Banana Maple Cranberry Cookies

You know those commercials for the cookie diet? You see them and you’re like “Oh, hell no. There is no way I can eat all cookies all day every day and lose weight. Liars!” So, you laugh at the gimmick and then laugh a little harder when you see the lovely straight-from-Jersey-Shore Snooki promoting the product. But then, then, you see Snookie again and she’s lost like a million pounds and you’re like “Huh?! But I thought she was only eating cookies…” And then you maybe start to believe in the cookie diet a little bit. Right? I don’t know where I’m going with this because I’m not trying to lose weight. And I’d never buy a cookie diet that has commercials on television that Snooki is promoting. But I do strongly believe in a world where we can eat as many cookies as we want and not gain one billion pounds. And I’m pretty sure I found it. A world that contains a cookie diet that works.

I spotted a version of these cookies in Shape magazine and was astounded. I mean, there is no flour or granulated sugar in these cookies. No baking soda or baking powder. They’re made from bananas. And oats. And applesauce. Basically. I changed up the recipe, but followed the banana oats rule and discovered a cookie that’s actually good for me. Bananas, oats, ground flax, and dried cranberries. You can eat these all day every day and will probably lose weight. But uh, don’t take my word on it. They don’t involve kale, after all… But now my mind is working over-time.

Banana Maple Cranberry Cookies (makes about 24):
Print this recipe!

• 3 very ripe bananas
• 2 C rolled oats
• 1/3 C unsweetened applesauce
• 2 T real maple syrup
• 1 T ground flaxseed meal
• 1/2 C dried cranberries

(heat oven to 350 degrees)

Also, this is the easiest recipe ever. I was literally IN BED when I started craving cookies. And I decided to hop out of bed and make these. They needed to bake for 20 minutes, but they only required about 10 minutes of work from me. Easy AND healthy are not two words you hear together very often.

Start by mashing your bananas all together in a bowl with a fork.

Then, mix all the other ingredients together with the banana. The oats, applesauce, maple syrup, flaxseed meal, and dried cranberries.

I’ve never had flaxseed meal, but found it at Market Basket and thought I’d check it out. All I know is that flax has lots of vitamins and healthy stuff in it… And it’s really filling, too.

Drop dough on a parchment-lined cookie sheet by the tablespoon. This is how I dropped the dough down.

And bake for about 20 minutes at 350 degrees. I realized that my cookies weren’t very cookie-like, so for my second tray, I pushed the dough down with my palm to flatten them a bit.

A little more cookie-like.

I know, I know. You’re probably thinking: THIS IS NOT A COOKIE. This is a banana covered in oats and applesauce. Woo hoo. But they’re delicious. Really, they are. Kind of like a nice and chewy granola bar.

Obviously, you have to like bananas to enjoy these because there is a strong banana flavor involved.

But there’s also a delicious maple touch and a nice chewy oat texture. I swear they’re cookies. Really, they are. I had a few after lunch today and was completely satisfied and happy.

Of course, I couldn’t help but wonder what these would be like if I added chocolate chips instead of dried cranberries. Because you never know. And coconut maybe? But I AM a Craisins lover, so these totally hit the spot for me.

And since I rarely post about healthy desserts, I feel like you have to trust me on this one. After all, I’m the first person to down a package of Fudge Stripes or Keebler’s Chewy Choclate Chip Cookies (Soft Batch!), but sometimes I want to feel a little better about my choices. Not often, but sometimes. I do, after all, have to fit into a wedding dress in 4.5 months (eek!). And I’m sure as heck not giving up cookies. Nor do I plan on befriending Snooki.

What’s your favorite healthy-ish dessert?

[Sues]

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