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Lighter Spider Web Chocolate Chip Cookies (Easy & Fun)

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These lighter chocolate chip cookies use applesauce instead of butter for a moist, chewy texture, and are topped with a fun spider web design made from melted chocolate. Perfect for Halloween parties or a quick weeknight treat.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1/2 cup (120 ml) unsweetened applesauce
  • 1/4 cup (50 g) granulated sugar
  • 1/2 cup (100 g) light brown sugar, packed
  • 1 large egg, at room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon (5 ml) vanilla extract
  • 1 1/2 cups (180 g) all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup (175 g) dark chocolate chips (60-70% cacao)
  • 1/4 cup (45 g) dark chocolate chips (for spider web design)

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  2. In a large bowl, whisk together applesauce, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until smooth and sugars are mostly dissolved.
  3. Add egg and vanilla extract; whisk until well combined and slightly frothy, about 1 minute.
  4. In a separate medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, and salt.
  5. Pour dry ingredients into wet ingredients; fold with a rubber spatula until just combined. Do not overmix.
  6. Fold in 1 cup of dark chocolate chips until evenly distributed. Batter will be thick and slightly sticky.
  7. Using a cookie scoop or tablespoon, drop rounded tablespoons of dough onto prepared baking sheet, spacing 2 inches apart. Do not flatten.
  8. Bake for 10-12 minutes, until edges are set and lightly golden. Centers will look slightly underdone. For chewier cookies, bake 10 minutes; for crispier edges, bake 12 minutes.
  9. Let cookies cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a cooling rack to cool completely.
  10. Melt the extra 1/4 cup of dark chocolate chips in a microwave-safe bowl in 20-second bursts, stirring between each, until smooth.
  11. Spoon melted chocolate into a small piping bag or ziploc bag with a tiny corner snipped off.
  12. On each cooled cookie, pipe a small circle in the center, then pipe concentric circles around it like a bullseye.
  13. Working quickly, use a toothpick to drag lines from the center outward through all the circles to create a spider web pattern. Wipe toothpick clean between cookies.
  14. Let chocolate set completely at room temperature, about 15-20 minutes, before serving.

Notes

For best results, use unsweetened applesauce. Chilling the dough for 30 minutes before baking can prevent excessive spreading. For vegan version, replace egg with a flax egg (1 tablespoon ground flaxseed + 3 tablespoons water) and use dairy-free chocolate chips. Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days. Freeze baked cookies (without spider web design) for up to 3 months.

Nutrition

Keywords: spider web cookies, chocolate chip cookies, Halloween cookies, lighter cookies, applesauce cookies, easy cookies

Find it online: https://spoonmira.com/lighter-spider-web-chocolate-chip-cookies-easy-and-fun/