Lunch Box Cookies

Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies
(Made with Pre-soaked Oats and uses Homemade Applesauce instead of sugar.)

These cookies aren't overly sweet, so they're great for a mid-morning snack. Actually, that's just why I make them... to pack in my son's school lunch box for his mid-morning break. I don't want him hopped up on sugar at school AND I want to send some nutrition and fuel to bridge breakfast and lunch... Enter the low-sugar, nutritious, school lunch box cookie!

This recipe is a modified version of the one found here at Cheeseslave and is inspired by the philosophy of Nourishing Traditions (although I have not yet learned to sprout my own flour).



They contain two things you need to plan ahead for...

1: You'll want to soak your oats. That takes 24 hours.
See Soaking Oats post.

Why soak them? According to Nourishing Traditions author, Sally Fallon, all grains contain phytic acid (and oatmeal is particularly high) which is a substance present in the bran of all grains that inhibits absorption of calcium, magnesium, iron, copper and zinc. Soaking (and also sprouting) helps to neutralize phytic acid.

2: You'll want to make homemade applesauce. Yep, you will.
It's easy to make, it's delicious when it's fresh, and it makes your kitchen smell amazing.
See Homemade Applesauce post.

Now you can go ahead and make your cookies!

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cup applesauce
1 cup butter
1 tsp real vanilla extract
4 eggs

1 cup organic whole wheat flour
1/2 cup coconut flour
1 tbs chia seeds
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp kosher salt

2 1/2 cups of soaked and dried oats
1 cup chocolate chips
1/4 cup shredded unsweetened coconut

 Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 F.

Cream butter and applesauce in mixer. Add vanilla, eggs, beat well.

Mix coconut flour, whole wheat flour, baking soda, chia seeds, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt in a bowl then add to wet ingredients in your mixer.

This will smell heavenly due to the combination of coconut flour and freshly cooked apples. Seriously.

These are the soaked and dried oats.

Stir in soaked and dried oats, shredded coconut, and chocolate chips.

Mix it all up on low speed.

Drop onto ungreased cookie sheets. Press flat with your fork.

Bake for 15 minutes (check them after 12 in case they are done to your liking then since ovens vary).

Let cool. Lift off with spatula.

 

Stack carefully into freezer bags and put in freezer. (After scarfing down a few sample cookies!)
I take them out of the freezer as I'm making lunches. They are thawed in time for morning break.

Makes 50 cookies.

 Enjoy!