This past month has been an emotional one, that’s for sure. Both on a personal level, and the world at large. I’ve experienced incredible highs, where my heart feels like it’s just going to burst. I’ve laughed more than I have in a while, cried happy tears, and watched in awe as our baby girl experiences her new world each day. This week Adriana has started to really see us, studying our faces, and she’s giving these huge, goofy grins in return. Maybe she just passed gas, but I’d like to think she’s really tickled pink with her mama! Or maybe she thinks we’re funny looking? Her eyes light up when she hears my voice and my heart just about melts every time. It’s amazing how these simple moments can bring so much happiness. Happiness that I never knew existed before she came along. It makes me forget about everything else…the hard times, the frustrated tears, the postpartum pains, and the self doubt. There’s been a lot of those emotions too and I’m sure there will be plenty in the future, but I know the one consistent thing is that our love will get us through anything. It’s the one reassurance that keeps me going when I’m having a hard day.
This month has found me back in the kitchen a fair amount. For one, I’m hungry all. the. time. It’s a bit ridiculous. And two, it’s so comforting, especially during a time when my emotions and day to day routine are all over the map. The act of cooking and baking is a reassuring daily ritual, so I find myself squeezing in some simple food prep whenever I can, even if it’s a simple pan of roasted vegetables or a batch of breakfast cookies that can be whipped up in 10 minutes. It’s all about simplicity right now.
Did someone say breakfast cookies?? Yea!
These cookies won’t make you feel sluggish or give you a sugar crash. No one wants to start off their day like that. Thanks to the super wholesome ingredients, you’ll be feeling amazing, light, and energized. I made these simple creations because I needed some healthy fuel handy for our early morning nursing sessions. Now that I’m breastfeeding at all hours of the day and night, my hunger sneaks up on me and I need something fast and portable. I definitely don’t consider these a breakfast replacement (my appetite is much too strong for that), but they are a nice snack to take the edge off. They would also be nice as a pre-workout snack too.
I used a base of oats and ground flax, which are thought to help boost milk supply in nursing mamas. Flax has a nice amount of omega-3 fatty acids and for good measure I added a hefty dose of cinnamon to help balance blood sugar levels. No sugar crash here! Feel free to play around with the recipe – I think shredded coconut, chocolate chips, cocoa powder, nuts/seeds, etc. would all be fun to try out.
PS- If you are looking for super easy “dessert” cookies, check out the other cookie recipe I posted on Instagram this week! Yup, it’s a 2 for 1 kinda week. Cookies for all!
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Flourless Thumbprint Breakfast Cookies
Yield
10 cookies
Prep time
Cook time
Total time
Healthy, wholesome breakfast cookies sweetened with banana. These cookies are soft, doughy, and dense—almost like portable baked oatmeal. Have fun changing up this recipe with different mix-ins, like chopped nuts or seeds. Recipe inspired by Ambitious Kitchen.
Ingredients
- 2 cups rolled oats (use certified gluten-free if necessary)
- 1 cup (250 mL) mashed ripe banana (about 2 very large)
- 3 tablespoons chia seeds or ground flaxseed
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/8 teaspoon fine grain sea salt
- 8 teaspoons (40 mL) jam
- Peanut butter (or almond or sunflower seed butter), for serving (optional)
Directions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a food processor, add the oats and pulse until a coarse meal forms. Don't process it into a flour, some big flakes are good.
- In a large bowl, stir together the processed oats, mashed banana, chia seeds, cinnamon, and salt until combined. The mixture will be very wet and dense.
- With a retractable ice cream scoop or a spoon, scoop the dough into 10 mounds. (The cookies do not need to be spaced far apart on the baking sheet as they don't spread out.) Press your thumb into the centre of each cookie to create a well. Fill each well with 1 heaping teaspoon of jam.
- Bake cookies at 350°F (180°C) for 11 to 13 minutes, until the cookies are slightly firm on the outside, but soft and doughy in the middle. Transfer cookies to a cooling rack for 10 minutes.
- If desired, pipe on your favourite nut butter. These cookies also taste great with a pat of coconut oil on top!
Tip:
- To make the cookies nut-free, omit the peanut butter topping or swap it with sunflower seed butter instead.
Nutrition Information
(click to expand)
I love this recipe! My mum will have vegan guests (they also don’t eat refined sugar) on tuesday and asked me for vegan cake recipes. I showed her your blog – now she picks out the cakes she likes and i have to translate the recipes in German, so she can understand :-)
Have a great/relaxed weekend!
That’s so nice! You’ll have to let me know what she decides.
if you Mom is German she might love this vegan german blog
http://www.seitanismymotor.com/
I love how simple these are! I feel like they would be perfect for when I have smoothies for breakfast and then by the time I get to work am craving a little something more. Thank you :)
Ps- Congratulations! Adriana looks like the perfect baby, all of the pictures you have posted have been so precious.
Thanks so much for posting – this is EXACTLY what I have been looking for lately! I’m thinking I could get my daughter to eat these instead of her daily pancakes (picky toddlers…)
I totally remember being hungry all the time too – I craved cheerios, blueberries and almond milk every morning as breakfast # 1. Keep eating and drinking tons of water!
Key phrase – breakfast #1, hah. There is always a second! Glad I’m not alone.
I hope your toddler enjoys them! I’m sure you could change them up to suit her preferences too.
These look fabulous my friend! Yum!
Love to hear your little girl is showing you how much she loves you everyday! I can only imagine how big your heart swells! These cookies look amazing the ingredient list is amazing! Can’t wait to try them
Well, I’m still nursing my 2.5 year old, (I know, I know, everyone tells me to wean, but it’s a tough decision!!) and this is EXACTLY, the type of recipe that I’m looking for when I’m starving mid-morning and feel as though I’m gonna fall over. Having low blood sugar doesn’t help either. Not a breakfast replacement, but surely the perfect snack. Just read that most of us get 25% of our calories from snacks (I think mine is more like 50% though). Nice.
2.5 years is a major accomplishment! I think my nipples might fall off by then…hahah. Kudos to you. Let me know if you try out the cookies!
Pshaw, you’re made for that–nursing means even just one twenty second session over a day, and it’s the easiest way to stop a toddler tantrum cold.
Good point. I forget that nursing duration decreases as they get bigger (or so I’ve read) so I can see how it would be much more manageable long-term. Right now we’re clocking 4+ hours a day, heh…longer if cluster feeding during a growth spurt.
Hi Laura, you go girl. You’re not alone!
These breakfast cookies are about to become my fav!! Holy delicious.
I love when I see a recipe and I have all the ingredients at hand! Making these over the weekend, thank you!
Those look great! I’ve been really impressed by how much cooking and baking you seem to be doing! Not easy with a newborn.
Ha, oh the post-partum/breastfeeding hunger! It’s so funny to read that. I experienced the same thing last year after the birth of my daughter. I remember my parents visiting for lunch one day, 3 weeks after the birth. I polished off my plate and proceeded to finish my husband’s and my mother’s lunches. My mom looked at me like aliens had kidnapped her daughter and replaced her with a ravenous monster…ha. ;-)
Oh and on a side note, I’ve also been impressed you’re continuing to post! I love reading your posts, but I think I speak for most of your blog readers when I say that we’d understand if you didn’t have time for posts for a while. Even bloggers are allowed maternity leave! We’d happily wait for your return. That said, I’m going to go make myself an Oh She Glows butternut squash smoothie. :)
That rings true for me… the other night I cooked a huge pan of roasted sweet potato and delicata squash and I proceeded to eat the entire thing before Eric got any. Oops. ;)
I totally thought I was going to want to take a break from the blog, but I’ve actually enjoyed getting back into it so much….I say it keeps me “sane” having this creative outlet each day. When she naps, that is my chance and I find I really look forward to it!
Oh my gosh these look so goo! I am always a huge fan of thumb print cookies but I’ve always wanted a better alternative! Thanks for the great recipe!
This is a fabulous sounding recipe! I have a friend who is currently going through chemo for breast cancer and I’m on the “meal train” committee. I’ve been scouring recipes to come up with some delicious meals to contribute to the family. I am definitely putting this on my list! Thanks so much for the idea.
What a great idea for breakfast on-the-go! I’m trying this for my next road trip.
Reading this gave me goosebumps! You can feel the love radiating from you with every word. I think Adriana is one lucky little girl to have a mother who loves her so much.
And also one that makes delicious and healthy cookies! These look fabulous. When she gets old enough, she is going to eat like a queen!
Girl. These look fantastic!!! Love the dollop of jelly in the center. Definitely making! I so wish I could come over and hang out with you + baby A. xo
I hope your routine continues to get back to normal with that new baby girl in your life! Also, I totally think these would qualify as second breakfast material : )
So cute. Reminds me of tiny donuts.
thumbprint cookies are so fun! I used to make them as a kid!
Hello!! Our children were born on the same day! I had a little boy. Congratulations! Baking is also one of my ways to relax – it’s so meditative. Do you think these cookies would work without the flax? I have everything else!
Oh yeah…so getting made asap! Excuse my drool!
Wow. Awesome Mama, with awesome cookie recipes :) these look really tasty…like really tasty. What do you think about putting apple and/or pumpkin butter in the center, in place of the jam? Three cheers for cookies for breakfast!