Healthy Breakfast Cookies (Gluten Free, Vegan)

Recipe Difficulty: Easy

Recipe Keywords: Rocky Road, Baked Oatmeal, Breakfast Cookies, Vegan, Gluten Free, 

Healthy Breakfast Cookies Recipe Notes

I developed this recipe because I needed something I could quickly grab to fuel my work days. Breaks aren't really a thing in many restaurant kitchens where I have worked. When energy starts to dip, something to eat while standing in between prep jobs or during service is essential. I wanted to use healthy simple ingredients, and even though I'm fine with gluten, I know many people aren't so I wanted to keep them gluten free. They come together in 10 minutes in 1 bowl. 

 I used 70% organic chips in these, I am a huge chocolate lover so for me adding them was a no brainer. The marshmallows are definitely optional, I had an open bag and decided to garnish the tops with 3-4 mini vegan marshmallows per cookie. I don't tend to eat a lot of added sugar, but I'm not worried about a tiny portion size. The cookies themselves aren't very sweet, and I just thought they looked really cute with a few on top!

What is in these cookies? Answer: mostly simple whole food ingredients

• whole rolled oats
• crunchy natural peanut butter
• unsweetened apple sauce
• rice flour
• baking powder
• ground flax seeds (mixed with water for to make a "flax egg")
• maple syrup
• ​vanilla
• sea salt
  
• add ins : chocolate chips & mini marshmallows 

Substitutions
I haven't tried other variations but this is what I would consider trying.

• swap crunchy natural peanut butter for almond or cashew butter.
• instead of white rice flour (it's all I could get at the time), use brown rice flour or another gluten free flour.
• instead of chocolate chips, I am eager to try dehydrated strawberries, figs, dried apple or another dried fruit.
• I can see myself adding warm spices like cinnamon, ground ginger, and or cardamom. I would decide what to add based on what dried fruit I was using. 
• You could try using mashed over ripe bananas instead of apple sauce. I love banana, but I didn't want these to be "banana-y" this time. I'm sure I will try it in the future. 

Storage

• ​I recommend storing these in the freezer. They can keep at room temperature for awhile, but there's a low sugar content so they will go moldy if left out too long. (I made that mistake) You could definitely keep them in the fridge too, but my preference is the freezer so I don't have to worry about how long they will stay good. 
• You can pull them out of the freezer for something on the go and just let it thaw, or if you want to eat it immediately just toss it in the microwave for 15 seconds. 

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