Vegan banana oatmeal cookies and other healthy treats

[mommy212]

I love to bake! so so much! I make lots of cookies, especially. The last couple years those have been slowly transitioning to healthier treats and snacks. I am sharing a new recipe i made today, banana oatmeal cookies. They are very very banana-y, and are very chewy but I like that and so does my 15 month old. Please share your healthy cookie/muffin/bread/quick bread or whatever recipe! We are not vegan, just trying to be healthier! :)

These are also wheat-free and can be gluten free if you use gluten free rolled oats. 

Banana Oatmeal Cookies

3 large bananas, mashed

2 cups rolled oats

1 tsp or more cinnamon

1 tsp vanilla extract

1/4 soy milk or dairy milk

1/2 cup raisins, nuts, finally chopped dried fruit, etc (chocolate chips also work but make a messy cookie!)

Mashed bananas. Add in milk, cinnamon, and vanilla. Add oats and mix thoroughly. Allow to sit for 5 minutes to absorb moisture (do not skip this step!) Mix in add-ins and bake in 350 degree oven for 15-20 minutes on greased cookie sheet.

[allnaturalmom]

That looks very similar to our favorite cookie recipe, except ours doesn't use milk/milk product. I make it in my small food chopper/processor. Here it is in case you wanted to see it:

1 cup quick oats

1/4 teaspoon baking soda

2 large bananas, very ripe

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 cup nuts or chocolate chips or raisins or sunflower seeds, optional

1 teaspoon lemon juice, optional

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grind oats in food processor. Dump into mixing bowl. Add baking soda. Puree bananas in fp. Add vanilla extract and lemon juice (I've found that it prevents the bananas from discoloring in the cookie). Dump into bowl w/the oats. Add optional add-ins (if we use any add-ins we like the soy free mini chocolate chips and chopped walnuts). Mix all together. Drop by teaspoonful onto lightly greased or parchment lined baking sheet. Bake for 10 - 12 minutes. Y=about 13-14 cookies. Easily doubled.

I've also made it in a brownie pan. The original recipe did not call for lemon juice, but I added it because sometimes as the cookies sat out they would discolor. Not that they sat around for too long to do that at our house, lol. Anyway the lemon juice prevents that. 

Funny that I found this tonight as I am going to make this tomorrow w/some very ripe bananas that need to get used up!

[Annie Mac]

I don't have any recipes off the top of my head, but don't want to lose this thread :) Those banana cookies sound awesome & I will make them tomorrow.

[Tara8272]

I just made these with my 19 month old. They turned out really well and I used craisins instead of regular raisins, and a few nuts for the mix-ins. I was surprised out how good the consistency turned out.

Funny thing was - he loved eating the dough even more than the cookies. And, since they have no animal products, the raw dough is completely safe to eat!

tara

www.veganmama.net

[remijo]

Mmmm, sounds great! I tried a variation of this a while back. All I put in it were two ripe bananas and a cup of oats. They were great and simple but got too chewy after sitting for awhile so I'll put in more banana next time (or soak the oats).

Here is my family's favorite dairy free, egg free cookie recipe

PB cookies

1c natural peanut butter (or sunbutter if you don't do peanut butter)

1c wheat flour

1/2c honey

Mix together, press onto cookie sheet with fork - 350 for 10 minutes.  I have also added 1/4 c applesauce and it makes them less crumbly. 

GLUTEN FREE version -  I have also replaced the wheat flour with flaked coconut and decreased the honey (coconut flakes were sweetened) to make it gluten free. Turns out great either way! You could even do half and half if you're feeling adventurous - I am always experimenting.

On the subject of yummy toddler treats my daughter loves - here is an easy one -

AVO Pancake

1 egg

1 ripe avocado

beat together and fry like a pancake in a bit of coconut oil or in a nonstick pan.

And -because this is my favorite pancake replacement when I am not eating grains -

Banana Pancake

1 banana (ripe and mushed)

2 TB almond butter

1 egg

Beat together and fry like a pancake in coconut oil or other oil. It helps to keep this covered at first - it will make it easier to flip. Sometimes I take out the almond butter and cook it like scrambled eggs for my DD with a sprinkle of cinnamon.

And I know these aren't really toddler friendly but they are my favorite treat when I am being gluten and refined sugar free as well (and I'm on a roll here). (These measurements are approximate - I usually just dump on this recipe and it always comes out ok)

Chocolate Balls

8 medjool dates (pitted and pre-soaked - some people boil them but I think this destroys some of the nutrients)

1/2 - 1 c walnuts or pecans or a mixture of both

2 TB cacao powder

1/4c honey

2 TB almond or peanut butter

1/2c coconut

Slice the dates and grind in food processor. Add nuts, grind again.  Add other ingredients except coconut - mix together. It should make a really thick paste. You might have to take it out and mix by hand depending on your processor.  Form into balls, roll in coconut and put on a cookie sheet in freezer.  When they freeze, put them in a bag or container and keep in freezer. These are great straight from the freezer.