Vegan Quinoa Cookies (again)

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Because it’s New Year and everyone is making healthy eating resolutions, I thought I’d make a batch of my favorite vegan cookies from an August post.  You heard right- vegan.

Usually vegan conjures images of green stuff in jars, weird substitutions that never taste like whatever they’re replacing and awkward pauses when friends say “uh…. I can’t eat that.”

No longer.

Vegan Quinoa Cookies taste like cookies.  They have chocolate chips and are healthy enough to tame cravings as you’re embracing a healthier lifestyle.  Give them a try- you’ll be pleasantly surprised!

Vegan Quinoa Cookies

Makes 24 cookies

Ingredients:

• 1/2 C uncooked quinoa
• 1 C- 1 1/4 C water
• 1 C rolled oats
• 1 C whole wheat flour
• 1 C raw or turabindo sugar (not vegan?  Substitute brown sugar)
• 1 1/4 C shredded coconut
• 1 t baking soda
• 1 t baking powder
• 1 t salt
• 1 t vanilla
• 2 ripe bananas
• 1 medium apple
• 1/2 C peanut butter
• 1 1/2 C semisweet chocolate chips (some are vegan some are not… read the ingredients)
• 1 C pecans or almonds
• Extra raw sugar for sprinkling

Directions:

Heat oven to 350.  Line cookie sheets with parchment paper.

Boil 1/2 C quinoa with 1 C water.  Reduce heat to medium low and stir.  Cover until all liquid is absorbed.  Try a tiny bite of quinoa to make sure it’s cooked.  If it’s crunchy, add a little more water.  Set aside to cool.

Core apple.  Do not peel.  Use food processor to combine apple with ripe bananas.  Set aside.

Use stand mixer to combine cooked quinoa, rolled oats, whole wheat flour, raw sugar, shredded coconut, baking powder, baking soda, salt, vanilla, peanut butter, pecans and chocolate chips.

Add pureed fruit and mix well.

Scoop dough in 2 inch balls onto cookie sheet.  Flatten slightly.  I made 6 at a time.  Dough is wet but will hold together.  Sprinkle with raw sugar so they are pretty on top.

Bake 10 minutes on the bottom rack.  Rotate pan and move to top rack for 10 more minutes.  Cookies should bake for 20-25 minutes total and be golden brown on the edges.

Allow to cool for 5 minutes on cookie sheet.  Transfer to cooling rack.

Feed the cookies to friends and family and watch their eyes bug when you tell them how healthy these cookies are.  They won’t believe you!

PS.  I don’t bake vegan treats often so I apologize if it’s inaccurate.  I’d love tips or tricks if anyone has ideas.

PPS.  Yes the picture has white chocolate chips.  No these aren’t vegan.  I forgot I couldn’t use them after I baked…  I had leftover white chocolate from Copycat Cranberry Bliss Bars.  But if you must have white chocolate, you can find a vegan option.

Based on “Quinoa Cookies Recipe,” allrecipes.com by Liz