Recipe: Oatmeal Sultana Cookies

So I have had a lot of people ask me how I manage to bake so many delicious things all the time and still be a health fanatic.  Part of this answer lies in my belief in living a preservative free lifestyle… which basically means nothing pre-packaged or with numbers written instead of whole ingredients.  So when I am eating something delicious like a cake, pudding, biscuit or tart that is home made, I am satisfied in knowing the quantity and quality of the ingredients I am using.

In light of that, I do like to eat fairly well the remainder of the time just so I can indulge in an emazingly sweet treat, guilt free on the weekend.  So here is one of my recipes that I have during the week, usually before or after the gym for the extra pick me up pre or post workout.  I also add unflavored protein powder to mine but I have made the recipe for you without it.  These are completely, sugar-free, wheat free, egg free and gluten free!  And are filled with wholesome ingredients like bananas, oats, and raisins.  You can’t compare these to a normal cookie (one that starts with “cream 250grams of butter with 2 cups of sugar”), but you can compare them to a muesli bar or oatmeal cookie and they are just as good and a lot better for you.  I have given you a few alternatives too in terms of the ingredients you can use so that if you are not a fan of banana’s or peanut butter you can change it up.  Because there are no preservatives and only natural ingredients your body will be able to process them a lot quicker :) Just another benefit.

Ingredients:

1/2 cup gluten free rolled oats

1 over-ripe banana (mashed) or ½ a cup of apple-sauce

1/4 cup nut (almond, cashew) butter (you can use peanut or coconut butter also)

1/4 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract

3 tbsp sultanas (or other dried fruit, or even chocolate chips)

1/16 tsp salt

¼ cup of shredded coconut

Honey to your sweetness (I don’t add anything to mine)

Method:

1.     Preheat the oven to 180 degrees;

2.     Mash the applesauce or banana with the nut butter, then add all other ingredients and mix until well-combined; and

3.     Shape into cookies and bake for around 14 minutes.

Tips:

If you don’t like sultans you can change this to other fruits, add chia or flax seeds.

I do not add any sugar to mine but if you feel that you need it by all means add away.

I made mine using my homemade coconut butter, but you can of course use any type.

I also add some (2 tablespoons) unflavored protein powder to mine for a before or after gym snack. 

Nutritional value per cookie:

Calories:  35 calories each

Fat: 2.5g

Carbs: 6g

Protein: 1.5g

Added sugars: 0 grams

Fiber: 1g