Kids (and adults) lovvvvve cookies. Since kids will eat cookies just about anytime of the day or night, I think a great idea is to sneak a few healthy cookie ingredients into something delicious, such as this healthy ingredient cookie! It has antioxidants, protein, fiber, Omega 3 fatty acids, Calcium, Vitamin A and Potassium. It sounds complicated, but all it takes is some Oats, Chia seeds, mashed banana, Peanut Butter, Whey Protein, (and have you guessed what the vitamin A ingredient is yet?) It’s pureed carrots. If you are so inclined, you can go to the effort of cooking and pureeing your own carrots, but to make life easier, I just use a small jar of pureed carrot baby food! (I recommend you hide the jar immediately after you add the pureed carrots to the cookie dough so the kids won’t know!) If you don’t have baby food carrots on hand, you could use a small, snack-size unsweetened applesauce instead. Besides adding more nutrients, the addition of the carrots give the healthy cookies a beautiful, rich color. And the kids will never know (that is, if you hide the jar!)
A couple of these healthy cookies with a glass of cold milk makes a quick and healthy breakfast.
If you want, you can add in nuts, mini chocolate chips, raisins or other dried fruit.
Here’s the recipe:
Ingredients
- 1 ripe banana, mashed
- 1 small jar pureed carrot baby food (or 1/2 c. applesauce)
- 1 tablespoon honey or agave nectar
- 1/3 cup peanut butter
- 1 1/2 cups regular oats
- 1 tablespoon Chia seeds
- 1 scoop vanilla whey protein powder
- 1/3 - 1/2 cup add-in of your choice (such as raisins, chocolate chips, etc.)
Instructions
- In a medium size bowl, mash the banana and stir in the pureed carrots, honey and peanut butter.
- When well combined, stir in the oats, Chia seeds and protein powder.
- Fold in your favorite add-ins.
- Allow to stand in the bowl while the oven preheats to 375°.
- Drop 12 portions of cookie dough onto a parchment lined baking sheet and bake for 12-13 minutes or until firm to the touch.
- Remove from the oven and allow the cookies to remain on the pan for about 5 minutes. Then transfer the cookies to a wire rack to cool.
- Keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
In a medium size bowl, mash the banana and stir in the pureed carrots, honey and peanut butter.
When well combined, stir in the oats, Chia seeds and protein powder. Now, fold in your favorite add-ins.
Allow the dough to stand in the bowl while the oven preheats to 375°.
Drop 12 portions of cookie dough onto a parchment lined baking sheet and bake for 12-13 minutes or until firm to the touch.
Remove from the oven and allow the cookies to remain on the pan for about 5 minutes. Then transfer the cookies to a wire rack to cool completely.
Keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
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