Yesterday afternoon my kiddo and I spent two hours baking cookies. Along with being lots of fun, oh my gosh did we ended up with some delish creations. And it’s your lucky day, because I’m sharing two WIN recipes with you! (In case you’re wondering what cookies have to do with writing and reading and books, quality snacks are important for sustenance and motivation… of course!)
First, the super-healthy No Sugar Oat Drops* (thank you, Blueberry Girl!) –
Before we get to the recipe, let me give you an honest disclaimer: I had serious doubts about these cookies before making them. I mean, they contain NO sugar, NO butter, NO eggs, and NO flour. What’s left for making a tasty treat? Lots of things, apparently. These cookies are fabulous. Light but filling, sweet, and my daughter absolutely loves them. I’m going to let her have them for breakfast if she likes, because they’re just that healthy…
1 1/2 cups regular rolled oats (I used Quaker Steel Cut and they worked great)
1 cup coconut flakes
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon allspice
1/4 cup of almond meal (hard to find at the store… near the corn meal, I learned)
1/2 cup mixed nuts, finely chopped (I used peanuts because I had them on hand)
1 cup dried fruit (I used dates, but you can use anything dried – raisins, cranberries, blueberries, or a combo)
3 ripe bananas, mashed
1/4 cup canola oil
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Preheat oven to 350F. Line baking sheet with parchment paper or non-stick aluminum foil.
In a large bowl, combine oats, almond meal, mixed nuts and coconut flakes. Stir in allspice and cinnamon. Add dried fruit and stir until well blended. Make sure the dried fruit does not stick together. In another bowl, combine canola oil, mashed bananas, and vanilla extract. Pour wet ingredients over dry ingredients and stir until combined.
Using a large cookie cutter, press spoonfuls of the batter into it. Remove cookie cutter. Bake for about 20 minutes or until edges are golden brown. Cool on wire racks. Makes approximately 30 cookies.
And the not-quite-as-healthy-but-still-a-relatively-good-choice Deep Dark Chocolate Cookies (thank you, Divine Baking!):
These cookies are reminiscent of the chocolate crinkle cookie my mom made when I was younger, but have no flour and no butter and are therefore a far healthier choice. And they taste SO yummy. Rich and decadent and intensely chocolate-y. I never thought I’d say this about a cookie, but you really can eat just one and be satisfied…
1 1/2 cups bittersweet chocolate chips (about 9 ounces), divided
3 large egg whites, room temperature
2 1/2 cups powdered sugar, divided (I cut back and used 2 cups)
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1/4 teaspoon salt
katyupperman.com 
Yum, I’m going to try the chocolate ones – thanks for the recipes!
Anytime! Let me know what you think. 🙂
I’m always looking for a healthier alternative (okay, only sometimes), and these look fantastic. Did you use sweetened coconut in the first ones? I wonder how well those hold up for school lunches?
Thanks for the recipes, girlie!
I did use sweetened coconut, but only because that’s what I happened to have in my pantry. I think they’d be just as good with the unsweetened coconut, and I think they’d hold up great for lunches. Let know know if you make them AND what you think. 🙂
Did I hear “no-sugar” and “fabulous”? Be still, my heart! I have to try that recipe; thanks for sharing! (This is also going to make me get back into Pinterest, which I’ve been totally ignoring.)
Ha! Pinterest and I have a love/hate relationship… I love everything about it, but hate the time it sucks away.
Let me know if you try to the sugarless cookies… they really are yummy! Oh, and I’m looking forward to trying the popsicles you posted about the other day. 🙂
Those cookies are making me very hungry.
Yeah, you should try having them sitting around your kitchen looking all yummy! I want to gobble them ALL up!
OMG those crinkle ones…. Now I NEED to make cookies. 😀
Yes, make them now! I want to know what you think, since you are my writing/foodie friend. 🙂
I’m always looking for sugar free cookies. The first one looks amazing! Need to go find some almond meal… I love that there are bananas in them. I have a delicious oatmeal banana cookie recipe everyone thought I was insane to make.
Ooh, you’ll have to share your oatmeal banana cookie recipe. I always have over-ripe bananas laying around and I’m tired of making banana bread. Plus, I’m trying to cut WAY down on the sugar intake around my house, so any healthy recipes are welcome.
Let me know if you make the Oat Drops and what you think. 🙂
I like cookies. 🙂 I’m so not a baker though. Can you just send me some?
I wish! Maybe I can overnight you some? Yes! When your book sells, I am going to overnight you some celebratory cookies! 🙂
Ohh, these look fantastic. :F <– That's drool. 😛 Thank you so much for sharing, Katy! I must print these out and pin them up on the fridge to bake one day.
Haha! Love the drool. 🙂 Let me know when you make them, and how they turn out.
You are such a good mom! Thanks for the recipes! I think my children and I may have to do some experimenting. 🙂
Right back at ya, lady! Let me know how the cookies turn out when you get around to baking.
The deep dark chocolate ones look delicious! Love how you relate everything to writing.
I’m so fortunate to have a daughter who makes me smile every day,
I blush with pride at the woman you’ve become, Much Love, Mom
I bookmarked these recipes a while ago and finally got around to making the first one – so yummy! I mentioned them in my blog and passed on an award to you as well. Now I can’t wait to try the chocolate ones 😀
Oh, yay! So glad you tried them AND liked them. Thanks for letting me know. 🙂 I need to make a fresh batch for myself! And I have to say, even though they’re not quite as healthful, the chocolate cookies are even yummier!