Description
Let me tell you how these came to be: I was running late (as usual) and my kid was refusing to eat anything before school. In a moment of desperation, I threw together some oats, mashed banana, and whatever else I could find in my pantry. Called them “breakfast cookies” and suddenly my picky eater couldn’t get enough. Now they’re our go-to for crazy mornings, post-workout fuel, or when we’re just sick of regular breakfast food. They’re packed with all the good stuff you need to start your day but taste like you’re getting away with something naughty. Best parenting hack I’ve accidentally discovered!
Ingredients
Scale
Base Ingredients:
- 2 large ripe bananas (the spottier, the better – those brown ones you were about to toss? Perfect!)
- 1/4 cup natural peanut butter (the drippy kind, or any nut/seed butter you like)
- 1/4 cup honey or maple syrup (honey makes them chewier, maple syrup makes them crispier)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract (the real stuff, please)
- 2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats (not quick oats or steel-cut)
- 1/2 cup oat flour (or just blitz some extra oats in a blender)
- 1 tsp cinnamon (the cheap stuff is fine here)
- 1/2 tsp salt (don’t skip this – it balances the sweetness)
- 1 tsp baking powder
Mix-Ins (pick 3-4, about 1 1/2 cups total):
- Dried cranberries, raisins, or chopped dates
- Dark chocolate chips or cacao nibs (for the antioxidants, obviously)
- Chopped nuts (walnuts, almonds, pecans)
- Seeds (pumpkin, sunflower, chia, flax)
- Shredded coconut (unsweetened)
- Chopped dried apricots or other dried fruit
- Fresh blueberries (they’ll burst in the oven and it’s amazing)
Optional Boosts:
- 1 scoop protein powder (unflavored or vanilla works best)
- 1 tbsp maca powder, spirulina, or other superfood powder
- 2 tbsp ground flaxseed or hemp hearts
- 1/4 cup collagen peptides
- 1 tbsp nut butter powder