cookies for dinner
January 24, 2011 This is no joke. I ate cookies for dinner. Or more accurately, with dinner.
These are the first cookies I’ve eaten in TWO weeks. Seriously. That is a LONG time with no cookies. Why didn’t I make these gems sooner?? You won’t believe the ingredient list. I thought I would gag on them in bland disgust. They have no added sugar. I was really hesitant and almost added a little maple syrup, but am glad I held off.
I really think this is one of my favorite cookies ever. It’s barely sweet, but sweet enough. It has a mild banana flavor, a slightly crisp exterior, with a chewy soft interior and crunch throughout. Mixed and baked in 30min flat. How can you beat that??
I wish I could say I came up with this recipe on my own, but that would be a lie. I had the help of the fabulous Heidi from 101 Cookbooks.
I’ve made similar “healthy” cookies that have always been decent. Good enough. You know. But these, are better than “good enough.” Just make them and see for yourself!
NO added sugar, no dairy, no eggs, and no gluten [with gluten free oats] in these cookies? Hard to believe, I know.
Trail Mix Cookies [adapted from 101 Cookbooks] yields ~20 ping pong sized cookies
- 1.5 large bananas
- 1t vanilla
- 2T unrefined coconut oil, softened
- 3/4c rolled oats
- 1/4c buckwheat flour [can grind buckwheat groats]
- 1/4c almond meal [finely ground almonds]
- 2T ground flax meal
- 2T raw buckwheat groats
- 1/4c chopped almonds
- 2T almond milk
- 3T unsweetened finely shredded coconut
- 1/4c currants [or raisins]
- 1/4c apricots, finely chopped
- 1/2t cinnamon
- 1/4t salt
- 1/2t baking powder
- Preheat oven to 350*
- In a large bowl mash bananas with a fork, until very wet and egg-like.
- Mash in coconut oil, vanilla, and almond milk until well combined.
- Add oats, buckwheat flour, almond meal, flax meal, coconut, cinnamon, salt and baking powder.
- Stir until just combined.
- Add buckwheat groats, chopped almonds, chopped apricots and currants.
- Fold in until combined.
- Spoon dough into ping pong size balls and place on a parchment lined pan. The dough will be quite wet, but they should be able to hold a ball shape.
- Bake for 12-14min. For a soft interior bake 12min.
- Let cool on pan for 5min, then transfer to a cooling rack.
- Let fully cool, before storing in an airtight container.
*No need to buy expensive almond flour. You can grind almonds to a fine powder in a blender, coffee grinder or food processor. The same goes for buckwheat groats. Just be careful not to over-process the almonds, or you will get almond butter!
*Feel free to add 1-3T of pure cane sugar or sucanat, if you want a sweeter cookie. Honestly though, with the dried fruit, this was quite sweet.
*If you want to add chocolate, add about 1/4c chocolate chips.
Oh…and if you put coconut butter on the hot cookies, it melts and then hardens when it cools. So you have a nice little coconut shell on top. How perfect. Breakfast, snack, lunch or dinner…you can’t go wrong with these.
Along with the cookies, I had a 1c side of smoked paprika roasted chickpeas. Season chickpeas with anything you want [including a little oil so they don’t dry out] and roast them at 350* for 40min, stirring once or twice. I learned this technique from Mama Pea. The chickpeas become crunchy and delicious! I also ate a huuuge salad, since I’m finally craving greens again.
What else is going on?? I achieved one of my January goals!!!
My Etsy shop is up and running!!
I’ll have an official Grand Opening post up Tuesday afternoon with a coupon code and who knows what else!! I’m really excited!!
Off to bed…I’m getting closer + closer to feeling normal again. Thank you guys so much for all of your well wishes!! Much appreciated!!
<3 Ashley
Reader Comments (87)
Haha I always roast my chickpeas too! They make for a great protein packed simple snack!
Those cookies look amazing and cute, maybe I'll try them soon.
Good to hear you're getting a bit better finally! Around here there was a real virus outbreak for WEEKS.
x sabine
these cookies sound awesome but i think i need to restock my pantry, i have none of those ingredients!
Not only do these sound wonderful, but I love that you refer to them as "ping pong" size. :) I dig the no additional sugar bit!
These cookies sound perfect!! I love how portable they are as well. A great pre/post workout snack.
That looks sooo good... Great idea to roast the chickpeas, I'm going to have to try that!
And congratulations on the opening! :)
Cookies for dinner is always a good idea. Especially those cookies!
These are some of the only healthier cookies I've seen without dates! I want to give them a try.
Love healthy cookies! I don't have coconut oil at home - what could I substitute?
Those cookies look healthy enough to be a full meal to me:-)
congratulations!
Now those are my kinda cookies! Yum... once my bananas brown up a bit more I am so making these treats!
Congrats on your Etsy shop - that's exciting!
I'll have to try those chickpeas - and email this link for the cookies to my friend who is working on cutting out her allergies, including gluten and dairy.
yum! cookies for dinner....i think that's the way it should be :)
I am so excited to see this recipe for that very reason-- I don't like dates!
SO excited about your Etsy shop :)
Glad you are feeling better and I'm excited about your Esty shop! Those cookies and chickpeas look delicious.
I love Nikki's cookie recipe so I am eager to try your adaptation. Congrats on your etsy store. Very exciting!
Oh my gosh that ingredient list is AMAZING...I'm so intrigued! No added sugar is always good in my book. Bookmarking these for my next baking adventure!
Congrats on opening your Etsy shop!
omg, these look DELICIOUS! I'm totally making these this week and I don't think there's anything wrong with having them for dinner. I love that you're making more gluten free/wheat free food!
I love those trail mix cookies, healthy and low in sugar.... Whats the calories for those?
Woohoo on your new shop!!! I can't wait to buy all the cute things you will have on there.
Omg droooooling over all the photos in the Etsy shop!! Looks amazing. SO PROUD of you. :)
Congrats on the Etsy shop.... go you for accomplishing your goals! I think you should add one of the pictures of those beautiful yellow/orange pears that you took last fall. I think that's one of my favorites of yours!
Yum, I love those cookies! I like your additions, I'll have to try that. You can also make them with applesauce if you don't want them so banana-y. Soo good :D
YUM!!! i love the looks and sounds of the cookies!!
I am goingto your etsy store ASAP!
Oh my gosh, I am trying these ASAP! No refined sugar at ALL?!?! Amazing!
And I love roasted chickpeas. So comforting!
Can't wait to check out your shop :)
xo
those cookies look delicious!
i'm glad you're feeling better - i just came down with the flu too :(. and of course its my first week back at school! can't wait to check out your shop!
Yum! Loving the cookies for dinner idea- can't wait to try the recipe!
Congrats on the Etsy Shop!
I am shocked those cookies have no sugar and are not bland - that's awesome!! I will need to try making them.
Your etsy photos are beautiful!
I am shocked those cookies have no sugar and are not bland - that's awesome!! I will need to try making them.
Your etsy photos are beautiful! I especially love the peaches, just looking at that makes me feel calm :)
those cookies look soo bomb!!!
ashley, SO happy you posted these! i got some bananas that need to be used and my stash of goods i keep out for my family is running low- these will be perfect! thanks girl! and very excited about your etsy shop!
congrats on opening your etsy shop! i can't wait to take a look. also, no shame in having cookies for dinner. they look delicious.
Those cookies look delicious! I love healthy cookies :-)
Congrats on your Etsy shop, it looks great!
Cookies for dinner...I totally approve!
Those are some good looking cookies! They look like they are just sweet enough, but not overly so. This might make me eat more, though :)
i can.not.wait to check out your etsy shop! are you going to sell any of your photographs?!
Very cool! Congrats on the etsy shop. :D
I love the idea of the coconut butter topping! :)
And congratulations on your Etsy store!! Very cool
Cookies for dinner? Booyah! I'm actually making dinner right now...and it's right up your alley ;)
These remind me of Heather's maple nut oaties, only more detailed and better :-) In fact, I think I have all these ingredients on hand, so I may need to give them a shot. I'm always looking for kitchen sink- breakfast type cookies that have no added sugar and are little processed. That's an indeed hard task to do!
I'd love it if you'd post the recipe for those smoked paprika roasted chickpeas!
Happy health and day!
I just made these cookies, but forgot to put the apricots in :D Nevertheless, they are aaaaamazing!
congrats on your shop!
Aww, congrats on your Etsy shop! And I'm definitely going to make some of those cookies. Yum!
Awesome!!!! I'm so glad you liked them!
I just threw on a bunch of seasonings...no real science to it!! smoked paprika, garlic, salt, pepper, oil
Seriouslyyyyyy....you must make them! The girls will love them!