Vegan Banana Oatmeal Cookies with Chocolate Chips

While on the phone with my sister the other day, she told me about this wonderful concoction that she made for breakfast.  Into her regular oatmeal, she mixed some banana and chocolate chips.  I suddenly got very quiet on my end of the phone.  After a few seconds, I proclaimed, "I can make that into a cookie!"  

The recipe has very little sugar or fat.  It is mostly held together with the bananas which keep the cookies quite moist.

Ingredients

3 mashed bananas (approximately 1 ¼ cup)

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 tablespoons water

1/4 cup shortening (Crisco)

1/4 cup light brown sugar

1/4 cup granulated sugar

3/4 cup whole wheat flour

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1 1/2 cup rolled oats (old fashioned or quick oats)

1 cup vegan chocolate chips

 

Preparation

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Combine the mashed bananas, vanilla, and water.  Incorporate the shortening to the banana mixture.
3. Slowly incorporate the flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon until blended. 
4. Stir in the oats, followed by chocolate chips.
5. Rest the mixture for about 10 minutes to allow the rolled oats to soften.  If you are using quick oats, you can skip this step.
6. Drop by rounded tablespoons onto greased cookie sheets. Bake for 12-14 minutes.

 Makes approximately 18 medium-sized cookies.

Vegan Applesauce Peanut Butter Bread Recipe

Today I wanted to make banana bread, but I didn't have bananas.  I did, however, have apples.  Is it possible to make banana bread with apples? 

The first difficulty is that chopped apples do not have the same consistency as mashed bananas.  I solved this problem by making a quick applesauce.  While making my applesauce, I realized something else: apples and peanut butter are absolutely delicious together.  Could I add peanut butter into the mix?  How about chocolate chips?  Could this actually work?  Am I losing my mind or am I a genius?  What is this sticky stuff on my foot?  Why am I asking so many questions?  Scroll down to find out...


Vegan Applesauce Peanut Butter Bread Recipe

You can either make your own applesauce or use store bought. 

Applesauce Recipe:
     2 peeled, cored, and diced large apples (I used Granny Smith)
     1/2 cup of water
     1/8 cup of honey (or 1/4 cup sugar)
     1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

In a saucepan, combine apples, water, honey, and cinnamon. Cover, and cook over medium heat for 15 to 20 minutes, or until apples are soft. Allow to cool, then mash with a fork or potato masher.


Applesauce Peanut Butter Bread Batter:
     1 cup whole wheat flour
     3/4 cup dark brown sugar
     1 tsp baking powder
     3/4 tsp baking soda
     1/4 tsp salt
     1 cup applesauce (homemade or store bought)
     1/3 cup peanut butter
     1/2 cup rice (soy or almond) milk
     1 tsp apple cider vinegar (white vinegar will also work)
     1 tsp vanilla extract
     1/2 cup diced apples
     1/2 cup vegan chocolate chips (or chopped peanuts)


Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. 

Combine the whole wheat flour, dark brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a bowl.  Stir in the peanut butter and applesauce (if you just made the applesauce, allow it to cool before adding or your chocolate chips will melt).


Add the rice (soy or almond) milk, apple cider vinegar, and vanilla extract to the mixture and stir thoroughly.  Stir in the diced apple and chocolate chips.

Pour the batter into a bread pan which has been lined with parchment paper.


Bake for 45-50 minutes or until a knife inserted into the center of the bread comes out clean.





(The sticky stuff on my foot was honey that I dripped onto my foot while making the applesauce.  As for the other questions, you'll just have to find out for yourself).

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