Dark Chocolate Chunk Spelt Cookies and iZōsh

Twice a year our church hosts a gathering of women who come from differing backgrounds and ages, but all have one goal in common- to empower women in extreme poverty through the gifting of micro loans.  Formed out of a motivation to live and serve in a way that reflects Christ’s love, this group is called iZōsh:

“iZōsh is a group of women dedicated to the economic empowerment of women globally who are living in extreme poverty. By giving micro loans to these women we help them to lift themselves out of extreme poverty and reduce the risk of oppression and exploitation in their lives .  Our vision is: To seek first to understand and to not judge; to prayerfully pool our resources to invest globally in women living in extreme poverty, regardless of their faith or beliefs; to honor the dignity of each woman by empowering her through sustainable personal economic development; to invite and welcome other women, regardless of their faith or beliefs, whose goals align with our mission to learn about women’s issues in extreme poverty and then to empower the women living in extreme poverty to transform their lives through entrepreneurial activities“.

-iZōsh mission and vision statement

iZōsh began as a response to Half the Sky, a book that has changed my worldview and provided hope that individuals like me can make a positive impact in the lives of other women.  In a world where such complex and horrific social injustices exist, it can be overwhelming to even begin thinking about how to make a difference.  The beauty of a  micro loan is that even a small amount of money can be life-changing for a woman trying to start her own business because it directly enables her to support herself and/or family.  Besides granting micro loans at each gathering, there are always engaging speakers that discuss various issues and challenges facing women globally.  These are hard topics, not always easy to listen to, but important because education is a powerful tool for changing the world.

Of course all of this has absolutely nothing to do with chocolate chunk spelt cookies, except that these were the cookies I made and brought (along with these and these) to the meeting.  Although I try to keep it to mostly food here, I also want to be personal and offer glimpses of life outside of the kitchen.   I struggled with this post because I didn’t want the focus to be on me or what our church does.  I do however find myself needing to be reminded that in the midst of this holiday season in which beautiful cookies and delicious treats abound, there are so many in this world living broken and shattered lives, struggling just to survive and make ends meet.   To learn more about iZōsh and the process of micro loans, visit here.

Now on to these cookies.  Spelt flour does a nice job in keeping the texture light but also provides a deeper and slightly nuttier flavor than regular all-purpose.  They are studded with larger chocolate chunks as opposed to chips so the melty chocolate can ooze from the cookie when you savor that first warm bite.  Coconut sugar, while still sugar and needs to be consumed in moderation, provides trace nutrients and lends caramel undertones to the cookie.  Chopped hazelnuts and dried cherries pair well with the chocolate, but leave them out completely if you prefer or substitute other nuts and fruit.  While most people already have a favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe in their repertoire, this healthier version is every bit delicious as it is wholesome and is worth giving a try.

Dark Chocolate Chunk Spelt Cookies

• Yield: about 3 dozen

Ingredients

• 2 cups spelt flour
• 1 cup coconut sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon fine grain sea salt
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
• 3/4 cup dark chocolate chunks or coarsely chopped chocolate bar
• 3/4 cup coarsely chopped hazelnuts
• 1/2 cup dried cherries, roughly chopped
• 1 large egg
• 10 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
2. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, salt, baking soda, and baking powder. In a medium bowl, whisk together the egg, butter, coconut sugar, and vanilla.
3. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and stir together with a wooden spoon just until flour is almost, but not fully incorporated. Stir in chocolate chunks, hazelnuts, and cherries and stir until just combined, being careful not to overmix.
4. Use a small scoop or 2 tablespoons to form dough into 1 1/2-inch mounds. Arrange cookies on prepared sheets, leaving at least 1 inch of space between each cookie. Use palm of hand to flatten each mound slightly. Sprinkle each cookie with a bit of flaky salt.
5. Bake cookies 10-12 minutes, rotating pans for even browning. Allow cookies to cool slightly on pan before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.