healthy breakfast cookies (sugar-free)

I whipped these up one morning because I was bored by the prospect of making oatmeal. They're super easy and quick to make. Plus they're healthy and the kids love them. Who wouldn't love cookies for breakfast!? (This recipe makes approximately 18 (1 1/2 inch) cookies.)

I'll occasionally add 1/4 tsp. of mandarin extract for a touch of citrus flavor.

Healthy Breakfast Cookies

2 mashed bananas
1/4 cup applesauce (unsweetened)
1/2 tsp. vanilla
1/4 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 tsp. nutmeg
1/3 cup raisins
2 cups quick oats

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease a baking sheet.

Combine the ingredients in the order they appear above. Mix until well combined. Drop cookies onto baking sheet and press down slightly with fingers, if desired. (Cookies will not spread). Bake for 15 minutes.

RATING: ***

baked oatmeal

My kids love this recipe, but they are also happy with just plain 'ole oatmeal. I, however, can't eat that mushy stuff. So when I get a hankering for some oatmeal, this is the only way I can eat it (aside from oatmeal cookies). So it's a special treat for my kids when we have baked oatmeal for breakfast.

The consistency of this oatmeal isn't mushy like regular oatmeal, yet not as solid as an oatmeal cookie. (You can use either regular or quick oats for this recipe.) You can't really see the raisins too well in this photo, but they're in there!

Baked Oatmeal

3 cups oats
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 tsp. salt
2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 cup raisins
6 Tbsp. unsweetened applesauce*
1/2 cup oil
1 cup "milk"
margarine (for greasing baking dish & optional topping)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease a 2-quart glass casserole dish with margarine.

In a bowl, stir together all dry ingredients. Add wet ingredients and stir to combine. Transfer to the casserole dish and cover. Bake for approx. 35 minutes.

Serve warm, as is, or topped with margarine.

*Instead of applesauce, you can use another egg replacement (equal to 2 eggs).

RATING: ***