Chocolate Chip Banana Oat Cookies
This Chocolate Chip Banana Oat Cookies recipe originally appeared in the Spring 2022 issue of Tracy Anderson Magazine, available now for digital download and print orders.
The Reinvention Issue of Tracy Anderson Magazine features 46 original recipes to reset your routine and reinvent healthy eating into a creative way of life. Tracy collaborated closely with Chef Alexander Browne and our Director of Higher Nutrition, Sandra Rojo, to carefully curate this collection of recipes around total-body wellness. Each individual dish was designed with tailored flavor and nutrient profiles, delicately crafted to enliven the palate and nourish the whole body.
For this week’s recipe, we’re all salivating as we spotlight these decadent Chocolate Chip Banana Oat Cookies. The fiber-rich, gluten-free treats can suit all kinds of diets, whether you have celiac disease or just want a nutritious version of this classic dessert.
Here’s the breakdown on these Chocolate Chip Banana Oat Cookies:
- They’re 100% vegan and gluten-free.
- The ingredients are simple and easy to throw together in a pinch.
- These cookies are the perfect way to satisfy a sweet tooth without compromising your health.
The Facts on Fiber
When it comes to fiber, most people tend to think of bland cereal. But in reality, fiber is found in a lot of whole foods, and should play a more prominent role in our diets. Functional Nutritionist Olivia Peláez, MS, FMCHC explains that the oat flour in this recipe is not only a great gluten-free alternative, but also a source of dietary fiber thanks to the addition of bananas.
Dr. Mark Hyman, a friend of Tracy Anderson Magazine, has conducted extensive research around fiber, and how critical it is for lowering cholesterol, blood sugar, and insulin, balancing hormones, lowering risk of chronic disease, preventing cancer, removing excess estrogen and thereby reducing the risk of breast cancer, generating vitamins and minerals, providing food for the colon cells, and so much more. Dr. Mark Hyman breaks down the benefits of fiber succinctly below:
“Fiber can actually prevent obesity and all the chronic disease of aging. This is because fiber slows the rate at which food enters your bloodstream and increases the speed at which food exits your body through the digestive tract. That keeps your blood sugar and cholesterol in ideal balance—and quickly eliminates toxins from your gut and reduces your appetite.”
Nurture Your Mental Health
The special thing about this recipe is that it’s perfect to make with others. With simple ingredients and easily adjustable quantities, this recipe is the ideal party starter. It’s always more fun to share a moment with your family and friends in the kitchen. But there’s actually science behind the benefits of cooking with and for others: It makes us feel more connected, boosting our happiness and overall health. It’s one of our most ancient practices that strengthens our human bonds. Moments of shared intimacy can be few and far between in our technology-driven lives—and we could all use a chocolate chip cookie moment to reconnect.
Chocolate Chip Banana Oat Cookies
Makes 10 to 12
INGREDIENTS
- 1 large banana, mashed
- 1 1⁄2 cup oat flour
- 1⁄4 cup maple syrup
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- Pinch of salt
- 1⁄2 cup vegan mini chocolate chips
- Sea salt (optional)
PREPARATION
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Peel the banana and place it in a large mixing bowl. Mash it with a fork.
- Add oat flour, maple syrup, vanilla, and salt. Mix until combined. Fold in chocolate chips.
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and drop 1-2 Tbsp-size dollops of the mix, separating them. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes until golden brown. Sprinkle with a few sea salt flakes if desired.
