Orange, Oat and Nutty Chocolate Cookies

Here's a cookie recipe I baked for Mother's day a few weeks ago. Although I write "cookie", this biscuit is like a cross between a biscuit and a cake, due to it being soft. I used wholegrain plain flour, which gave a nice depth to the cookie flavour, as well as making them a little healthier. I also added mashed banana, orange zest, desiccated coconut and chopped walnuts to add to the health appeal. I then added dark chocolate chips for an extra health/delicious kick. They are perfect alongside a nice cup of tea or coffee.

These will keep in an airtight jar for up to a week.

Makes 24 cookies

Ingredients:

• 100g (1/3 cup + 4 tsp) butter or margarine, softened
• 50g (1/6 cup) mashed banana
• 100g (1/2 cup + 2 tsp) soft brown sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 50g (1/3 cup) chopped walnuts (or your favourite type of nut)
• 50g (1/3 cup) dark chocolate chips
• Zest of one orange
• 100g (3/4 cup + 3 tbsp) wholemeal flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 25g (1/4 cup) desiccated coconut
• 100g (1 cup) rolled oats

Method:

1. Preheat your oven to 180c (160c fan)/350f/ gas mark 4. Grease and line 3 baking trays with greaseproof paper.

2. In a large mixing bowl, cream the butter/margarine and the brown sugar together, until all of the sugar has been incorporated into the butter and it smooth.

3. Add the mashed banana, egg, vanilla extract and orange zest, with a tablespoon of flour, and beat until the banana has been evenly incorporated.

4. Sift over the flour and baking powder, then add the salt, chopped walnuts, dark chocolate chips, rolled oats and desiccated coconut. Fold the dry ingredients into the wet mixture with a large spoon or spatula. You will end up with a very thick dough - if it is getting hard to work with a spoon, use your hands to bring the dough together.

6. Take heaped teaspoons of the mixture and roll into a ball. Place on one of the baking trays, and then flatten down slightly. Space the cookies a few centimetres (1 inch or so) from each other, to prevent merging when baking.

7. Bake for 10-12 minutes, until lightly browned on top. Leave to cool for a few minutes, and then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

8. Enjoy!