A Tale of Two Ingredient Cookies (And “Exceptional” Carob Fudge Fingerprint Cookie Recipe)

by Maria Theresa Maggi on November 12, 2014

carob thumbprint cookie

When I was in Catholic grammar school back at the dawn of time, the nuns taught us Phonics. Phonics was full of rules to help us remember how to spell and pronounce words correctly. The rules always had exceptions. It was no good learning the rules unless you knew when the exceptions applied. The one that has always stuck with me was a spelling rule that contained both the rule AND the exception in it. I thought that was handy, and besides that, it rhymed: “i” before “e” except after “c.” So when spelling a word like “friend,” it was “i” first. But when spelling a word like “receive” that “after c” exception kicked in and the two vowels were reversed.

If only baking two ingredient cookies was straightforward as this phonics rule. I’m sure many of you have seen the two ingredient cookie recipe making the internet rounds. I first saw it on a site called Burlap Bag, courtesy of McDougall Friends on facebook. But here’s the thing: these two ingredient cookies are NEVER photographed ( or eaten, I’m assuming) without one or more of the recommended “add-ins.” Healthy Girl’s Kitchen recently posted her version with add-ins  of cranberry, walnut and flax, which sounds pretty tasty. Both these recipes put me in mind of the Classic Oatmeal Millet Raisin Cookies I posted last fall  (which also happen to be sugar free flour free and gluten free). But I never pretended you could make those cookies taste great with only banana and oats. I knew even then when it comes to cookies (which start with a “c” by the way) exception is the rule–and the trick–to making healthy cookies taste great. In the case of my Classic Oatmeal Millet Raisin Cookies, the secret is good vanilla extract and lemon zest–and VERY ripe bananas.

In these so called two ingredient cookies on Burlap Bag, the not so subtle secret seems to be that the “two ingredient” cookies in the photo are studded with melty chocolate chips. Now for some reason this bothers my sense of fairness. Well of course banana and oats are going to taste better with warm chocolate chips baked into them. Oh, and some cinnamon for good measure. That makes four ingredients, not two. Let’s face facts: exception is the rule when it comes to good cookies, even relatively healthy ones.

For some reason I had just had it with those lucky people who can eat chocolate without getting restless leg syndrome or feeling like crap. And as my readers know, I love carob, but store-bought carob chips are out because they are all made with palm oil. And long ago Dr. Swank wrote that palm oil is “forbidden” for those of us with MS. I know from long experience his “no exception” is worth following. But dang it, I wanted some semblance of a chocolate chip without coconut or palm oil

And thus my carob fudge fingerprint cookie was born. Just one big fudgy centerpiece in each cookie.

single carob fudge fingerprint cookie

 

And the cookie itself? I had read on Burlap Bag that there were variations of pumpkin or even peach two-ingredient cookies. The versions you see here are brazenly over the two ingredient limit. They combine bananas, dates, pumpkin or persimmon in whatever combination you like to make a nice fruity  base. And of course spices. And a few ground nuts. To hell with the rule. When it comes to good cookies, even healthy ones, it’s all about the exceptions.

The Burlap Bag talks about eating these cookies in place of oatmeal for breakfast. But I’m a both/and kind of person. I love my oatmeal, even plain without almond milk, and just a chopped dried fig cooked in it. And I love my cookies. But not with just two ingredients, with all the exceptions that make delicious the rule. I tried these out on one of my omni friends just last Sunday. She loved them and all their “exceptional” ingredients. And though she warned me she isn’t a carob lover, she ate two of the three on the plate, exclaiming how good they were with every bite. Yet another fun exception to another old rule.

Maria (moonwatcher)

ps: If you’d like more healthy cookie inspiration, check out my Holy Shadow Cookies and Hawaiian Holy Shadow Cookies.

Leave a Comment

{ 12 comments… read them below or add one }

1 Cheryl November 13, 2014 at 7:51 am

These sound delicious! I’m going to try these! Thanks for this beautiful post, and all your others!

Reply

2 moonwatcher November 13, 2014 at 8:49 am

Thanks, Cheryl! Glad you enjoyed the post, and hope you enjoy the cookies, too! 🙂

Reply

3 Nicole O'Shea November 13, 2014 at 9:47 am

They sound really good. I love the idea of using a persimmon instead of a banana, especially since I cannot eat bananas! 🙂

btw, I am so with you on being fed up with consequence-free chocolate eaters! ‘Tis the season to be fed up!

xoxo

Nicole

Reply

4 moonwatcher November 13, 2014 at 1:34 pm

Thanks, Nicole–I forgot you can’t eat bananas, so glad the persimmon option appeals to you. I think it’s actually my favorite. And as for being fed up, I fight back with food! LOL xo

Reply

5 Veronica November 13, 2014 at 11:35 am

I hadn’t seen the two-ingredient cookie thing! That’s interesting. I agree – it’s probably best with a few exceptions… Your version looks great, and guilt-less. 🙂 And I have a persimmon here that I have no idea what to do with; the hubs hates bananas, so I think I will try it with the persimmon!
btw – I learned the same saying, but added: ” i before e, except after c, and in the long a, as in neighbor and weigh.” 🙂

Reply

6 moonwatcher November 13, 2014 at 1:37 pm

Hi Veronica, hope both you and Nicole like the persimmon version. I’ve discovered they are great to bake with–you may see them make more appearances in upcoming recipes. It’s thanks to Susan that I’ve even tried them, and thanks to Cathy Fisher for her great persimmon bar recipe. Now I’m off on my own persimmon odyssey. . .:) And you’ve taken that phonics rule to a whole new level!! 🙂

Reply

7 Debra Maslov November 13, 2014 at 11:12 pm

Thank you Maria….these sound so yummy! What a clever idea to add the healthy carob fudge center! I will definitely be giving these a try. How funny about everyone calling these Two Ingredient Cookies when they clearly had other add-ons. I know I was scratching my head over the various photos….ha!

Reply

8 moonwatcher November 14, 2014 at 9:08 am

You’re welcome Debbie! I’m glad these sound yummy to you–and yes, I decided to poke fun in that “two ingredient” claim–not exactly truth in advertising!! LOL

Reply

9 Stephanie November 13, 2014 at 11:36 pm

Your cookies look delicious! I love the addition of persimmons and carob. Persimmons are my favorite. The best part is, most people don’t want to eat a fruit that is ripe when it looks like a spoiled tomato. That leaves more for those of us who know better. ; ) Can’t wait to see all your amazing up-coming persimmon recipes.

Reply

10 moonwatcher November 14, 2014 at 9:10 am

Thanks Stephanie–I am totally with you on those persimmons–all the more for us in the know! 🙂 I hope to post another experiment soon and also just a simple treatment. Thanks for the encouragement from another persimmon lover!

Reply

11 Pongodhall December 12, 2014 at 3:47 pm

And there is me looking for a gift for xmas too!
Don’t you think these would be very popular.
Thank you for the lovely recipe.
Hope you are keeping reasonably well ish.
I am also giving a jar of chickpea pancake mix as I think it will make such a lively start to the new year.
What are you doing for little gifts?

Reply

12 moonwatcher December 12, 2014 at 7:45 pm

You’re welcome Pongodhall. I AM doing quite well, thank you. I hope you are too. I’m going to make some chickpea omelette mix to make Christmas morning omelettes when my kids are here. I might fill strawberries with my carob “fudge” (in the center of the cookies) and bring those to a gathering. Haven’t decided. Happy Holidays to you! 🙂

Reply

Previous post:

Next post: