Hearty Baked Breakfast Cookies

     
       So I haven't been too frequent with blog posts lately - I'm on summer vacation and I do have a life, people (or at least I like to think I do) so the recipes will most likely be a little scarce for the next few months. As a 20 year old I do tend to like the beach and sunshine a litttttle bit better than the kitchen....for the most part ;) But anyways, read away and enjoy this post because it might be a week or so before there's another one!

       

        I loved my No Bake Breakfast Cookies so much, and I've made the recipe like twenty times (try adding one mashed banana to the mix, my new favorite variation!) that I thought it's time to experiment with some new breakfast cookie ideas. These ones are baked, and they are soft, chewy and sweet, and so delicious! They're full of the nutrient dense ingredients, similar to the no bake recipe, making them fibrous, packed with protein, antioxidants and healthy omega-3 fatty acids. Goooooood morning to you!

   

       Since these cookies are so nutrient dense, they aren't so low in calories. Having one or two for breakfast is a good way to sustain some energy and keep you full until lunch (taste great with a cup of coffee). They are also a great pre/post workout or mid-day snack.
       As always, the recipe is very flexible. You can substitute wheat germ for ground flax meal, agave nectar for honey, any nut butter for peanut butter, any dried fruit for the cherries, applesauce for the oil (lessen the fat content), any kind of chip for the chocolate chips, and any kind of nut for the ground walnuts. So basically do whatever the hell you want and they'll still be super good! Unless you do something totally weird with it, but then I guess that's your fault not mine :P

Hearty Whole Wheat Breakfast Cookies

Makes about 2 dozen

Ingredients:

I cup walnuts

1 1/2 cup rolled oats

1/3 cup whole wheat flour

1/2 cup ground flax meal

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1 tsp cinnamon

1/2 cup peanut butter

1/4 cup vegetable oil

1/4 cup honey

1/3 cup brown sugar

1 egg

1 tsp vanilla

1/2 cup dried cherries

1 cup chocolate chips

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Pulse walnuts in food processor until they become the texture of coarse flour.

Mix walnuts, oats, flour, flax meal, baking soda, salt and cinnamon in medium bowl.

In food processor, pulse peanut butter, vegetable oil, honey, brown sugar, egg and vanilla a few times just until mixed together.

Mix peanut butter mixture with oat mixture until just blended. Fold in cherries and chocolate chips.

Shape heaping tablespoons of the dough into balls and place on cookie sheet. 

Bake in preheated oven for 8 minutes or until lightly browned, remove from oven and push down with spatula to form cookie. Let stand on cookie sheet for a few minutes then move to wire rack to cool.

Om nom nom nom nom...