Friday Foodspiration: Loaded Oatmeal Cookie

The kids want cookies and I want them to have a more balanced snack. How about a cookie with protein, complex carbs, healthy fats, and even vegetables?

You might be surprised by the yellow squash puree, but this is actually a great way to sneak in some vegetables to many different recipes including cookies, cakes, sauces, even mac and cheese. When squash is in season I buy extra to steam, puree, and freeze in 1/2 cup servings. Frozen squash also works great for this. If you don’t have this on hand you can use another pureed fruit or vegetable.

So here are my gluten free, dairy free, no added sugar nutrient loaded oatmeal cookies . . .

Ingredients:

• 1 cup Almond Flour
• 1 cup Rolled Oats (gluten free)
• 1 scoop Vanilla Vegan Protein Powder*
• 1 tsp Baking Soda
• 1/2 tsp Sea Salt
• 1/2 tsp Cinnamon
• 1/2 cup Swerve Brown Sugar
• 1/2 Coconut Oil or Vegan Butter
• 1/2 cup Pureed Yellow Squash (could use zucchini or banana)
• 1 large Egg, room temperature
• 1/2 cup finely shredded Carrots
• 1/2 cup Raisins
• 1/2 cup chopped Walnuts

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. In a large bowl, mix dry ingredients including almond flour, oats, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon. Set aside.
3. In the bowl of an electric mixer, combine swerve brown and coconut oil (or vegan butter) until creamy. Add squash puree and egg, mixing until well combined.
4. Add dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix until just combined. Stir in remaining ingredients.
5. Drop the dough by heaping tablespoonful onto the baking sheet. Flatten slightly. Bake until golden brown 12-15 minutes.
6. Remove from oven and allow to cool for 5 minutes then transfer to a cooling rack.

*All protein powders will measure and bake differently. Quality of protein powders also varies greatly. This is the one I use here and recommend to my clients -> Vegan Vanilla – because it has nothing artificial, non GMO, gluten free, dairy free, and easy to digest. One serving as a shake contains 22 grams of protein and 2 servings of fruits and vegetables, along with the fiber, antioxidants and nutrient-packed Superfoods like chia and quinoa.