Healthy Chocolate Chip “Kangaroo” Cookies

It went down like this:
We just picked up big brother from Kindergarten and it was after school snack time and I had nothing but a counter full of fruit, which never seems to be just what a 5 and 3 year old wants. So I asked my boys “Do you want me to make animal crackers or granola” both of which would be much better than the alternative quick and easy snack : Chocolate Marshmallow Mateys (I can’t believe that I have that stuff in my house! Yes I let me kids eat it, as a treat occasionally. Like once every 2 weeks, if their room is clean. I’m such a mean mom.)
The vote was:
Ryan: “Animal Crackers!”
Simon: “Granola!!”
Ryan: “Animal Crackers!”
Simon: “Granola!!”

Ah, the sweet sounds of kids fighting over healthy snacks.

And they fought about it until they got distracted by their Legos and so I frantically searched Pinterest for a sugar-free granola recipe. My internet was running at a snail’s pace so I gave up the search before I got sucked into the swirling, time-stealing vortex of Pinterest.
I really love baking and I’ve made plenty of cookies in my life but this was my first rogue, no-recipe cookie making experience and let me tell you it was empowering! I got out my favorite healthy ingredients and started measuring and mixing. When the finished result came out of the oven I was pleasantly surprised the my creation was so tasty!They are a good mix between Animal Crackers, Granola, and good old fashioned chocolate chip cookies. These little morsels are nutrient packed and there is NO SUGAR added to them!






Kangaroo Cookies
Ingredients:

3/4 C Whole wheat flour (fresh ground wheat is best)

1/4 C Ground flaxseeds

1 C Rolled oats

1 tsp. Baking powder

1/2 tsp. Cinnamon

1 Banana, mashed

3 T Butter, softened

1 Large egg

1/2 C Unsweetened applesauce

1-2 T Honey

1 tsp. Vanilla

1/2 C dried cranberries (or raisins)

1/2 C Chopped walnuts

1/2 C Dark Chocolate Chips (mine were Ghirardelli 60% cacao chips)

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In a large bowl mix together flour, flaxseed, oats, baking powder, and cinnamon.

In a separate medium sized bowl mash banana with a fork and mix in softened butter.

Add egg. Mix well. Then stir in applesauce, honey, and  vanilla.

Add banana mixture to the dry flour mixture and stir until just combined. Fold in cranberries, walnuts, and chocolate chips. You can also substitute your favorite nuts or dried fruits.

Drop by teaspoon onto ungreased cookie sheet and press down slightly. The cookies don’t flatten out much in the oven.

Bake for 10-12 minutes at 350 degrees, until the edges are slightly golden.

These cookies are full of omega-3 fats from the walnuts and flaxseeds, fiber from the whole wheat and flax, vitamins and antioxidants from the dark chocolate and cranberries (or raisins), and the cinnamon is a great metabolism booster.  since they are sweetened with fruit and honey you don’t have to feel guilty about eating more than one or two. And you WILL want to eat more than two! 

We have been trying to really cut back on sugar and I’ve cut it out of my diet almost entirely so this is a great way to satisfy a ravenous sweet tooth without giving in to sugars that can harm your health.

And why are they named Kangaroo cookies? Big brother said that the chocolate chips looked like little kangaroos in a pouch. I love his imagination.

Enjoy!