Chocolate Chunk Cookies with Cinnamon

One thing I could never get sick of is chocolate. In fact, I find any excuse possible to use it/eat it whenever I can. When I first met my husband, he insisted that he hated chocolate and refused to eat it... or so he claimed. I couldn't believe it! Well... I believed him... that was until I caught him sneaking some chocolates I made out of the fridge one day. Now I don't feel so bad for putting chocolate into most of my baked goods.

These cookies are packed with gooey chocolaty perfection, and a hint of cinnamon make them a little different than a typical chocolate chip cookie. Feel free to leave out the cinnamon if you're not a huge fan, or heck-- throw in a little extra if you want! I find the best ways to use other people's recipes is to spice it up a little to your own liking.

Ingredients:

• 3/4 cup vegan butter, softened
• 1 cup brown sugar, packed
• 1/4 cup raw sugar
• 1/2 cup applesauce
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 3 cups flour
• 2 teaspoons cinnamon
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 teaspoon sea salt
• 1 cup chocolate chips
• 2 cups dark chocolate, chopped into chunks

Preparation:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper
2. In a stand mixer, add softened butter and whip on high speed for 2 minutes. Turn off mixer.
3. Scrape the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula, add both sugars, and turn mixer onto medium speed. 
4. Once sugars are fully incorporated, return mixer to high speed and beat for another 2 minutes. Turn off mixer and scrape down the side with rubber spatula.
5. Turn mixer to low speed and add in the applesauce and vanilla extract.
6. In a separate bowl, mix together the flour, cinnamon, baking soda, and sea salt.
7. While mixer is still on low speed, add the flour mixture to the wet mixture 1/4 cup at a time until all of the mixture has been added. 
8. Add in all of the chocolate and mix until chocolate is evenly distributed into dough.
9. Scoop about 1/4 cup of mixture, roll into a ball, press slightly flat, and put onto prepared baking sheet.
10. Repeat until you have a full sheets, with dough spaced apart to allow for slight spreading.
11. Bake cookies, 1 tray at a time, for 9-12 minutes.
12. Allow to cool for 5 minutes before removing from tray. 
13. Repeat process until all cookies are baked.

Enjoy!!