RECIPE: Yummy Healthy Cookies

Okay, I admit it. I LOVE cookies. But I'm on a diet. Usually, those two things are complete opposites! Luckily, I found a recipe for HEALTHY cookies... and an added bonus, they're SO easy to make! 

That's because they only have THREE ingredients.

Yes, you read that right. These cookies have two ingredients as a base, and then you can add your own flavor (or flavors!) to make them any type of cookie you want. What are these two ingredients, you ask? Are they some exotic ingredient that can only be found in the deepest corners of a Whole Foods or Trader Joe's? Nope. They're probably in your pantry right now.

Bananas and quick oats. 

Now, get over your shock and get to making these cookies!

 I confess that I have made three batches in the past week and still haven't branched out of my original recipe (chocolate chip), but the possibilities with these cookies are endless! You could make:
- Chocolate chip cookies
- Oatmeal raisin cookies
- Craisin cookies
- Cinnamon cookies
- Walnut cookies
And sooo many more!

Now that you've got your creative juices flowing, here's how to make these amazing, chewy cookies:

Step 1: Preheat your oven to 350 degrees and gather your ingredients. You will need:
- 2 medium ripe bananas
- 1 cup of quick oats
- an estimated 1/4 cup of your choice of ingredient (chocolate chips, nuts, dried fruit, etc.) or a few "shakes" of cinnamon or other spices

Step 2: Mash your bananas in a medium-sized bowl. The riper, the better! They mush easiest when they're super yellow with a little brown on the peel.

Step 3: Thoroughly mix in the quick oats. If you used small bananas, the mix will be thicker. If you used large bananas, you may want to add a few more quick oats, but it's up to you! Experiment and see which texture you like the best.

Step 4: Add in your flavor of choice! This is when the chocolate chips, cinnamon, raisins, walnuts, or anything you choose go in. As you can see, I added 1/4 cup of mini chocolate chips to mine. It may not be the healthiest choice, but since these cookies are so healthy, a little chocolate splurge doesn't hurt. NOW it's looking like cookie dough!

Step 5: Grease a cookie sheet and place blobs of your cookie dough. I have seen recipes that say this mix will make sixteen cookies, but I like nice-sized cookies, so I usually make eight. You can make around sixteen bite-sized or eight regular-sized cookies.

 

Step 6: Bake for fifteen minutes. And that's it! You're done! Now go enjoy these delicious cookies!

Note: Even if you splurge and eat HALF of this recipe-- that means FOUR nice-sized cookies-- you're eating a banana, half a cup of quick oats, and a few tablespoons of chocolate chips (or other ingredients)! That's not bad at all for cookies. They are also a great idea for a quick on-the-go breakfast-- with the protein and fiber in these yummy treats, they will keep you feeling full longer!

Nutrition information: 

1 cup quick oats: 300 calories

2 medium bananas: 210 calories

1/4 cup mini chocolate chips: 280 calories

 Until next time,