This season is all about cookies. Whether you’re celebrating Hanukkah, Christmas or just getting together with family, chocolate chip is a no-fail flavor profile to have at a gathering. But with all the cookies going around, it’s nice to have a healthy option – one where you don’t feel like you will undo all the work you’ve done taking care of yourself all year. Which is why this year, I’m making these healthy banana-chocolate chip cookies. I came across this recipe earlier in the year and have made them quite a few times. My version is altered slightly to include flaxseed for more cohesiveness. While the cookies are by no means fat-free, they are all natural, vegan and way healthier than your average cookie. But they are still extremely addictive!
What You Need:
3 large, ripe bananas, well mashed (about 1 1/2 cups)
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1/4 cup coconut oil (barely melted) or olive oil
2 tbsp. ground flaxseed
3 tbsp. warm water
2 cups rolled oats
2/3 cup almond meal
1/3 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp. sea salt
1 tsp. baking powder
6 to 7 ounces of dark chocolate chips or dark chocolate bar chopped (I like 60%-70% cacao)
What to Do:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
In a small bowl, combine the ground flaxseed and water and set aside while you mash the bananas. In a large bowl, combine the bananas with the vanilla, oil and flaxseed mixture. In a separate bowl, whisk together rest of the ingredients except the chocolate. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ones and mix well. Then fold in the chocolate. On a Silpat or parchment lined baking sheet, drop 1 tablespoon sized dollops about a half an inch apart. You should be able to fit about fifteen (five across and 3 down). Bake the cookies for 12-15 minutes (depending on your oven) until the bottoms are browned but not burnt. Let cool before eating. The recipe should yield about 30 cookies.
Currently based out of Boston, Jesal is a blogger, freelance writer, yoga enthusiast and lifelong vegetarian who spent four years eating her way through New York City and various other cities around the globe. After answering hundreds of emails and phone calls answering the question, "Where's a cool place I can take my vegetarian friend out to eat" she started Veggiewala to efficiently share her knowledge of the vegetarian food scene with curious carnivores, flexitarians and other vegetarians.