Banana Breakfast Cookies
Oatmeal doesn't get a lot of love. And to be honest, I get it. A bowl of oatmeal is not the most glamorous of breakfasts, although with some brown sugar it's not too shabby! But even if you enjoy the taste, there's nothing pretty about it. And these cookies may not be the prettiest thing you've ever seen either, but they look more appealing to me than a bowl of mush!
I've had a lot of friends get really into clean eating, but I haven't been able to bring myself to try it yet. I do try to keep myself in check (she wrote, as she digested the Jack Brown's burger and fried oreo she consumed just hours ago), and not over-do it with the unhealthy foods. But I can't resist treating myself now and again! Food is one of the primary joys in my life.
To balance things out, sometimes I have to make healthier-than-normal things at home, like these banana breakfast cookies. As far as baking goes, this is about as "clean" as I get – these are made with just banana, peanut butter, oats, craisins, and cinnamon. Now, in the interest of honesty, I use Jif, which is not natural peanut butter. And sometimes I get dried cranberries that have been sweetened with juice. But trust me, guys, for me – this is super healthy. I didn't even add chocolate chips! (That's not to say that I won't add them next time, or that you shouldn't use them. Let's be real, I didn't add them this time because I literally don't have any in the pantry.)
These aren't going to be the most amazing cookies you've ever had. I'm just going to throw that out there. There's no flour, egg, or butter. It's hard to beat that combination. But for a light breakfast, they're a nice treat, fluffy in texture and only slightly sweet. Best of all, they're good for your heart! And some mornings, that's all we can ask for.
BANANA BREAKFAST COOKIES
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Bake Time: 15 minutes
Makes 10 cookies
Ingredients
2 very ripe bananas, medium size
1¼ cup quick oats
3 T peanut butter
3 T craisins*
¼ t cinnamon
*Feel free to use chocolate chips or nuts instead of (or as well as) craisins!
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 F.
In a small bowl, use a fork or a masher to mash the bananas. Stir in the peanut butter, craisins, cinnamon, and oats – if you're using smaller bananas, start with just 1 cup of oats and add more if needed. The amount you need can vary a little based on the size of the bananas you're using.
Once your "batter" is well-mixed, generously spray a cookie sheet with oil. Drop the dough in large dollops on the tray, about 2 T in size. You should have 10 cookies, if that helps with the sizing!
Bake for 15 minutes. Enjoy while warm, or reheat in the microwave for a few seconds to eat them later!
Happy Eating,
Natalie