Nikki’s healthy cookies, revisited

One of my first posts was my adapted version of Nikki’s Healthy Cookies from 101 Cookbooks, a “classic” healthy cookie of the blog world. Butter-less, flour-less, egg-less, and sugar-less, these continue to please as my go-to healthy cookie and friends still ask me for “that banana cookie recipe you always made.”

Well with time after time of baking these and my unending obsession with changing up recipes, I have for you my new and improved healthy banana cookie. It’s peanutty, banana-y, coconutty, puctuated with drops of creamy chocolate (or carob), and to me the flavors never get old. Substantial + healthy enough to eat for breakfast, ideal for a midday snack, and decadent enough to satisfy my sweet cravings…. what more do I need to say? :)

Get baking and have yourself some guilt-free deliciousness!

Favorite banana cookie, vegan – gluten free – sugar free

• 1 1/2 cups well mashed bananas (about 3 large)
• 1 t vanilla extract
• 1 t coconut extract
• ¼ cup coconut oil, barely warm so it isn’t solid (or olive oil)
• 1 1/2 cups quick oats (look for gluten free oats if you have gluten allergies)
• 2/3 cup peanut flour (you may sub almond meal, but the flavor will not be as strong)
• 1/3 cup coconut, finely shredded & unsweetened
• 1 t cinnamon
• ½ t fine grain sea salt
• 1 t baking powder
• a couple handfuls dark chocolate or carob chips / dark chocolate bar chopped / cacao nibs

Preheat oven to 350 degrees, racks in the top third. In a large bowl combine the bananas, vanilla & coconut extracts and coconut oil. Set aside. In another bowl whisk together the oats, peanut flour, shredded coconut, cinnamon, salt, and baking powder. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and stir until combined. Fold in the chocolate/carob chips. The dough is a bit looser than a standard cookie dough, don’t worry about it.  Drop dollops of the dough, each about 2 teaspoons in size, an inch apart, onto a parchment lined baking sheet. Bake for 12 – 15 minutes, or as long as possible without burning the bottoms. Makes about 3 dozen bite-sized cookies.

Happy healthy baking! -mich