Healthy Cookies – No Sugar, No Flour!

If you’re looking for a healthier alternative to satisfy your sweet cravings, look no further! These Healthy Cookies are made with simple, wholesome ingredients and are free of both refined sugars and flour. Despite being made with just a few ingredients, these cookies are packed with flavor, texture, and sweetness, making them a perfect treat for when you want to indulge guilt-free. Let’s dive into how to make these nutritious cookies step by step and explore why each ingredient works so well together.

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🛒 Ingredients: The Building Blocks of Healthy Cookies

This recipe calls for seven key ingredients, each of which serves an important role in creating the perfect cookie.

Key Ingredients:

1. 3 Mashed Bananas (Ripe): Bananas are the star ingredient in this recipe, providing natural sweetness and moisture to the cookies. The riper the bananas, the sweeter your cookies will be.
2. ⅓ Cup Apple Sauce: Apple sauce acts as a natural sweetener and adds extra moisture to the dough, ensuring the cookies remain soft and chewy.
3. 2 Cups Oats: Oats replace flour in this recipe, providing structure and a hearty, chewy texture. They also add fiber, making these cookies a more satisfying snack.
4. ¼ Cup Almond Milk: Almond milk helps to moisten the oats, making the dough easier to mix and ensuring the cookies bake up tender and not dry.
5. ¼ Cup Raisins or Nuts: Raisins or nuts add texture and additional flavor to the cookies. Raisins contribute a burst of sweetness, while nuts add crunch and healthy fats.
6. 1 Cup Good Dark Chocolate Chunks (Lily’s Brand is Recommended): Dark chocolate chunks give these cookies a rich, indulgent taste while keeping them on the healthier side. Lily’s brand is a popular choice because it uses stevia instead of sugar, keeping the cookies low in added sugars.
7. 1 tsp Vanilla Extract and 1 tsp Cinnamon: Vanilla and cinnamon add depth of flavor and warmth, elevating the taste of the cookies without the need for extra sweeteners.

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👩‍🍳 Instructions: How to Make Healthy Cookies Step by Step

This recipe is straightforward, making it perfect for both beginners and experienced bakers alike. Here’s how to create these healthy, flourless, and sugar-free cookies:

Step 1: Preheat the Oven

• Set Your Oven Temperature: Start by preheating your oven to 350°F (177°C). This ensures that your oven will be at the correct temperature when it’s time to bake, resulting in evenly cooked cookies.

Step 2: Prepare the Wet Ingredients

• Mash the Bananas: In a large mixing bowl, take your three ripe bananas and mash them until smooth. The bananas should be ripe, with plenty of brown spots, as this will make them easier to mash and will also ensure they’re sweet enough.
• Add the Apple Sauce: Once the bananas are mashed, stir in the apple sauce. These two ingredients create the base of your wet mixture, adding natural sweetness and moisture to the cookies.

Step 3: Add Flavorings

• Incorporate Vanilla and Cinnamon: Add one teaspoon of vanilla extract and one teaspoon of cinnamon to the banana and apple sauce mixture. These ingredients will infuse your cookies with warmth and flavor, making them even more delicious.

Step 4: Incorporate the Oats

• Add the Oats: Next, stir in the oats. The oats are what will give your cookies their structure, so make sure they are fully incorporated into the wet mixture. You’ll want to use rolled oats for this recipe, as they provide the best texture and hold up well during baking.

Step 5: Mix in the Almond Milk and Add-Ins

• Pour in the Almond Milk: Almond milk helps to hydrate the oats, ensuring the cookies stay moist. Pour in ¼ cup of almond milk and mix until everything is well combined.
• Add Raisins, Nuts, and Chocolate Chunks: Now it’s time to add your choice of raisins, nuts, and dark chocolate chunks. This is where you can get creative! You can use any combination of add-ins you like, depending on your preferences. Stir the mixture well to ensure the add-ins are evenly distributed throughout the dough.

Step 6: Prepare the Baking Sheet

• Line or Grease the Baking Sheet: Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or lightly grease it to prevent the cookies from sticking. This step is important for easy removal of the cookies after baking.

Step 7: Form the Cookies

• Scoop the Dough onto the Baking Sheet: Use a spoon or cookie scoop to portion out the cookie dough onto the prepared baking sheet. Aim for uniform sizes so that the cookies bake evenly. Once you’ve scooped the dough, flatten each cookie slightly with the back of a spoon or your hand, as these cookies won’t spread much during baking.

Step 8: Bake the Cookies

• Bake for 15-20 Minutes: Place the baking sheet in the preheated oven and bake the cookies for 15-20 minutes. You’ll know they’re done when they are firm and lightly golden on the edges.

Step 9: Cool the Cookies

• Let the Cookies Cool: Remove the cookies from the oven and allow them to cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes. This helps them firm up and makes them easier to transfer. After a few minutes, move them to a wire rack to cool completely.

Step 10: Enjoy!

• Serve and Savor: Once cooled, your healthy cookies are ready to be enjoyed! They’re perfect for breakfast on the go, a mid-afternoon snack, or a healthier dessert option.

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🍪 Why These Cookies Work: The Science Behind the Ingredients

Despite being free from traditional baking staples like sugar and flour, these cookies work beautifully due to the thoughtful combination of ingredients. Let’s take a closer look at why each ingredient plays an important role in making these cookies a success:

Bananas

• Natural Sweetness: Bananas are naturally sweet, making them a great alternative to refined sugar. They also add moisture to the cookies, which helps them stay soft and chewy.
• Binding Agent: Bananas also work as a binder, helping to hold the cookies together without the need for eggs or flour.

Apple Sauce

• Moisture and Sweetness: Like bananas, apple sauce provides natural sweetness and moisture. It helps keep the cookies soft and adds a slight tartness that balances out the sweetness of the bananas.

Oats

• Texture and Structure: Oats are a great substitute for flour in this recipe. They provide the structure needed to hold the cookies together while also giving them a hearty, chewy texture.
• Fiber: Oats are high in fiber, which makes these cookies more filling and helps to stabilize blood sugar levels.

Almond Milk

• Moisture: Almond milk adds extra moisture to the dough, ensuring that the cookies bake up tender rather than dry.

Raisins, Nuts, and Chocolate Chunks

• Flavor and Texture: These add-ins bring additional flavors and textures to the cookies. Raisins add sweetness, nuts provide crunch, and dark chocolate chunks contribute a rich, indulgent taste.

Vanilla Extract and Cinnamon

• Flavor Enhancement: Vanilla and cinnamon are key to enhancing the overall flavor of the cookies. They add warmth and depth, making the cookies taste more complex despite their simple ingredient list.

📝 Customizing Your Healthy Cookies

One of the great things about this recipe is its flexibility. You can customize the cookies to suit your taste preferences or dietary needs. Here are some ideas for how to make these cookies your own:

Swap the Add-Ins

• Dried Fruit: Instead of raisins, try adding dried cranberries, apricots, or cherries for a different flavor profile.
• Nuts and Seeds: Add a variety of nuts like walnuts, pecans, or almonds, or throw in some seeds like chia seeds or flaxseeds for added nutrition.
• Chocolate: If you prefer milk chocolate or white chocolate, feel free to swap out the dark chocolate chunks. You could also try adding cacao nibs for a more intense chocolate flavor.

Change the Flavor Profile

• Spices: In addition to cinnamon, you could add other spices like nutmeg, ginger, or cardamom for a different flavor twist.
• Extracts: Vanilla is classic, but you could experiment with other extracts like almond, coconut, or orange for a unique flavor.

Make Them Vegan

• Vegan Milk: This recipe is already vegan if you use almond milk, but you could also use other plant-based milks like oat milk, soy milk, or coconut milk.
• Vegan Chocolate: Make sure to use vegan dark chocolate chunks if you want to keep the recipe fully plant-based.

Boost the Nutrition

• Protein Powder: For an extra boost of protein, consider adding a scoop of your favorite protein powder to the mix. Just be sure to adjust the wet ingredients as needed to maintain the right consistency.
• Superfoods: You could also add a spoonful of superfood powders like maca, spirulina, or matcha for added health benefits.

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🍽️ Serving Suggestions and Storage Tips

These healthy cookies are incredibly versatile. Here are a few ways you can enjoy them:

Serving Suggestions

• Breakfast on the Go: These cookies make a perfect grab-and-go breakfast. Pair them with a smoothie or a cup of coffee for a quick and easy start to your day.
• Snack Time: Keep a few of these cookies in your bag for a healthy snack option throughout the day.
• Dessert: Serve these cookies with a glass of almond milk or a scoop of dairy-free ice cream for a guilt-free dessert.

Storage Tips

• Room Temperature: These cookies can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.
• Refrigeration: If you want to extend their shelf life, store them in the refrigerator for up to a week.
• Freezing: These cookies freeze well! Place them in a single layer on a baking sheet to freeze, then transfer them to a freezer-safe bag or container. They’ll keep for up to 3 months in the freezer. Simply thaw at room temperature or warm them in the oven before enjoying.

Final Thoughts

These Healthy Cookies are a wonderful treat for anyone looking to enjoy something sweet without the guilt. With no added sugar or flour, they offer a nutritious alternative to traditional cookies, while still satisfying your sweet tooth. Whether you’re enjoying them as a quick breakfast, a midday snack, or a healthier dessert option, these cookies are sure to become a favorite in your kitchen. Plus, with the endless customization options, you can make them your own every time you bake!