As my kids get older I notice more and more that lunch can be a slippery slope. One day the lunchbox comes home totally empty, while other days it’s halfway-to-completely full as kids tend to get preoccupied chit chatting or immediately bolt to the playground at lunchtime to let off some steam.
Nutritionally kids tend to get what their bodies need, so it’s no cause for alarm, but parents understandably get unnerved when they notice their kids haven’t eaten much during the day. That’s why breakfast is so important. Knowing your kids left the house with full bellies in the morning can make your after-school encounter with an untouched lunch box a little less unsettling.
But why do I hear so often from parents that breakfast is the bane of their existence? It doesn’t have to be if you have batches of Breakfast Cookies on hand. You heard me right, Breakfast Cookies!
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, give a kid food in the form of a pancake like Banana Bites, put it on a stick (consider French Toast on a Stick) or call it a cookie and it will almost guarantee they will be excited about eating it.
These Breakfast Cookies are awesome because they have tons of protein, Omega-3 fatty acids to support brain development and carbohydrates — all things you want to get your kids going first thing in the morning.
For moms who prefer not having all the butter of a traditional cookie, I’ve reduced what this recipe would normally call for and replaced it with apple sauce, which also gives these cookies a naturally sweet and moist texture.
If everything I’ve told you so far hasn’t gotten you excited enough, these Breakfast Cookies freeze beautifully before or after you bake them so all they require is a quick pop in the toaster. How easy is that? Your kids will be so happy being sent off to school fueled with cookies and you’ll actually feel good about the breakfast you served!
What’s your favorite on the go food when you’re running out the door in the morning?
Breakfast Cookies
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1/2 cup apple sauce
- 1/2 cup maple syrup
- 1 large egg
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 cup whole wheat flour
- 2 cups old fashioned oats
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 cup shelled pistachios
- 1/2 cup dried cherries
- 1/2 cup flax seeds
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Place the butter, apple sauce and maple syrup in a bowl or standing mixer and beat until well combined.
- Add the egg and vanilla extract and beat until smooth.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, oats, baking soda, salt and cinnamon.
- Slowly add the dry ingredients into the wet and mix to incorporate.
- Fold in the pistachios, cherries and flax seeds.
- Using a small ice cream scoop or 2 tablespoon measure, drop dough onto Silpat or parchment-lined baking sheets. Use the palm of your hand to gently press down the cookies, as they do not spread during baking.
- Bake for 15 minutes and remove to a cooling rack.
- To Freeze: Before baking, after step 7 place in the freezer for 1 hour and then transfer to zipper bags. When ready to bake add an additional minute to the cooking time.
- To Freeze: After baking, place in freezer bags and freeze up to 3 months.
I have loved this recipe for awhile. However, my daughter has a severe dairy allergy which includes hutter. Is there any non-soy substitute i can use in place of the butter? Thanks!
[…] Adapted from Weelicious […]
My youngest son is allergic to apples. In the past I have tried substituting oil for applesauce in breakfast cookies but I felt as though the texture was off once I did that. Do you have any other suggestions?
I am having difficulty feeding a 2 . 5 toddler. Hoping to get some recipes that will appeal to him. Thanks
Thank you Catherine, almost every recipe I have tried from this website has been a hit and I feel bad I have never left a compliment!. I changed this one up a bit and used raisins and walnuts and coconut oil in place of butter. I appreciate knowing I can come here to find nutritious recipes for my family but I have to say, I usually cut back on the amount of sweetener you call for and things still taste great! (Here I used less than 1/4 cup maple syrup. I think 1/2 cup would add too much sweetness that this recipe- and my kids!- really don”t need.) Thanks again!!
Any reheating tips for frozen, baked cookies? Or just thaw and then serve?
Tasty but came out dry – could have been since I used sesame seeds instead of pistachios – to make it nut free and used st dalfour jelly for part of the apple sauce quantity. I really like using these sugar-free jellies especially since raw berries go bad so quickly, take a while to wash and are often sour. Will try again but maybe with some coconut oil…
First time I baked the breakfast cookies, they came out dry and dense. My family didn’t liked them much. This time I baked a new batch with 1/2 cup butter 1/2 cup apple sauce, 1.5 cup of flour and 1.5 cup of baby oats. I also cut the pistachios in smaller pieces. Result? It’s fantastic! It’s not even breakfast time and I’m having a cookie right now 🙂
found a lot of good recipes on this site – this one, however, for us was very bland. no one finished their first cookie. love the idea though!
Thanks for Ingredients and Preparations for this cookies for breakfast Definitely going to try my hands on this 🙂
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[…] Slightly adapted from Weelicious.com. 3.2.2708 Looking for more kid-friendly healthy recipes? Visit my Healthy Bites for Kids […]
[…] thinking about trying breakfast “cookies” for my little pop tart eater next […]
Would you recommend salted or unsalted pistachios? Also, if I substitute ground flax seed, is it still the same 1/2 cup? Thank you!
Just put a batch in the oven! I used sliced almonds instead of pistachios. The batter tastes a little salty…hope it evens out in the baking process! Cant wait to try the finished product with my kiddos! Thank you
[…] going to make these myself, but I am going to try and find someone else to make them for me… Breakfast Cookies! Made with apple sauce, oats, flax seed, pistachios, dried cherries and other good […]