Rise and Shine with Wholesome Breakfast Cookies

Rise and shine with a twist on your morning routine! Who says you can’t have cookies for breakfast? According to Lauren Zimmerman, RD, creator of these delicious bites, “hearty Breakfast Cookies are packed with oats, nuts, chia, apricots and a surprising secret ingredient: beans! Perfect for those busy mornings or as an on-the-go snack, these cookies will fuel your day with wholesome goodness.”

Breakfast Cookie recipe

What you need:

• 1 Tbsp. chia seeds
• 3 ¼ cups rolled oats
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1 tsp fine sea salt
• 1 ½ cup canned white beans
• ¼ cup maple syrup
• Grated zest of 2 organic oranges
• ½ cup unsweetened applesauce
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup chopped dried apricots
• ¼ cup chopped almonds, pecans, or walnuts
• 1/3 cup dark chocolate chips (optional)

Preparation

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
2. Combine the chia seeds in a bowl with 3 tablespoons of water and set aside for 15 minutes.
3. Pulse ¼ cup of oats in a food processor to yield a very rough flour. Transfer to a large mixing bowl and whisk in remaining 3 cups of oats, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon and salt.
4. Pulse the beans in the food processor until the mixture is creamy. Add the maple syrup, orange zest, chia gel, applesauce and vanilla extract, and pulse until smooth.
5. Pour the bean puree over the oats mixture and stir until everything starts to come together. Add the apricots, nuts/seeds, and cornflakes (optional) and stir to combine-you may need to use your hands.
6. Scoop out 1/4 cup portion for each cookie and form into a patty shape. Bake for 15-18 minutes until the bars are golden.   Let cool completely before enjoying.