This is our go to cookie recipe year round. We have them a few times a month for breakfast and I send them to school as a healthy sweet treat in the munchkins lunch boxes. They are perfect for an afternoon snack emergency and are tons healthier than most pumpkin cookies out there.
I knew I had to find a healthier alternative to the big. fat. deliciously. sweet. pumpkin chocolate chip cookies from Trader Joes. They are my kryptonite. My mom actually came up with this recipe a ways back and whenever I get that sneaky chocolate + pumpkin craving I whip these babies up.
Much, much healthier. Wheeww! Later Kryptonite.
Thank you for purchasing my favorite healthy ingredients and kitchen products from Simply Healthy Family's store and thereby, supporting this blog!
We make these cookies eggless by using flax "eggs" simply because flax is so darn good for you! They are high in lignans, a fiber like compound and also in antioxidants, B Vitamins and good for you Omega-3 fatty acids.
We also throw in hemp seeds or hemp hearts which are another super food. Raw hemp provides an array of health benefits such as: weight loss, increased and sustained energy, rapid recovery from disease, lowered cholesterol and blood pressure, reduced inflammation, improvement in circulation and immune system as well as natural blood sugar control.
The pumpkin puree in these cookies not only makes them super moist and adds everyone's favorite fall flavor but contribute many good for you vitamins and nutrients as well. Did you know that pumpkin helps your body by
- Keeping your eyes sharp by providing carotenoids vitamin A
- Aids in weight loss from it's high fiber content which helps you feel fuller longer.
- May reduce your risk of getting cancer due to high levels of antioxidant beta carotene
- Protects your skin and reduces signs of wrinkles from it's free-radical-neutralizing powers of the carotenoids
- Boost your mood by producing more serotonin in your body thanks to the amino acid tryptophan, the famed ingredient in turkey.
- Helps your body recover after a workout. A cup of cooked pumpkin has more potassium than a banana. A little extra potassium helps restore the body's balance of electrolytes after a heavy workout and keeps muscles functioning at their best.
- Boosts your immune system. 1 cup of cooked pumpkin provides 20% of your daily recommended dose of Vitamin C.
You gotta love a sweet treat that is good for you on so many levels.
These cookies are gluten free, dairy and egg free and sweetened with just a touch of maple syrup (or honey) a handful of chocolate chips but of course you could skip them if you prefer. Make sure you have a glass of ice cold milk handy to wash down these cookies!
You Will Need
2 flax 'eggs' {2 tablespoons flax meal + 1/4 cup warm water} or 1 egg
1/2 cup cooked (or canned) *pumpkin
1/2 cup natural, sugar free peanut butter, almond butter or *tahini
1/2 teaspoon *aluminum free baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
pinch of *iodized salt
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract (not imitation)
1/4 cup *real maple syrup or honey
1/2 cup *flax meal (ground flax seed)
1 cup *rolled oats
1/2 cup (optional) chopped walnuts, pecans and/or raisins
1/2 cup dark chocolate chips or cacao chips
2 tablespoons hemp hearts
Preheat oven to 350˚F
In a small bowl combine ground flax meal and water with a fork and let rest about 5 minutes. Combine wet ingredients in a large bowl and dry ingredients in another bowl.
Add flax eggs to the wet ingredients and stir in dry ingredients.
Drop cookies by spoonfuls on a Silpat (or a lightly greased baking sheet). Put silpat on cookie pan and place in oven. They will not expand much while cooking. Bake at 350F for 15-17 minutes or until golden brown.
Let rest on a baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring to a cooling rack. After completely cooled, store in an air tight container for up to 3 days. Refrigerate or freeze if storing longer than that.
Happy Harvesting!
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