Banana Oat Breakfast Cookies
Friday May 1, 2020
~ Makes 10
½ cup gluten free rolled oats
1 ripe banana, mashed (or ½ cup sugar free apple sauce)
¼ cup almond butter (can sub any nut/ seed butter)
½ tsp vanilla extract
1/8 tsp salt
1 tbsp pumpkin seeds
2 tbsp chopped nuts (almonds, cashews, macadamia nuts, etc.)
1 tbsp dried fruit (raisins, dates, prunes, cherries)
2 tsp maple syrup (optional for added sweetness)
Other optional add-ins: coconut shreds, chia seeds, hemp hearts, cacao nibs
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Mash the applesauce or banana with the nut butter until smooth, then stir in all other ingredients until well-combined. Shape into cookies (roughly 2 tablespoons per cookie) and bake on a lined cookie sheet for 15 minutes. Let cool for 10 minutes before removing from sheet.
Cookies for Breakfast?
These cookies are a great make-ahead breakfast for those busy weeks where you need a quick grab and go meal to start the day. They can be modified to whatever ingredients you have in your pantry, and are a cost effective and nutrient-dense alternative to any processed, sugar-filled granola bar you might have laying around. These cookies can be frozen for several months at a time, so doubling or tripling the recipe can really last a long time!
Oats are known for their heart health benefits. They are extremely rich is fiber (both soluble and insoluble), which is healing for the digestive tract, helps slow digestion and increase satiety. Oats are also high in phosphorus, magnesium and zinc.
Pumpkin Seeds are extremely high in antioxidants such as carotenoids and vitamin E. they also contain a good amount of zinc and iron, making them a great immune-boosting seed. They are full of beneficial fats that help with heart health and brain health, and are a great plant-protein, which helps control blood sugar throughout the day.
Dried Fruit often gets a bad rap for its high sugar content, although if you eat them in moderation, they contain can be very nutritious! Not only is dried fruit extremely fiber- dense, they also contain polyphenol antioxidants that help with digestion and oxidative stress, and are a great source of minerals such as phosphorus and iron. Dates and raisins are higher in natural sugar content, while figs and prunes are on the lower side.
Recipe provided by Haley Peck, Natural Foods Chef and Nutritionist. Haley and I have partnered up to help solve the dilemma of clean, healthy meals for busy people. Check out what we are doing at Nourish Natural Foods!