Zucchini-Bread Cookies With Pecans And Chocolate

I was reeeallly craving zucchini bread today. Which is weird, because I’ve never even made zucchini bread before. I don’t even own a bread pan (or is it called a loaf pan?). But I reeeallly wanted some, so I decided to improvise and make zucchini-bread cookies instead. And since I do have a cookie sheet, it worked out well for me. 

That’s the thing, I don’t have a baller kitchen. I’ve got a blender, a pan or two, a cookie sheet, a cupcake thing, some spoons, and some bowls. I used to have a food processor (but pour one out), because it went to S-Blade heaven this weekend. There are times when I look at some of my other favorite food websites and feel a little sad about my kitchen. They’ve got all the gear…scoopers just for cookie dough! A whisk that looks like it belongs in a museum! Super fancy spaceship waffle irons! Mandolins that won’t chop your fingers off AND make your veggies look pretty! 

When I get sad/envious, I’ll head to a kitchen store (or even better, Home Goods) to stock up with all the cool gear that they have. And when I get there, one of two things always happens: 1. I feel too overwhelmed about all the “stuff” that I don’t even know what to buy…and I leave. 2. I fill my cart full of stuff, get to the checkout counter and realize I don’t actually need any of it and would rather spend the money on a new pair of shoes…and I leave. In both scenarios, I leave with nothing. 

Would having more stuff make cooking easier? Maybe. Do I need a bread/loaf pan? I guess it could come in handy when you’re trying to make things like, I don’t know, BREAD. But do I need these things to experiment and have fun in the kitchen? No way. 

I taught a Dabble class this weekend and gave everyone in the class a 7-Day Kickstart to healthier eating. We talked a lot about starting where you are and being ok with that. You don’t need a fancy juicer or 20 different kinds of vitamins and supplements to get things going. You don’t really need much at all. A blender helps, but it doesn’t have to be a Vitamix. And those mixing bowls and spoons that you stole from your parents house in college will work just fine. 

Because this: 

“Do not wait until the conditions are perfect to begin. Beginning makes the conditions perfect.” – Alan Cohen

Now…anyone have a loaf pan I can borrow? I really do want to make some bread. 

 { Zucchini-Bread Cookies With Pecans And Chocolate }  

2 cups almond meal flour
1/2 cup brown rice flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 cup pure maple syrup
1 flax egg (1 tablespoon flax meal, 3 tablespoons water)
2 teaspoons vanilla
1/2 cup coconut oil (liquid form)
1 cup zucchini, grated or shredded
3/4 cup pecans, sorta chopped
Handful of dairy-free chocolate chunks or dark chocolate

Preheat oven to 375 and line a cookie sheet with parchment paper. Make your flax egg and put in fridge to thicken.

Combine flours, salt,  baking soda, and cinnamon in a medium-sized bowl. Combine maple syrup, vanilla, and flax egg in a small bowl. Pour maple syrup mixture into dry ingredients and stir. Stir in coconut oil until combined. Fold in zucchini and pecans. 

Use a tablespoon to drop dough onto parchment paper. Drop a piece of chocolate (or more) on the top of each cookie. Bake for 8 minutes or until browned on top. Fini!