Banana-Coconut Cookies (Vegan & Gluten Free)

Bananas and coconut are two of my favorite foods to make treats with! These tasty banana-coconut cookies are baked with super healthy and nutritious ingredients. They are soft and slightly cake-like, similar to a muffin top texture. I actually will eat these for breakfast or for a healthy snack. Enjoy!

Makes about 13 cookies

Ingredients:

• 2 Ripe Bananas
• 10 Pitted Medjool Dates
• 1 T Chia Seeds
• 3 T Melted Coconut Oil
• 1/2 C Cashew Butter (unsweetened)
• 2 t Vanilla Extract
• 1 C Coconut Flour
• 3/4 C Unsweetened Shredded Coconut (plus a few extra tablespoons for garnish)
• 1 t Cinnamon
• 1 t Baking Powder
• 1/2 t Salt

Instructions:

1. Put the 10 dates in a small bowl. Cover with water for 20 minutes until they are softened. Drain the water from the bowl. Set the dates aside.
2. Preheat the oven to 350 Degrees Fahrenheit.
3. In another small bowl, mix the 1 T of chia seeds with 2.5 T of water and let it sit for 5 minutes until it becomes a gel-like substance. Set aside.
4. In a blender or food processor, blend the dates with the 2 bananas, 3 T of melted coconut oil, and 1/2 C of cashew butter until it is smooth and creamy. Transfer the mixture to a mixing bowl.
5. Add the 2 t of vanilla extract and the chia gel. Mix with an electric hand beater.
6. Now add the dry ingredients: 1 C coconut flour, 3/4 C Shredded Coconut, 1 t of cinnamon, 1 t of baking powder, and 1/2 t salt. Mix with the beater until a smooth dough is formed.
7. Line a baking tray with parchment paper. Take a scoop of the dough and roll it into a cookie shape. My scoops are about 2 tablespoons in size. Line the cookies on the baking tray. Continue doing this until all the dough is used. Sprinkle each cookie with shredded coconut. 
8. Put the baking tray in the oven and bake for 30-32 minutes. The cookies should be golden on the outside and soft on the inside when they are ready.

Benefits of this recipe:

-Bananas boost energy, are high in potassium, improves digestive health, and is a good source of brain, skin, and bone health-boosting manganese.

-Dates have high levels of soluble fiber which optimizes digestion. They also decrease cholesterol, boost energy, and boost bone health.

-Shredded Coconut and Coconut Flour contain a good source of iron, zinc, protein, and fiber.

The information on the benefits of the ingredients was researched from http://www.healthline.com and http://www.draxe.com

Superfood Balls: 4 Ways

You will never look in my refrigerator and not see superfood balls. These are my snack of choice. They are medjool date-based which is amazing for your digestive system, and that is wonderful for someone with a sensitive tummy like me. These are great because you can easily interchange the ingredients. Don’t have hemp seeds? Leave them out. Just add a little bit of extra oats to make up for it. Any of these ingredients can be switched around to your liking. I have shared with you my current favorite flavors of superfood balls: Matcha Cacao, Cinnamon Pecan, Lemon Coconut, and Hazelnut Brownie. Enjoy!

Matcha Cacao Superfood Balls

If you like matcha green tea, you will LOVE these Matcha Cacao Balls. I like to enjoy one of these in the morning when I get to the office with my green tea.

Preparation Time: 20 minutes

Ingredients:

• 15 Medjool Pitted Dates
• 1/2 C Almond Flour
• 1/4 C Tocos Powder (optional)
• 1 T Matcha Green Tea Powder
• Dash of Cinnamon
• 3/4 C Coconut Flakes
• 10 Raw Cashews
• 1/4 C Coconut Milk
• 3/4 C Oats
• 1 T Hemp Seeds
• 1 T Water

Instructions:

1. Combine all of the ingredients in the food processor and pulse on high until it is blended smoothly. At the end, throw a small handful of extra coconut flakes and pulse for a few seconds to give the mixture some texture.
2. Roll into balls. I made mine about 1 1/2″ in circumference. The mixture makes about 10 balls.
3. Store the superfood balls in the fridge.

 

Cinnamon Pecan Superfood Balls

These Cinnamon Pecan Balls are the real deal. They are absolutely delicious. You are in for a treat!

Preparation Time: 20 minutes

Ingredients:

• 15 Medjool Pitted Dates
• 1 1/4 C Raw Pecans
• 1/2 C Oats
• 1 t Maca Powder
• 3 t Cinnamon
• 2 T Tocos Powder (optional)
• 1/2 t Organic Vanilla Extract
• 2 1/2 T Almond Milk
• 1 t Maple Syrup
• 1/4 C Raw Pumpkin Seeds

Instructions:

1. Combine all of the ingredients (except the pumpkin seeds) in the food processor and pulse on high until it is blended smoothly. Once everything is blended, stir in the pumpkin seeds with a wooden spoon.
2. Roll into balls. I made mine about 1 1/2″ in circumference. The mixture makes about 10 balls.
3. Store the superfood balls in the fridge.

 

Lemon Coconut Superfood Balls

These superfood balls definitely have a sweet zing to them!

Preparation Time: 20 minutes

Ingredients:

• 12 Medjool Pitted Dates
• 1/4 C Coconut Flour
• 3 T Melted Coconut Oil
• 1/2 C Raw Cashews
• 1 C Shredded Coconut (Separated)
• Juice of 1/2 a lemon (measures out to a little under 1/4 C)
• 1/4 t organic vanilla extract
• 1 T Hemp Seeds
• 1 T Chia Seeds
• 1 T Tocos Powder (optional)
• Zest of about 1/2 a lemon
• 2 T Coconut Milk

Instructions:

1. Separate the shredded coconut into 2 parts: 1/2 C into the food processor and 1/2 C into a small bowl.
2. Combine all of the rest of the ingredients in the food processor and pulse on high until it is blended smoothly.
3. Roll into balls. I made mine about 1 1/2″ in circumference. The mixture makes about 10 balls.
4. Finally, roll the balls around in the bowl of shredded coconut until each ball is lightly covered in coconut.
5. Store the superfood balls in the fridge.

 

Hazelnut Brownie Superfood Balls

Preparation Time: 20 minutes

Ingredients:

• 20 Medjool Pitted Dates
• 2 T Melted Coconut Oil
• 3/4 C Hazlenuts
• 1/2 C Oats
• 3 T Cacao Powder
• 2 T Almond Milk
• 2 T Maple Syrup
• 2 T Flax Seeds
• 1 T Chia Seeds
• 1/4 C Almond Flour
• 1 T Tocos Powder (optional)
• Dash of Cinnamon
• 1/4 t Organic Vanilla Extract

Instructions:

1. Combine all of the ingredients in the food processor and pulse on high until it is blended smoothly.
2. Roll into balls. I made mine about 1 1/2″ in circumference. The mixture makes about 13 balls.
3. Store the superfood balls in the fridge.

 

Benefits of these recipes:

-Dates have high levels of soluble fiber which optimizes digestion. They also decrease cholesterol, boost energy, and boost bone health.

-Coconut Flakes and Coconut Flour contain iron, zinc, protein, and fiber.

-Tocos Powder (short for tocotrienols) is a “skin superfood”. It is a relative of Vitamin E which is beneficial to skin health and connective tissue.

-The chia seeds, hemp seeds, and flax seeds are high in Omega-3s, protein and antioxidants, great for heart health and skin, can lower cholesterol, are rich in calcium, zinc, and iron, and are beneficial to your digestion.

-Oats are high in fiber, reduces heart disease risk, and lowers cholesterol.

The benefits of these ingredients were researched from http://www.draxe.com