No-Bake cookies fill me with memories of my childhood. One of my favorite things when I was a kid was when I occasionally came home from school to find a counter full of cookies that were cooling. It was such a sweet treat after a long day. I could rarely wait for them to cool, grabbing a plate and scooping the cookie onto it, eventually shoveling it into my mouth, still a bit too hot to handle.

These cookies are a healthier version of my childhood staple. They are incredibly easy to make and keep well in the freezer for weeks. They have healthy whole ingredients and are bursting with antioxidants. The cacao powder packs them full of calcium and iron, and the chia seeds are a great source of omega 3 fatty acids. These guys will fulfill your sweet craving without the feelings of guilt.

Enjoy!

 

No Guilt, No Bake Cookie Recipe

WET INGREDIENTS:

• 3 tablespoons coconut oil
• 2 tablespoons nut butter*
• 2 tablespoons cacao powder or cocoa powder**
• 3 tablespoons 100% pure maple syrup***
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

DRY INGREDIENTS

• 1/3 heaping cup of rolled oats
• 1/3 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
• 2 tablespoons chia seeds, optional
• 1/8 teaspoon sea salt

DIRECTIONS

• Prepare a large plate with a sheet of parchment paper or tin foil and set aside.
• Warm oil in medium sized pot over medium heat. Add nut butter, cacao powder, and syrup, whisking until all melted together and clumps removed.
• Remove from heat and stir in vanilla.
• Add oats, coconut, chia seeds and salt to the pot and mix well. The texture may be thick and dense, but that’s normal.
• Scoop out cookie sized chunks of batter and place on prepared plate until all of the batter is used.
• Place the plate in the freezer for 15-30 minutes to set.
• Cookies can be eaten straight from the freezer or, once they set, moved to the fridge. They can be kept in a container in the fridge for a week or freezer for about a month.

* Nut butter- my favorite for this recipe is peanut butter but sunflower butter and almond butter work great too. If you use a nut butter that is oily, mix really well before putting it in the pot.

** Cacao is less processed than cocoa. It is pretty available in grocery stores now, but can also be found on Amazon or at any health food store. Cocoa works in a pinch but you won’t get all of the healthy antioxidants.

*** Honey can be used instead of syrup.

#vegan #glutenfree #dessert