Healthy Granola Cookies

Sorry, I have been a bit MIA lately... there is no real reason apart from I ran out of coconut oil and my new jar didn't arrive.. You see, I was a bit hung up on the fact that I was going to make Granola cookies, inspired by my last post and for some reason, I couldn't move on until I was able to share these little healthy gems with you.  

I love a cookie.. I usually could eat about 2 (ok maybe 3) in one sitting, though with a SD wedding in July, I really should not eat so many cookies.. unless, it is one of these.. I can have at least 2 of these babies and not feel so bad about what I just did.  They combine the goodness of oats, bran, wheat germ, sesame seeds and coconut oil while still allowing you that bit of satisfaction.  I have tried the different options below in combinations of:

• chocolate chips and walnuts
• chocolate chips only
• walnuts and coconut
• walnuts and raisins
• plain - no options

I think my favorite combo is the walnuts and raisins, mainly because I am a sucker for oatmeal raisin cookies and these come up trumps to rival my full fat with buttery goodness, oatmeal cookies (I will show you those another time, everyone needs a bit of full fat fun every once in a while)!

So for the recipe, here you go kids.  Hope you enjoy and let me know what combinations you dig.

Healthy Granola Cookies

• 2 cups rolled oats
• 1/3 cup bran
• 1/4 cup wheat germ
• 3 Tablespoons sesame seeds
• 2 Tablespoons sunflower seeds
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 2 Ripe Bananas, Mashed

• 1/2 cup applesauce
• 1/3 cup coconut oil (melted)
• 1/2 cup maple syrup or honey
• 1 Tablespoon vanilla

Options (you can play around with this.  Add one, none or a combination):

• ¼ cup semi sweet chocolate chips
• ¼ cup raisins
• ¼ cup walnuts
• ¼ cup shredded coconut

Directions:
 Preheat the oven to 350 F (176 C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside. Mash the bananas with a fork.  Mix in applesauce, maple syrup/honey, cinnamon and vanilla.  Add the melted coconut oil to the banana mixture.  Add in the oats, bran, wheat germ, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, plus any of the options.  Stir until well combined. Scoop mixture onto the lined baking sheet, leaving an inch between each cookie and flatten slightly. I like to flash freeze first for 15 minutes. Bake for 20 minutes and allow to cool slightly.  

I don't bake the whole batch of cookies at once (or I would eat more than 2-3).  I just freeze and grab a few when needed. Enjoy!