Cookies For Breakfast

Cookies: Are they healthy or not?  This is one of the greatest dilemmas of all times!  I found a great recipe for yummy healthy cookies that are intended to eat for breakfast!  Win-Win!!

Start out with ripe bananas, peanut butter (I used honey peanut butter), applesauce and vanilla extract.

 

Add some instant oatmeal and some nuts & chocolate chips (if you like).

Let sit for 10 mins

 

Father's Day morning and my oven was multi-tasking. 

Cooking chicken for lunch and baking cookies!

 

Yummy!

 

Recipe originally pinned from http://watching-what-I-eat.blogspot.com

 

 

2 ripe bananas, mashed until smooth & creamy

1/3 cup peanut butter ~ creamy or chunky 

2/3 cup unsweetened applesauce

1 scoop vanilla protein powder ** (can be made without, cookie will just be lower in protein)

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 tsp butter flavor extract ** (optional)

1 1/2 cups quick oatmeal  ~ uncooked  (or use old fashioned oats for more oatmeal texture)

1/4 cup chopped nuts (peanut, walnut, or your favorite)

1/4 cup carob or chocolate chips (**optional)

 

Preheat heat oven to 350 degrees.

In a large bowl, mix mashed banana & peanut butter until completely combined then add in the applesauce, vanilla protein powder & the extract(s) ~ mix again until all are completely combined.

Add in the oatmeal & nuts to the banana mixture & combine.  (** add the optional carob / chocolate chips at this time if you want them mixed throughout)

Let dough rest for 10 minutes.

Drop cookie dough, by spoonfuls, onto a parchment paper lined cookie sheet & flatten cookies into circles. (** if you just want the carob / chocolate chips on the top of the cookies, add now)

 

Bake cookies approx. 20-30 minutes (some like their cookies less cooked, some cooked more - try it both ways to find which works best for your tastes) or until golden brown & done.  Remove from oven & let rest on cookie sheet for 5 minutes, then move to cooling rack.  (if you want the traditional fork tong marks on the cookies, use a pizza cutter or sharp knife to score the tops of the cookies while they're still warm) 
When cookies are completely cool, store in a covered container.  Enjoy!