Let’s face it: there is no such thing as a “healthy” cookie. Cookies have so much sugar and fat in them that they will never truly be “healthy”. And if they don’t have a lot of sugar and fat, they sure don’t qualify as a cookie!

But some days (especially when you’re exercising/dieting) you just really want a cookie. (Or two, or three…) So I set out the other day to try to get a good, low-fat cookie. I think I was pretty successful.

I tried two recipes, one low-fat cookie and one cookie beefed up with butter and shortening. Ya know, just for comparison. ;) I’d have to say that the low-fat cookie (just like on Throwdown with Bobby Flay – who I wish I could meet in person, by the way – we’ll call this one Cookie A) was fantastic straight from the oven! The chocolate melted and the inside was all warm and gooey. It really hit the spot and I was impressed. 

But of course, once the next batch of not-so-good-for-you-cookies (Cookie B) was made, I realized the difference right away. These two cookies definitely each had something going for them, but let me tell you – you DO miss all that butter and shortening! They were also ooey-gooey in the center, and the Guittard semi-sweet chocolate chips (the best!) just hit-the-spot.

So for me it was definitely a toss-up. Taste or nutrition? But I knew who the winner was when Tyler came home and reached for Cookie B. I’ll admit they tasted better, but Cookie A was definitely impressive. Nutritionally, two of Cookie A = one of Cookie B. But taste-wise, five of Cookie A will never taste as good as two of Cookie B. Guess which batch of cookies was eaten first? (One thing is sure – if you’re counting calories and just want a few chocolate chip cookies straight out of the oven, go for Cookie A. They are best straight from the oven because they harden quickly within an hour. To refresh the cookies, however, microwave them for 15-seconds. The chocolate will melt all over again with a pretty satisfying result!)

Find the recipe for Cookie A here.

Find the recipe for Cookie B here.