Since 1992, Family Circle has held a Presidential Bake-off with recipes from the wives of presidential candidates. It’s a contest that is both delicious and sexist, but let’s focus on the positive. The recipes from Michelle Obama and Ann Romney are not vegan (I imagine the dairy lobbyists would burn down the White House if that happened), but with some simple changes, the presidential bake-off can be cruelty-free. If only Dennis Kucinich was running for president, then we’d have a cookie recipe from Elizabeth.
Michelle Obama’s White and Dark Chocolate Chip Cookies
MAKES 2 1/2 dozen cookies
PREP 15 minutes
BAKE at 375° for 12 minutes per batch
- 1 1/8 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) Earth Balance
- 1 stick Earth Balance vegetable shortening
- 3/4 cup sugar – half granulated and half packed brown sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon egg replacer
- 3 tablespoons water
- 1/2 cup each white chocolate chips, semisweet chocolate chips and mint chocolate chips (I don’t know if anyone makes vegan mint chocolate chips, but the recipe said you could substitute Andes mint pieces, so I just chopped up a mint chocolate bar. I used Equal Exchange’s Organic Mint Chocolate with a Delicate Crunch)
2 cups chopped walnuts
Heat oven to 375°. In a small bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda and salt. In a large bowl with an electric mixer, cream margarine, shortening, granulated sugar, brown sugar and vanilla extract. In a small bowl, whisk egg replacer with water and add to butter mixture. On low speed, beat in flour mixture. By hand, stir in white chocolate chips, chocolate chips and mint chips. Drop rounded tablespoons of dough onto ungreased baking sheets. Bake at 375° for 10 to 12 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on baking sheets for 5 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool completely.
Ann Romney’s M&M’s Cookies
MAKES 1 1/2 dozen cookies
PREP 15 minutes
BAKE at 325° for 18 minutes
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
- 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, softened
- 3/4 cups
crunchycreamy peanut butter - 1/2 tablespoon light corn syrup (such as Karo)
- 1 1/2 tablespoons egg replacer
- 4 1/2 tablespoons of water
- 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 1/4 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 3 ounces chocolate chips
- 1/3 cup Holy Cow Dark Chocolate beans (Vegan M&Ms)
Heat oven to 325°. In a large bowl, cream sugars, margarine, peanut butter and corn syrup on high speed until well combined. In a small bowl, whisk egg replacer with water and add to peanut butter mixture. Beat in vanilla extract. In a separate bowl, mix together oats and baking soda. Stir into peanut butter mixture until combined. Mix in chocolate chips and M&M’s. Using a standard-size ice cream scoop, drop dough onto baking sheets (about 9 per sheet). Bake at 325° for 18 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool 2 minutes, then transfer cookies to a wire rack to cool completely.
The result? Ann’s cookies looked better, but the mint chocolate in Michelle’s cookies knocks it out of the park. Michelle lost to Cindy McCain last time, so she definitely stepped it up for 2012.
