balanced well with the nutty flavors, and helped counterbalance sweetness

These petite biscotti-shaped treats (3 to a package) were dehydrated and not baked, and had more protein and fiber than many other (gluten-free) cookies -- resulting in a better, more satisfying taste that I preferred.

The company offers other Biscolinos flavors -- including Apricot and Cacao Nibs, and Cranberry and Cacao Nibs flavor, as well as two other flavors without nibs.

Nature's Best - Chocolate Sandwich Cookies - January 29, 2013

Chocolate of the Day:

Nature's Best (Cadia product line)
Chocolate Sandwich Cookies
Good
Weight: 1 oz. (28 g.) / 10.5 oz. (298 g.) in 1 package
Calories: 140 calories for 2 cookies
Purchased from: Piazza's Fine Foods, Palo Alto, CA

Today was Day #6 of Chocolate and Gluten-Free Cookie Theme Week.

Nature's Best (Brea, CA) is one of the largest privately owned wholesaler-distributors of health foods in the Americas. Their Cadia product line can be found in an increasing number of independent grocery stores, and small chains, such as Piazza's Fine Foods, where I found these chocolate sandwich cookies.

Similar to Nabisco Oreo sandwich cookies, these cookies (from Canada) weren't marked organic (many of the company's products are); however, they were gluten-free. So, I was able to enjoy two of these crisp chocolate wafer style cookies with the vanilla cream middle, reminiscent of childhood.

Did I unscrew the two chocolate cookies so I could eat the cream center? No, that would be playing with my food. Instead I engaged in some dessert landscaping. I crushed one of the sandwich cookies -- transforming it into chocolate dirt -- and packed this sugary soil into an orange, plastic shotglass flowerpot. With the help of a paring knife, a strawberry became a flower in this pot. Et voila, a shotglass dessert with only 75 calories. Chocolate gardening should be fun.

Purely Elizabeth - Chocolate Chip Cookie Mix - January 28, 2013

Chocolate of the Day: 

Purely Elizabeth
Chocolate Chip Cookie Mix
Good
Weight: 1.5 oz. (42 g.) / 15.5 oz. (439 g.) total box of mix
Calories: 200 calories (estimate) in 2 cookies
Cost: $8.99 for 1 box of mix
Purchased from: Abe's Market, Michigan (online)

Today was Day #5 of Chocolate and Gluten-Free Cookie Theme Week.

I was having visions of rack after rack of chocolate chip cookies marching out of the oven, like the multiplying brooms and buckets in Walt Disney's animated film "The Sorcerer's Apprentice." Why? This box of Purely Elizabeth Chocolate Chip Cookie Mix (Appetite for Healthy Living LLC - New York, NY) made far more cookies than anticipated -- 41 to be precise.

I didn't mind having extra warm cookies perfuming my kitchen. But, it did take three sequential batches to cook them, and I needed to clear extra counter space to cool three large plates worth of them.

The base for these gluten-free and vegan cookie mix consisted of organic millet, organic almond and garbanzo fava bean flours, as well as chia seeds.

Directions for this mix called for 1/2 cup oil and 1/4 cup of applesauce, which helped establish a cohesive, chewy texture.

The golden brown cookies were dotted with small chocolate chips that seemed the right size for smaller cookies that I made. The cookies were sweetened with a relatively heavy dose of organic coconut palm sugar. While I like the flavor of this sugar -- often touted for its less refined, higher nutritional and lower glycemic properties -- I might use a bit less of this sweetener.

Because there was no raw egg in these cookies, the batter could be eaten (safely) uncooked, or could be enjoyed with other dessert items, e.g., ice cream. I tried this later -- layering cookie dough and crumbs with vanilla ice cream, to make a small shotglass dessert parfait. It reminded me of an oatmeal cookie ice cream sandwich. And because I can't have wheat or oats, I appreciated this close facsimile.

WholeVine - Chocolate Chip Cookies - January 27, 2013

Chocolate of the Day: 

WholeVine Products
1.) Chocolate Chip Cookies
Good +
Weight: 1 oz. (28 g.) / 8 oz. (227 g.) in total package
Calories: 110 calories in 1 cookie
Cost: $7.99 for 1 package
Purchased from: Paradise Foods, Corte Madera, CA

2.) 2-Chocolates Chip Cookies
Good
Weight: 1 oz. (28 g.) / 8 oz. (227 g.) in total package
Calories: 120 calories in 1 cookie
Cost: $7.99 for 1 package
Purchased from: Paradise Foods, Corte Madera, CA

Today was Day #4 of Chocolate and Gluten Free Cookie Theme Week.

When baking with gluten free flours, applesauce, mashed banana, pumpkin, jam with pectin, or xanthan gum, can help approximate the texture of conventionally baked cookies, and help bind ingredients together.

Today's Chocolate Chip, and 2-Chocolates Chip (chocolate and white chocolate chips), "Sonoma Style" Cookies from WholeVine Products (Santa Rosa, CA) incorporated applesauce and xanthan gum in their gluten free cookies.

However, what made these cookies special was the addition of Sauvignon Blanc grape seed, and grade seed skin flours. (The company also uses other varietal grapes.) According to the company -- based in Sonoma County, home of many fine wineries -- the unique, grape-based flours came from sustainably farmed coastal vineyards, via sister company Jackson Family Wines.

At the time of this writing, WholeVine made at least four different gluten free cookies. I previously featured their Chocolate Chocolate Chip Cookies. Of the two I tried today, may favorite flavor was the Chocolate Chip (one without white chocolate chips), winner of a Sonoma County Harvest Fair Gold Medal. (Other flavors include Oatmeal Currant and Peanut Butter.)

Hats off to creative use of vineyard ingredients that add fiber and some nutritional value to baked goods like this.

Trader Joe's - Chocolate Chip Cookies - January 26, 2013

Chocolate of the Day:

Trader Joe's
Crispy Crunchy Chocolate Chip Cookies
Good
Weight: 3.5 oz. (99 g.) / 7 oz. (198 g.) total package
Calories: 490 calories in 1/2 package
Cost: $3.99 total package
Purchased from: Trader Joe's, Menlo Park, CA

Today was Day #3 of Chocolate and Gluten-Free Cookie Theme Week.

These Gluten Free Crispy Crunchy Chocolate Chip Cookies from Trader Joe's (Monrovia, CA) were relatively thin and golden brown, with softer morsels of rich chocolate.

Well executed, with just a hint of vanilla, these cookies may appeal to those who prefer thinner, wafer style treats over thicker, mounded cookies loaded with sweet lumps. As with other natural tasting wafer cookies, butter and brown sugar helped create just the right crunchy texture.

The cookies provided further evidence that gluten free doesn't have to mean sodden or crumbly when it comes to baked goods. Trader Joe's started offering gluten free products many years ago, and they've continued to be a reliable source of chocolates and tasty gluten, free offerings.

Aleia's - Chocolate Macaroon Cookies - January 25, 2013

Chocolate of the Day:

Aleia's Gluten Free Foods, LLC
Chocolate Coconut Macaroon Cookies
Good
Weight: .28 oz. (8 g.) / 12 oz. (340.2 g.) total package/bag
Calories: 15 calories in 1 cookie
Cost: $12.49 total package/bag
Purchased from: Paradise Foods, Corte Madera, CA

More chocolate macaroons today for Day #2 of Chocolate and Gluten Free Cookie Theme Week.

These diminutive Chocolate Coconut Macaroon Cookies from Aleia's Gluten Free Foods (Branford, CT) provided a small, sweet bite-sized, coconut flavored snack, with a light cocoa flavor. At $12.49 a bag, they were not inexpensive, but they were also made in a certified, dedicated gluten free facility, and the bag did contain a fairly generous 12 oz. (340.2 g.) worth of cookies.

Aleia's founder, Kimberly Snow, found she couldn't eat gluten, and used her culinary chef training to create a line of gluten free products including bread and cookies.