I’m back with another recipe for you guys.  Two in one day… you lucky ducks.

Last week was one of those weeks where I had a few bananas that were way over-ripe and I needed to solve the emergency of potentially wasted food (the horror!).  I started browsing through all my bookmarked recipes, when I came across one for protein cookies that my friend Bethany sent around to some of the gym girls back in January.  I had yet to try it, so I decided to give them a whirl.  In fact, I realized I had never really made any type of protein cookie before!

Here’s how my version ended up looking.  I did alter some things slightly.

My First Protein Cookies

Makes about 16 cookies

Ingredients

• 2 cups of oats
• 2 heaping scoops of chocolate protein powder
• 1/2 cup almond flour
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 2 bananas
• 2/3 cups unsweetened applesauce
• 1/3 cup all natural unsalted peanut butter
• 1/3 cup agave
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 3/4 cup chopped walnuts (optional)
• pinch of salt

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Combine the bananas, applesauce, peanut butter, vanilla, and protein powder in a bowl.  It will look soupy – don’t fret!
3. Stir in the oats (I put them in the food processor first).
4. Then add the honey, salt, baking soda, cinnamon, flour, and agave.  Stir.
5. Fold in the walnuts if desired, and give one last stir until all combined.
6. Scoop spoonfuls on ungreased cookie sheets.
7. Bake for about 20 minutes.

These came out pretty good for my first attempt at baking a protein cookie.  They had the consistency of a Clif bar, which I liked.  I felt like when I ate one, I was satisfying my craving for a snack without feeling like I consumed too much sugar.  I packed these for a snack on Marathon Monday in case I got hungry waiting for a table to eat lunch (I did), I’ve enjoyed a couple on the way to work to hold me over (yes! cookies for breakfast!), and they’ve been a nice after dinner treat as well.  If you want something sweeter though, this cookie isn’t for you!  It is meant to be healthier, after all.  Next time I’ll probably experiment with some different add-ins.  Raisins? White chocolate chips?  Thoughts?

Have you ever baked protein cookies before?  Ideas?  Thank you, Bethany, for this recipe!

I’m off to the Y!  I’m excited to be back teaching class this week, and with a themed playlist too.  Haven’t made a themed playlist in quite some time.  Yay!