Maple Pecan Energy Cookies (GF)

I feel like I post a ton of sweets recipes. This is partly because I have a sweet tooth but also because sweets are something people struggle with when trying to eat more healthy. Eating healthy doesn't mean we have to deprive our sweet cravings. The key is to find healthier ways to satiate those cravings. So yes, I eat more than enough veggies and cut out gluten, but that doesn't mean I don't get sweets. Ice cream, "real" cookies, and candy make their way into my diet, but when I'm really wanting to fuel my body and get a treat at the same time I reach for something like this. I titled these as "cookies" because I got fancy with a butterfly cookie cutter, but their really energy balls or energy bars.

These're the perfect post-workout fuel or snack because they have protein, fiber, vitamins, and minerals, and are low refined sugar. Garbanzo beans and pecans are both great sources of fiber, protein, and healthy fats which help keep you full. Also, I added Trader Joe's Super Seed and Ancient Grain Blend which is a mixture of chia, flax, hemp, red quinoa, amaranth and sprouted grains. Benefits include Omega-3 fatty acids, fiber, and protein. Are you sensing a trend here? The last superstar ingredient is dates. Dates do have sugar which makes them a little less "healthy" but using them as a sweetener is much better than sugar and they have so many good things going for them, they're one of my favorite snacks. Dates are a good source of energy, have calcium, iron, phosphorus, sodium, potassium, magnesium, and zinc and contain vitamins such as thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, folate, vitamin A, and vitamin K. Add them to recipes or eat them on their own, dates are a great thing to add to your diet!

Like I said above I usually make these into balls or bars and keep them in the freezer for snacks but the texture is perfect to press out some fun shapes for special occasions. I simply pat the dough out to my desired thickness and place the flattened disk in the freezer for a few minutes. Once it's stiff enough, I cut out the cookies and store them in the freezer just like I would the balls.

Ingredients

Makes 6 cookies or about 10-12 balls depending on size

5 dates

1/4 cup GF oats

2 TBSP garbanzo bean flour or almond flour

2 tsp super seed blend (just use chia seeds if you don't have a blend)

1/2 cup pecans

1 TBSP coconut oil

2 TBSP real maple syrup

1 tsp vanilla

1/4 tsp cinnamon

Mixing the dough

Flattened

Butterfly cookies

Directions

1. Put all dry ingredients and dates in the food processor and blend on high until everything is well combined.

2. Add wet ingredients and process on high until the dough is completely combined/sticks together. I let mine process until most of the dough combines and stays in a ball as it's processing. The mixture will be slightly sticky but hold together and is easy to roll into balls. If it seems to wet add a little more flour.

3. To make into balls- roll into desired size and store in the freezer.

4. To make into cookies- flatten out the dough ball and let it harden in the freezer. Once stiff cut with a cookie cutter of your choice. I usually get two cuts than have to roll up excess and re-flatten. If your dough gets too soft to work with simply flatten it out and place in the freezer for a few minutes. Repeat until all the dough is used up!

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