High Fiber + High Protein Bakery Style Cookie

I love those HUGE bakery cookies that everyone posts on Instagram but my body doesn't love the fat, sugar and calories that come with those :( So, I came up with this high-fiber, high-protein cookie that feels like I really had a big treat and hits the spot with much better number. I made this a single-serving recipe, so there is no temptation to eat the whole batch!

I hid some fruit and bran in this cookie, and it clocks in at just under 5 grams of fiber and just over 8 grams of protein with much better numbers (and less guilt) than the bakery cookies!

Printable Recipe

High Fiber + High Protein Bakery Style Cookie
(makes 1)

Ingredients:
1/4 cup applesauce
1 egg white (1/8 cup)
1/4 tsp almond extract
1/4 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp coconut oil
1 tbsp brown rice flour
1 tbsp bran
1 tbsp PB2
1 tbsp quick oats
1/2 tsp cornstarch
1/4 tsp baking powder
2 tsp xylitol
1/2 tbsp chocolate chips

Directions:
Mix the wet ingredients together and set aside. Mix together all of the dry ingredients, except for the chocolate chips. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry and mix until just combined. Let the dough sit for 5 minutes and then scoop mixture into the center of a parchment-lined baking sheet and smooth the dough out with the back of a spoon into a cookie shape. Place the chocolate chips on top and bake at 350 F for 8 to 10 minutes. Let cool for 5 minutes on pan.

Healthy Banana Pudding Pie (with a hearty oat bran crust)

If you are craving a healthier banana dessert, this one is made with a hearty low fat oat bran crust and decadent banana (low-sugar) filling made in the blender. My son said this is the best 'healthy' dessert I've made yet and that is a huge compliment coming from him!

Printable Recipe 

Banana Pudding Pie
(with an oat bran crust)

Crust: 
3/4 cup oat flour (oats blended into a flour)
1/2 cup quick oats
1/4 cup bran
1/8 cup Earth Balance buttery spread (or butter)                                    

1/8 cup coconut oil
1/2 tbsp honey
1 tbsp water

Crust Directions: 
Mix together the oat flour, oats and bran.
Melt the butter and then stir in the coconut oil, honey and water.
Add the wet ingredients to the dry and stir until all combined. Let the mixture sit for 5 minutes and then press the mixture into the bottom of an ungreased 8" pie dish. Prebake in 375 F oven for 5 minutes.

Meanwhile, prepare the filling: 
2 bananas, sliced
2 egg whites (1/4 cup)
1 tsp lemon juice
1 tbsp honey
1/4 cup coconut sugar
1 tsp cornstarch

Place all the ingredients, in order, into a blender (I used my Magic Bullet) and blend until completely combined. Pour onto prepared crust and bake at 375 F for 15-20 minutes, until filling is set. Remove from oven and let cool completely before slicing. Store leftovers in the fridge.

Peanut Butter Yogurt 'Frosting' (optional)
1/4 cup vanilla yogurt
2 tsp PB2
1 tsp honey

Combine the frosting ingredients until the PB2 is fully incorporated, let sit in the fridge for until ready to use. If frosting is too thick, thin with a little bit of skim or almond milk.

Plump Raisin and Oat Scones

Plump Raisin and Oat Scones

The secret to these scones is the extra step it takes to make the raisins plump. If you're not a fan of raisins in baking, I really encourage you to try this method, because it really makes all the difference and the raisins seems extra sweet and juicy in these scones.

I wanted to avoid using using white flour in these scones, so I chose to use a mixture of brown rice flour and oat flour, which will both add a nice nutty flavor to the scones, and I added bran for the extra nutrients.

I used a combination of Earth Balance butter + applesauce to reduce the amount of fat in the scones, and also chose to use honey as a sweetener.

They are low in calories and fat with a hearty but fluffy texture...they are not as dense as a traditional scone but are so tender and filling!

Printable Recipe

Preparation:

Boil together 1 cup of water and ½ cup of raisins for 5 minutes, cool in the fridge for 30 minutes, drain raisins and set aside raisin water.

Ingredients:

1/2 cup brown rice flour (I used Bob's Red Mill)

1 cup quick oats (blend 1/2 into oat flour)

1/2 cup wheat bran

1 tbsp baking powder

1 tsp cream of tartar

1/4 tsp salt

Blend all of the dry ingredients together and make a well in the center.

In another bowl, mix together:

1/4 cup honey

1/3 cup applesauce

1/3 cup Earth Balance Original Buttery Blend

3 egg whites

1/4 cup raisin water (water that the raisins were boiled in)

Pour the wet ingredients into the dry and mix until just blended. Fold in raisins and let the mixture sit for 5 minutes for the extra moisture to be absorbed.

Drop mixture onto center of parchment-lined baking sheet and pat gently into a 9" round. Score 12 indentations on the top of the scone with a sharp knife. Bake at 400 F for 12 to 15 minutes, until edges are golden. Cool to room temperature before slicing.

Father-In-Law Cookies

Low sodium, low fat, low sugar, low potassium cookies - I came up with this recipe for my father-in-law, who has had to be very diligent in making sure he now eats a heart-healthy diet. He has had to give up so many of his favorite foods, so I wanted to design a cookie that was still rich tasting but slashed the sodium, fat, sugar and potassium content.

As you can see from the recipe below, I left some butter in the recipe because I wanted to keep the richness of a buttery cookie, but I used applesauce in place of some of the butter to lower the fat content. I used all-purpose flour, but you choose to use any flour you prefer, and I added hearty oats for texture. I added vanilla and almond extract....I find that adding almond extract gives depth to the flavor of my chocolate chip cookies. I used a small amount of granulated sugar in the cookie, but you could sub xylitol if you prefer. I also added coconut sugar to get a brown-sugar type taste. This recipe contains no baking powder or baking soda, which are surprisingly high in sodium, so I used egg white instead.

My husband and daughter loved the recipe...in fact my daughter said I should make them more often, which is a big deal for her because she always notices when I try to cut the fat and sugar out of our sweets!


Printable Recipe

Father-In-Law Cookies

(low sodium, low fat, low sugar)

Ingredients: 

1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened

1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 tsp almond extract

2 egg whites (1/4 cup)

1/4 cup sugar or xylitol

1/4 cup coconut sugar

3/4 cup flour of your choice

1/2 cup quick oats

1/4 cup chocolate chips (the darker the better)

Directions: 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. 

Whisk all of the wet ingredients together. 

Add dry ingredients and whisk until all incorporated. 

Dough will be quite wet, drop onto parchment-lined cookie sheet and bake for 8 to 12 mins, just until set. 

I hope you enjoy! :)
Kiki