“Healthier” No-Bake Cookies

If you’re anything like me, you like to have simple ingredients on hand to satisfy your chocolate craving when it decides to pop up. Instead of reaching for something full of refined sugar, artificial colors, or genetically modified substances…learn to fulfill your craving with “healthier” options. Organic raw cacao, raw honey, almond butter, and maca powder are a few of my secret weapons when I allow myself to “give-in”, while still staying on track with my healthy lifestyle. Don’t deprive yourself from everything you enjoy, but instead learn to find healthier alternatives that feed your body with nutrients.

No-bake cookies were one of my favorites growing up! I had a constant “sweet tooth” and could live on chocolate. Thankfully my lifestyle has changed drastically since then, but I still enjoy some dark chocolate on occasion. There are a lot of no-bake cookie recipes out there, but I tried to incorporate some beneficial foods into mine so it seems less like a treat. These are packed with superfoods like cacao, maca, and coconut oil. Cacao is packed full of antioxidants, magnesium, and iron. It can also help increase serotonin levels and give you mood enhancing benefits. Maca is an adaptogen and can help balance hormones naturally and increase fertility, increase energy levels, and is a good source of vitamin C and iron. Coconut oil is rich in healthy fats and can help decrease inflammation, as well as lose weight!

Ingredients:

1/2 Cup Nutiva Butter Flavored Coconut Oil

1/2 Cup Organic Raw Cacao Powder

1/4 Cup Almond Butter (or Peanut Butter)

1/4 – 1/2 Cup Raw Honey or Maple Syrup (sweeten according to your taste preference)

1 TBSP Organic Maca Powder

1 Tsp Organic Vanilla Extract

1 3/4 Cup Organic Sprouted Quick Oats

(Feel free to add nuts, seeds, shredded coconut or other “superfoods“)

Directions:

In a stainless steel pan over low heat, combine the coconut oil, cacao and maca powders, almond butter, vanilla and honey. Mix well and wait for a mild simmer before adding the oats. Stir in the oats and combine well. Cover a baking sheet with unbleached parchment paper. Drop TBSP size amounts onto the parchment paper. Chill in the refrigerator for 30-45 minutes to set.

Enjoy!