Vegan, Gluten-Free Oatmeal Chocolate Chippers

Regular chocolate chips cookies made with butter, two kinds of sugar, and refined white flour can be high in saturated fat and sugars. It goes without saying that they’re usually low in nutrients. But you can have an indulgent dessert and stay on your weight loss or healthy eating plan!

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This recipe is totally different. It uses peanut butter instead of butter, ensuring a fat profile that’s healthier for your heart. The addition of chia seeds lends texture and more healthy fats, while bananas do double duty by replacing eggs and sugar. Use oats and whole-wheat flour instead of white flour for extra fiber, or choose almond flour for a gluten-free recipe. Either way, you’ll still get plenty of flavor from chocolate chips.

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Enjoy these cookies with milk, tea, or coffee for dessert. Or, serve them with fresh fruit or yogurt for breakfast. With whole grains and less than 5 grams of added sugars per serving, they can be part of a nutritious breakfast to start your day.

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Recipe for Gluten-Free Oatmeal Chocolate Chippers

‍Makes 16 servings

Ingredients:

• ½ cup of peanut butter
• 2 ripe bananas, mashed
• 1 cup of rolled oats
• 2 tablespoons of chia seeds
• ½ cup of almond flour (gluten-free) or whole-wheat flour
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• ½ cup dark or semi-sweet chocolate morsels, chips, or mini chocolate chips

Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or greased wax paper.
2. In a large mixing bowl, combine the mashed bananas and peanut butter until well blended.
3. Add the rolled oats, chia seeds, almond flour, cinnamon, and vanilla extract to the bowl. Mix until fully combined.
4. Fold in the dark chocolate chips.
5. Scoop tablespoon-sized portions of the dough onto the prepared baking sheet. Flatten each scoop slightly with the back of the spoon or your fingers (or for less crispy cookies, do not flatten).
6. Bake in the preheated oven for 12-15 minutes or until the cookies are lightly golden and set.
7. Remove from the oven and let cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely. Store in an airtight container or freeze.

Nutrition information per cookie: calories: 130 kcal; total fat: 8 g; total carbohydrates: 15 g; sugar: 6 g; fiber: 2 g; protein: 4 g; sodium: 45 mg; cholesterol: 0 mg

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Reviewed by Natalie Stein, MS, MPH, CDCES