Happy Thursday folks!
Fun fact: Last night’s post was my 1500th post since Oct 31, 2008. Where does the time go?! I want to have a reader appreciation day on Oct 31st. I just need to figure out what to do…
Today is also the last day you can vote in Project Food Blog Challenge #4. I would love your support in helping me get to the next round. :) You can vote here.
I went to Paris and back this morning… ;)
My goal for my morning recipe was to come up with a Powerhouse cookie for the Fall season.
I didn’t just want a cookie that was sweet and delicious; I wanted a cookie that would deliver a healthy dose of nutrients, protein, and fibre that you can use to fuel workouts or to simply grab when on the go. A cookie, with benefits, if you will.
Power Me Up Pumpkin Sesame Cookies
Moist, healthy, and delicious. You won’t believe what secret ingredient is hiding in there! Only 3 grams of sugar and a hefty 4 grams of fibre and 3 grams of protein per cookie. Use for pre-workout to give you a nice boost without the sugar crash.
Inspired by 101 Cookbooks’s navy bean marathon cookies.
Ingredients:
- 1 can navy beans, drained and rinsed
- 1/4 cup coconut oil, melted
- 1/4 cup pure maple syrup
- 1/3 cup organic cane sugar
- 1 chia egg (1 tbsp chia + 4 tbsp water, mixed well)
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 1/3 cup pumpkin
- 1/2 tsp blackstrap molasses
- 1/2 cup sesame seeds (can use black seeds for Halloween!)
- 1 cup rolled oats, processed
- 1/2 cup whole wheat pastry flour (or all-purpose or mix of AP + spelt might work)
- 1.5 tsp cinnamon
- Zest of 1/2 lemon (would probably omit next time!)
- 3/4 tsp ginger
- 1/2 tsp nutmeg
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/4 tsp sea salt
Directions: Preheat oven to 350F. Line a baking sheet with a non-stick mat or parchment paper. Set aside. In a small bowl, mix together the chia egg. In a food processor, process the oats until a crumbly flour forms. In a large bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients (processed oats, flour, spices, baking powder, lemon zest, baking soda, and salt). In the food processor, add the drained and rinsed navy beans, melted coconut oil, and maple syrup and process until almost smooth. Now add in the pumpkin, molasses, sugar, vanilla, and chia egg. Process until smooth. Remove from processor and scoop onto dry mixture. Mix well. With wet fingers, grab about 2 tbsp of the dough and roll into the sesame seeds to coat the entire cookie. Slightly flatten with hands and place onto baking sheet. Repeat for all cookies. Bake for 15 minutes at 350F. Remove from the oven and allow to fully cool. Makes approx. 18 medium sized cookies.
Nutritional info: (per 1 cookie, makes 18 cookies): 133 kcals, 6 grams fat, 3 grams sugar, 4 grams fibre, 3 grams protein, 16 grams carbs, 137 mg potassium.
First you process the oats:
Drain your can of navy beans and rinse well.
I was a bit scared that I would taste the beans in these cookies because I have had some baking flops trying to make black bean brownies before, but I hoped for the best!
In the processor, process your wet ingredients:
Add the wet to dry…
Mix well!
Looking good. :)
Now grab a couple tablespoons of the dough with wet hands and roll the cookie dough into the sesame seeds. The dough will be VERY sticky, but as soon as you cover it in seeds, it will become more manageable.
Slightly flatten with hands and place about 1 inch apart on the baking sheet.
Bake for 15 minutes at 350F.
They will be beautiful and slightly crackled after baking!
The result was a very moist + soft cookie. Eric and I could not detect the beans in the slightest! They are quite low in sugar, so if you like a sweeter cookie I suggest adding more sugar! I liked the fact that I could enjoy a few of them and not feel feel sick to my stomach afterwards.
They are quite easy on the eyes too and look lovely in a basket lined with a Fall-coloured tea towel.
I enjoyed that they weren’t too sweet and quite healthy, almost like a breakfast cookie. The flavour wasn’t exactly how I wanted it though. I’m not sure I was crazy about the lemon zest in these and I think I would leave it out next time.
Eric said he enjoyed the cookies but they ‘needed chocolate chunks’ in them. And then he added, ‘Well, I think every every cookie should have chocolate chunks in them.” :)
You have to love the simplicity of his thinking.
I however, prefer to put my Homemade Pumpkin Butter sandwiched between!
You can even make them into Halloween Cookies by rolling them in black sesame seeds!
Spooky, huh?
Now that I am powered up, I am going to hit the road for a run on this damp, rainy, and dreary day. Going to use my indoor warm-up trick first though!
See you later alligators.
“It all comes back to just letting go with love. Just put the love in it. Whatever it is, and if you can’t put love in it, don’t do it!” ~Bhagava Das, spiritual guru
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{ 107 comments… read them below or add one }
YUM! I love sesame.
I’m going to have to make these!
Oh no you didn’t! You put beans in those cookies!? Awesome! My kind of cookie, but going to have to agree with Eric :)
Lovin those SPOOKY cookies!!
These look awesome Angela! I love the black sesame seed ones — perfect for Halloween :)
Maybe they need to be topped with some Pumpkin Butter?
I actually had one with my Pumpkin butter sandwiched between. I ate it too quickly for a pic ;)
I love the idea of the sesame coating- a little crunch & slightly savory- great idea Angela!!
Yum! These do indeed sound like power cookies!
You really are a genius in the kitchen! When I read your blog, I want to share every post with everyone I know. Gorgeous pics, amazing recipes. It just doesn’t get much better than Oh She Glows. :) These cookies are perfect in place of a store-bought bar for some energy.
Aww thanks :)
That sesame coating is a fab idea!
oh these sound great… I love things that Aren’t Overly Sweet… and sesame, ALWAYS !!
:)
I love semi-sweet breakfasts. Who doesn’t want to eat a “dessert” for breakfast? I love that these have such healthy ingredients!
I think the navy beans are such an awesome idea to add in extra protein, especially if you have picky eaters at home!
they are a super versatile bean. Probably the one that blends the best (I find better than black beans)
I love the idea of putting beans in cookies!
I think anything coated in sesame looks so pretty! I’d never have thought of putting beans in cookies (really?????) but looks like it worked out well. They look delicious!
yup you couldnt even taste em
These look wonderful! I love anything rolled in sesame seeds. It makes it just that much better ;)
Just voted! Hope you get through:) Cookies look yummy.
Thanks!
What an interesting idea – never would have imagined you could get away with putting beans in cookies.
These are so pretty!
Ooh, these are so fun to look at! I love the idea. I’ve been missing your posts in my google reader for some reason. I don’t know if it’s just based on when I’m looking at google reader or what, but anywho, just catching up on a dozen or so posts.
Those cookies look great! I love sesame seeds (must give a nice crunch :D).
So festive and cute!
Oo very nice looking! Power cookies are always good
Those cookies look tasty!
My fiance seems to think the same of any kind of baking…. just add chocolate chips!
Congrats on 1501 posts!
I am for sure putting this on the list of things to make over the weekend! These look fantastic!!
I’ve always been intrigued by that recipe that inspired you by heidi swanson! I love your changes and bet they are delicious!
Do you ever make anything NOT absolutely breath taking? And that’s a lot of posts! All of them fabulous though. :)
Yes. Exhibit A: http://images.ohsheglows.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/IMG_1432.jpg ;)
LOL
Have a great day, Angela!
Eric sounds like my boyfriend Chris. He’s not a fan of any cookies that don’t have chocolate chunks in them. Haha, gotta love that!
I swear it could be a ginger cookie and he would say it needed chocolate!
I think he may be permanently pmsing…?
Wow, 1501! Amazing work!
Hey Angela – could you sub something in for the molasses? I just don’t use it often enough to warrant buying some (more in the interests of space than cost).
P.S I almost have my kitchen back! :)
You could probably leave it out all together since it was only 1/2 tsp!
Thanks!!
Oh and now there’s been a small hiccup and so it looks like I won’t have a stove for most of next week :(
I would have never thought to put beans in cookies… sounds very healthy & dare I say tasty, something for me to experiment with : )
We should have a an “Angela Appreciation Day” because your recipes all ROCK!!! I think I’ve said this before, but thanks for my virtual cookbook! :)
Thank you! :)
Congrats! Here’s to 15 THOUSAND more =)
15,000…whoa baby. I better get baking! hahaha
Wowie Bazowie! (I don’t know, it sounded right coming out of my mouth).
I don’t have coconut oil. Would you recommend using coconut butter or simply replacing it with another oil?
I made THE BEST apple butter yesterday and I want to spread it on everything. This looks like a wonderful vessel to carry apple butter to my mouth.
Yup you could use extra virgin olive oil!
These cookies look incredible!
Lucky for me, I have all the ingredients on hand so I think I’ll make a batch tonight :D
Congrats! I agree with Steganie…”Angie Appreciation Day” ;)
Can I just say I love your new found love affair with coffee? :)
Yes and Yes. hahah
“A cookie, with benefits” – I LOVE this phrase!!!!
“I was a bit scared that I would taste the beans in these cookies because I have had some baking flops trying to make black bean brownies”–
Thank you for being HONEST. I have read similar stories from others despite many people totally raving about beans in cookies, brownies, etc. My thoughts are that if I am going to sugar, do the dishes, turn on the oven, put time into baking, and want a DESSERT As a finished product, not “healthfood” that I simply have just, well, never really tried any bean based “desserts” b/c I am scared they will not be amazing. I’d rather have amazing than healthy. LOL
But it sounds like w/ your recipe today I can have both!
Black seeds,that is so halloween and so cute! :)
The cookies look fabulous – I’ve always been scared to incorporate things like beans into baked goods (fearing they will come out tasting gross) but you make it look so easy! I wish I had your baking invention skills :)
These look SO good!!
Btw – I tried your pumpkin butter recipe last weekend. Its awesome – I’ve been putting it on anything and everything I can think of! :)
so after reading (what felt like) a million and one foodbuzz entry thingies…i was getting pretty sick of the whole contest. but your posts are SO stellar that i just placed my first (and only) vote thus far. for you. i hope you win angela.
ps if you dont end up living out of a box in SF after the festival, you should come to southern california…once i win the lottery im hiring you as my personal chef
Wow I am honoured! Thank you :)
Hehe love your part about the personal chef bit. Im sure you could twist my thumb, I keep telling Eric I might not come back from CA!
I love this! I am definitely going to make these, I’ve been looking for a healthy cookie (isn’t that an oxymoron?)
I put black beans in brownies once but they didn’t fool anyone…
Must try these! Arent sesame seeds pretty expensive though? I’ve only ever been able to find them in tiny jars..
Congrats on 1500!
I had to post and tell you that I made the black bean brownies from 101Cookbooks and LOVED them. They were super fudgy and my friends (read: victims ;) couldn’t tell they had beans in them. Though I do have a similar affliction with the choco chips… I added them in the brownie batter.
Will be trying these cookies next! Thanks!
These look fabulous and sound delicious! Almost like a sweet treat rather than a cookie. Love the Haloween version :D
Such a good idea for a cookie! NEVER would have thought to use beans!
Hahaha! Love it! Before I got to your black sesame seed photo, I was thinking “You could totally use black seeds for Halloween!” :)
I love finding ingredients like beans in unexpected places! These look great, I’d love to try them =)
Wow, I would have never thought to put beans in the cookies – what a great idea for protein! I hope you have a good run! :)
Congrats on your 1500th post!! That is so great!
Those cookies look delightful. I am just stockpiling your recipes until I get into a kitchen come December. Then…watchout! :)
Ahhh you make so so so many delicious recipes I can’t make them as fast as you post them, but please don’t stop inventing! ;)
Ever since I tried black bean brownies, I’ve been wanting to make a cookie with beans! I want to try these and I’ll follow your suggestion of leaving out the lemon zest.
Thanks for the recipe,
Nicky :)
so sad i used my white beans in veggie burgers yesterday as i could’ve used them to make these! cookies with benefits sound much better than friends with benefits lol
Reading blogs has been tougher since going gluten-free. Yum!!!
These cookies are super pretty! And I don’t like overly sweet things so I think I would be a fan of these!
These look great and I’ll definitely be making them! My dad will not be a fan (he needs his desserts ridiculously sweet) but I have a feeling I’ll love these. Besides, if no one else is a fan it just means more for me. ;)
add my husband to the “it must have chocolate chips in it!!!!” baking club!
congrats on reaching 1500 posts, angela! that’s awesome.
I made a batch of pinto bean apple cinnamon cookies. they turned out great so I have no doubt these are delicious. I love using all kinds of seeds in cookies and cakes. I made this enormous poppyseed cake when i was in culinary school, I bite of that cake and you would have not passed a drug test.
This looks like a perfect “powerhouse” cookie recipe! I would love something like this before early morning workouts, etc.
Also, I just had to comment because I love the quote you shared at the bottom. It is so so true. I read it over about 10 times in a row already. I love it.
Everything you make always looks so delicious!
I wonder if chilling the dough would have helped to make it easier to make into cookie balls. . . I’ve had similar problems with high protein/fiber cooking. Thoughts? Problem is that I’m always impatient for the cookies to be done, and hate chilling the dough!
congratulations on your posts! May you post lots more great recipes!!!!!!!!
Congrats on your 1500 post!
I don’t know how you have the time to create such amazing creations, but I like it.
Great looking cookies!! Love the idea of beans in there – so nutritious :) They look lovely with the sesame seeds.
Heidi xo
Keep the pumpkin recipes coming! I love me some pumpkin and am so glad it’s become widely available here in Pittsburgh :-)
Also- can’t believe the secret ingredient!
The beans intrigue me!
Are they more savory then sweet?
I love the pumpkin kick that everyone’s on these days! These sound great…never would have tought to put sesames in a cookie :)
Seeing that you are so fit, what do you do with all the reamining baked goods? It doesn’t look like you or your Hubby eats sweats everday. I have to send everything off to school with my kids or off to work with my Hubby because if I don’t, they would all end up in my belly! ;)
I’ve never heard of using beans in cookies, but I like the concept. I also love the black and orange cookie for Halloween! : )
Those sound delicious, and look adorable! I love healthy desserts w/beans hidden in them (like black bean brownies!).
wow that’s amazing! I’ll try to make these today. Though last time I tried to bake something with beans in it, my husband picked it up and said “don’t try to mix in what is not supposed to be in there” lol :)
YUM – those cookies look great! I love how they look with the black sesame seeds- very Halloween-y :)
Mmmmm sesame seeds and pumpkin make everything good!
Thanks for sharing Angela.
I made pumpkin cookies for my dad recently and used coconut flour and coated in crushed pumpkin seeds…holy yum! Definitely recommend it :)
Casey
1500 posts and going strong. It seems like just yesterday when I stumbled across your first post and was immediately hooked to your blog! Can’t believe that it was way back October 2008!
Continue to inspire :)
I like the way the sesame seeds look on the cookies! They look yummy :)
Angela! Another fabulous recipe (love the beans in there!)–and again, you have used our key ingredient for the SOS Kitchen Challenge this month! I hope you’ll submit the recipe to the challenge :). In the meantime, I can’t wait to try these!
A great idea and they just look so good. I love cooking with sesame seeds, so good for you! :) I am going to make something very similar to these this weekend…
I just found your blog and I love it, you are a true inspiration! I’m a vegan too and love all of your recipes, you’ve opened a whole world to me!
Mmmmmmmmm! Looks yummy!
Thanks for sharing these sweet treats that have so much health goodness in them :O)
Sesame seeds are the best!!!
Wow what a great idea for a cookie. The sesame seeds make them look really cute!
OH. MY. GOODNESS. These cookies are the best idea I have ever heard of. ( I love sesame seeds!)
Have a great day Angela!
Angela, you currently have more recipes on my “to make” list than any other blog.
These are the latest addition.
Just thought you should know.
I made these with black poppy seeds and they’re in the oven right now. they’re perfect for a halloween party I’m going to tomorrow! I already tested the batter though (several times) and reserved a portion of the batter and made myself a microwave breakfast cookie. It’s so good! I knew the beans would not be a problem at all because I love putting beans in baking and also bake with chickpea flour a lot, but I’m excited to share these with friends. Should I tell them they have beans in them? I’ll shock them all after!
Thanks so much, your recipes are always fantastic!
OK, I made them. REALLY STICKY! Mine were apparently much more sticky than yours, because there was no pretending to roll them into anything vaguely spherical. I wasted 1/2 my sesame seeds trying to do that with one…after that I just plopped some batter into the bowl of seeds, shook more seeds over the top, picked up the blob, watched it fall apart in my hands, and then tried to reassemble them on the sheet. Still waiting for them to cool. I used at least a cup of seeds! Maybe a little more flour might hold them together better.
I just made them and they look exactly like yours! Oh, so good! Not too sweet, absolutely no bean taste…. simply amazing! Thank you!
I just made them and they look exactly like yours! Oh, so good! Not too sweet, absolutely no bean taste…. simply amazing! Thank you!
WOW! I made these just now and they are FANTASTIC! I know it’s not fall here but it’s not warm where I live and I love anything pumpkin! Soooo good!
Angela, I only have Cannellini beans, will that work to substitute navy beans? Thanks!
Tres bien! I used all oat flour and it still turned out really good. They remind me of pumpkin muffies at Panera Bread but these are much healthier. I think the sweetness is just right, like Goldilocks! Yours look prettier than mine but they are still delicious and nutritious.
Please tell me you found that mug somewhere online rather than in a quaint shop in Le Marais in Paris.
Umm, these are scrumptious. Far too sweet to be ‘healthy’. They are a bit sticky to form but worth the effort. Are these actually an equivalent to a protein bar?
These look great! Has anyone tried substituting dates for the sugar?