Peanut butter banana oatmeal breakfast protein cookies

Before I left for my awesome all-inclusive success club trip to Cancun, an amazing opportunity I was lucky enough to earn through my Beachbody coaching, I made these breakfast cookies. You see, before everything else I am, including being a successful health and fitness coach who helps others, I am a wife and mother. One of the things I love to do (and pride myself on) is taking the time to help my family eat better in a way that they never feel deprived or limited. I love to make recipes and meals that will help nourish them, but where they would never feel like they are "stuck" eating "health food."



Call me crazy, but if it doesn't taste good, I don't want to eat it...so why should they? These breakfast protein cookies are great, because they pack some protein and healthy carbs to give you some awesome energy. They are portable and pack easy, and are gluten free, flour free, and eggless. They can even be Vegan. But the best part for me is that they are ready for my husband to grab and go on his way to work this week while he is home alone with the kids, and to hand out in a pinch for an afternoon snack. In any case, I posted the pictures of these yummy breakfast cookies on my personal Facebook page, and a lot of people asked me for the recipe. So, for all of you and anyone else who is interested, here's the recipe.


First, you will need to preheat your oven to 350 degrees, and gather these ingredients:

• 4 ripe bananas
• 2/3 c. natural peanut /almond butter
• 1 1/3 c. unsweetened applesauce
• 1/2 c. Vanilla Shakeology (optional, may substitute any vanilla protein powder or omit completely)
• 1 T. Vanilla extract
• 3. cups gluten free, quick cooking oats (I like Bob's Red Mill Quick Cooking Steel Cut Oats)
• 1/2 cup chopped peanuts
• 1/2 cup Carob chips or natural dark chocolate chips (optional)
• Cinnamon

I placed my peanuts on a cutting board, and grabbed a sheet of waxed paper. Then I grabbed my daughter's favorite kitchen tool, the rolling pin.


One thing I hate about chopping nuts is that when you do it, the nuts have a tendency to shoot out all over the kitchen every which way as you cut. Its frustrating and messy! This is my way of solving this problem. I rolled, and also pressed, the rolling pin on the sheet of waxed paper. Whalah! Chopped peanuts without using a knife! This may already be a "thing," but I felt like a genius.






Next, you are going to gather your ingredients and get to work! The work starts with your 4 ripe bananas. Peel them and place them in a large mixing bowl. Then, mash them up! You will be making your entire recipe in this bowl, so make sure its large enough. This is a step my daughter loves to help with.


Add the peanut butter to the mashed bananas and start mixing it together until thoroughly combined.


Once mixed, add your Shakeology (optional), the vanilla extract, and your applesauce. You now have your wet base (as in most baking recipes, you have wet and dry).


The final step is to add your oats. Combine them together as thoroughly as you can, without over-mixing. You can also add your carob or chocolate chips here if you want some in the batter, as well as a dash of cinnamon. Let the dough rest for a few minutes (5-10) while you line your baking sheet with parchment paper.


Drop the dough onto the cookie sheet in rounded, heaping spoonfuls. To judge the proper amount of batter, flatten the dough/mold it to a circle with your spoon and/or fingers until its the size of cookie you want, and fairly thick (I did about 1/2 to 3/4 inches thick).

I chose to make some plain, and to push some chips into some so we had options. I also sprinkled some cinnamon on top.  That's it! You are ready to bake! These are not made of flour, so they will not spread out past the shape you have created. You will know they are done when they are golden brown.



After a minute, remove them from the pan with a spatula and place them on a cooling rack. This is also the place where you can score the tops of the warm baked cookies to make them look more like traditional peanut butter cookies- use the dull edge of a butter knife or a pizza cutter to do this.


Thats it! You now have a healthy, grab-n-go treat or quick oat-filled fuel for your day, Try them out and let me know what you think! As always, please share this with anyone you think might love them, and comment below how they went for you! Live healthy, live happy! Love, Amanda


Star Diamond Coach Amanda Noddings
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