It is no secret that I looooove me some cookies.
In fact, Eric calls me the vegan cookie monster.
Almost every night after dinner I take a couple cookies out of the freezer while Eric boils some water in the kettle. We enjoy a cookie with our piping hot tea and we catch up. This has become a nightly ritual as the weather gets chilly and we resist every urge to crank up the heat. Our NCIS-a-thons now require a couple extra blankets and a furball who is content to sleep at my feet.
Or in a box…
I’m not just any cookie monster though, I like delicious and wholesome cookies. [Eric always did say I have high expectations…]
Glancing at my recipes page, I have made plenty of healthy cookies over the past two years, such as…
- The Ultimate Oatmeal Raisin Cookie (top left)
- Pumpkin Pie Banana Chunk Cookies (top right)
- Banana Apricot Spelt Oatmeal Cookies (bottom left)
- Raw Energy Cookie Bites (bottom right)
All delicious, all wholesome.
Last night, I whipped up a healthy cookie recipe from 101 Cookbooks that I have been meaning to try for a while.
I will not rest until I have made every healthy cookie alive! muhauha.
Healthy Cookie Bites
These bite-sized cookies do not contain any added sugar, dairy, flour, or eggs. Because they are not overly sweet, they make a wonderful everyday cookie and pair well with almond milk, tea, or hot cocoa. No sugar crashes here!
Adapted from 101 Cookbooks.
Ingredients:
- 1.5 large, ripe bananas, mashed
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla bean paste or 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 tbsp coconut oil, warm (or olive oil)
- 1 cup rolled oats
- 1/3 cup almond meal (ground almonds)
- 3 tbsp coconut, finely shredded & unsweetened
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp fine grain sea salt
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/3 cup chocolate chips or dark chocolate bar chopped
Directions: Preheat oven to 350F. In a large bowl mash the bananas, and then mash in the vanilla and softened coconut oil. Set aside. In another bowl whisk together the oats, almond meal, shredded coconut, cinnamon, salt, chocolate, and baking powder. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and stir until combined. The dough is very loose and does not hold together well, but don’t worry about that. I took a couple tsp of the dough in my hand and gently formed a ball and squeezed it together as much as I could. Place 1 inch apart on baking sheet. Bake for 14 minutes until bottoms are golden. Let cool for about 20 minutes to set. Makes about 17 bite-sized cookies.
Nutritional info: (Approx. per bite, makes 17 bites): 59 kcals, 2.8 grams fat, 1 gram protein, 2 grams sugar, 1 gram fibre.
Gather up the beautiful, wholesome ingredients…
Bonus points for spotty bananas!
First, mash up the bananas with the softened coconut oil and vanilla.
In a separate bowl, whisk together your dry ingredients.
Add dry to wet or wet to dry. It really makes no difference here.
Mix.
After mixing, you will notice that the mixture does not stick together like traditional cookie dough.
Fear not!
For You, are a baking goddess.
I took a couple teaspoons of the oat mixture and gently pressed it into a ball with my fingers. The oat mixture falls apart a bit, but all will work out in the end.
I made 17 cookie bites.
Bake for about 14 mins. at 350F. The bottoms will be slightly golden brown.
Let them cool for about 20 mins. so the cookies can firm up a bit. These are delicate bites!
They are irresistibly cute.
At first taste, I wasn’t sure if I loved the cookies, but they grew on me after I got used to the subtle sweetness. The chunks of chocolate are key in this recipe and add a little oomph. After my second bite, I was hooked and really appreciated that they were more of a snack cookie and not a dessert cookie.
I say, there are times for snack cookies and there are times for dessert cookies.
When I told Eric I made cookies ‘without sugar’, he said, ‘That is disturbing.’
After trying them, he said they were ‘good, but could be a bit sweeter’.
While I agree that they aren’t your typical sweet cookie, I think they serve the purpose of an everyday, healthy cookie. For that reason, I wouldn’t change them too much! if you can appreciate a wholesome taste, you will enjoy these bites a lot. :)
After I enjoyed a few, I popped these into the freezer for quick snacks during the week.
By the way, they are fun vehicles for nut butter hats too!
Do you have any ‘go-to’ cookie recipes that you make time and time again or do you tend to try something new each time?
I tend to try a new recipe each time, mostly for the sake of new blog content. ;) But, I often look at recipes in my archives and I always find myself saying, ‘It has been way too long!’
snack cookie, dessert cookie, love it! i made these a few months back and wasn’t too impressed, but if i would have thought of them as a “snack cookie” i might have enjoyed them more!
I agree! I think it is all in your perspective of what kind of cookie it is supposed to be. That’s why I tried to be clear that these are more of a healthy snack to enjoy with a delicious tea or drink, as opposed to something you’d bring to X-mas dinner, ya know? :)
I will definitely be trying this recipe for two reasons, it’s wheat free and it’s lower in calories than I thought it would be. Win – Win for my family :)
I’ve made these cookies before using the recipe on 101 cookbooks. They were very, very good! Hummm… I think I have some bananas in the freezer right now …. ;)
These are my type of cookie! I love the idea of the “bite” to them and not too bug (but I love HUGE cookies too!) I like your idea with nut butter just so slightly finishing the job! You have some really SUPER recipes and I do plan on making these cookies this week. Thanks!
At home, I make the same 2 cookies every week. I keep thinking when my husband and I will get sick of them- but we just crave them more when they are out, we just love them!
I like to make new things all the time but for our own persoanl stash, we make the same 2 batches. ;)
“bug” it to mean Big of course! typo!
These look amazing I can’t wait to try something similar!
Those look wonderful!
Since finding out I have to be gluten-free I haven’t figured out what to do when a cookie craving hits. Luckily, it doesn’t usually hit until Christmastime. I’m much more of an ice cream girl.
Thanks for the reminder! I love this recipe but never think to make it. And I like that it’s not too sweet (you’re right, the chocolate is KEY).
It looks like we have a similar taste for healthy cookies. I actually make a similar version of these healty bites, minus the chocolate plus dried fruit. I also love my quinoa bars and peanutbutter crispies made with puffed millet. Great afterscholl snack or for me to grab n go befor my hikes!
Brilliant! This looks like a great recipe. When are we going to get a cookbook with all of these fabulous recipes? :)
Holy warm and fuzzies! The simple thought of curling up on the couch with my sailorman in front of the fireplace with fresh out of the oven cookies just brought a huge smile to my face. I think I just may have to make cookies tonight!
Wonderful post about your `nightly ritual`!
I love Dreena’s banana oat bundles from Vive le Vegan. I made a triple batch last night so i can deliver extras to a few neighbourhood moms who have just had babies. They are a great, healthy snack. My kids love them too.
You are the most motivated baker I know, Angela! :) I also have a tradition (compulsion?) to eat something sweet in the evening, so I should really start making healthy cookies like yours!
Spotty bananas are the best kind… These look fabulous and I need to make them now. I’ve been wanting to start a blog, but the thought of having a new recipe every day is so intimidating… You set the bar high!
You don’t need a new recipe everyday by all means…actually most of the ‘big’ bloggers- im thinking smitten kitchen, 101 cookbooks, fat free vegan kitchen…typically have 2-3 new recipes per week. :) I think whatever you can do, even once per week, is fine!
Oh my LORD, as soon as I saw the title of this post, I could have jumped for joy (had it not been so early in the am)! Lately, I’ve been craving a new healthy cookie and was thinking you’d be just the person to look to. I can’t wait to give this recipe a go :) Thank you, Angela!
These will be perfect for my husband! He can’t eat as lot of sugar. Thank you!
Yum! I bet those would be a great snack before a work out :)
Hey Angela! I made your crispy chick pea bites last night… soooooo good! I used quinoa flour instead of regular flour, and it was a hit! Thanks for the great recipes :)
glad you enjoyed them!
Hi Angela! I love your recipes but wondered if you have any suggestions for a banana substitute? I despise bananas but am not super creative when it comes to substitutes–beans, maybe? Thank you and I LOVE your blog! Erin
oh gosh banana subs are so difficult and I am always asked this question! ;) I would try using pureed dates. Add pitted dates to a food processor and a tiny bit of water- maybe 1 tbsp or so- and puree. I’m not sure how much you’d use…maybe 1/2-3/4 cup pureed dates?
The cookies look amazing, and as always, your photos are STELLAR!!!! BTW, your cat is seriously cute!!!!
thank you!
Sketchie says meow