So here's the deal…my kids like cookies. I like cookies. There was a 2-for-1 deal on spirulina, and alas….the Super Green Protein Cookies recipe was born.
I should mention, my investigative 3-year old does always double-check, "These are healthy cookies, right mama?". Yes, of course! And they're GREEN! These cookies will awaken the inner Hulk in us all. They satisfy a sweet or crunchy tooth without sending your blood sugar on a roller-coaster ride.
Spirulina is what gives these cookies its color and is a type of blue-green algae that comes packed with protein, vitamins A, K1, K2, B12, iron, chromium, and maganese. With that fresh-from-the-ocean smell and taste, it's best to keep portions small and include it in recipes in which it can be camouflaged (such as these cookies or a smoothie).
I used goji berries too, to add texture, sweetness, and plant magic, but feel free to substitute with raisins or omit altogether. The green-red combo was really pretty though! I'm thinking I'll have to repost this recipe closer to the holidays for the Christmas celebrators. (Can someone remind me? I've got that mommy-brain-sleep-deprived thing going on). ;-)
The key to the perfect crunch is allowing them to bake until the edges are golden-brown and then being patient enough to let them cool down on a cooling rack (or some other place where the air can get all around).
This recipe makes about 24 cookies. I've had a lot of inquiries recently about serving sizes (more information to come on that). To be technical, 1-2 cookies is a good serving for most… per sitting. So just stand up and sit back down to have more. Ha! Wouldn't it be wonderful if it worked like that?!?!
Let me know if you try these and what you think. The million $ question…did your kids like them?
In good health,
Tara
Super Green Protein Cookies
Ingredients:
Dry:
1.5 cups almond flour
½ cup ground flaxseeds
3 T dried goji berries (sub: raisins)
1 T hemp seeds
1 T chia seeds
1.5 tsp. spirulina powder
½ tsp. baking soda
¼ tsp. salt
Wet:
¼ cup coconut oil, melted
¼ cup honey
1 T vanilla
Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. In a large bowl, combine all dry ingredients and stir well.
3. In a medium bowl, combine all wet ingredients and stir well.
4. Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients and mix until dough is formed.
5. On a greased baking pan, place tablespoon-sized balls about an inch apart. Press down / flatten slightly with a fork.
6. Bake for 10-12 minutes at 350 degrees F – until the edges are golden brown.
7. For best results (and crunch!), allow to cool 5 minutes and then transfer to a cooling rack for an additional 20-30 minutes.