I usually don’t publish recipes, but this one is just too simple, high-quality and tasty NOT to send along to you. It’s my personal favorite healthy treat when nothing else is looking to fill the void in a nutritious way. It’s six simple ingredients and just a few minutes of time:
- 1 cup of rolled oats (I use gluten-free quick-cooking oats)
- 1 cup shredded, unsweetened coconut (I prefer mine toasted)
- 1 cup golden, ground flaxseed
- 1 cup mini semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1-1/2 cups organic, creamy peanut butter (the more “liquidy”, the better for mixing)
- 1 cup honey
If you’ve purchased shredded coconut, you can use that, as is. But I like to toast it in the oven ahead of time for a crispier texture. To toast the shredded coconut, spread a thin layer on a cookie sheet and bake at 350 degrees for 5-10 minutes. Watch it carefully and remove from oven when golden brown.
Mix the dry ingredients together in large bowl. Add honey and peanut butter. Sometimes I add more honey or peanut butter, depending on how dry the mix is. And if it’s too wet, you can add more oats. It should be a consistency that when packed together, it sticks well. Then I use a cookie dough dropper to make a rounded shape.
And that’s it! No baking necessary! But it tastes a bit like a chocolate chip oatmeal cookie. And it takes just minutes to prepare.
This is also a healthy, high protein snack. So it will fill you in between meals and even ease a sweet tooth. This tasty treat offers you a good deal of fiber from the oats, flaxseed and coconut. It also provides protein that fills you up from the peanut butter, and it contains healthy minerals such as iron and zinc. Plus it’s lower in sugar than many other snack options. So it gives you the boost you need when hungry for something sweet.
Enjoy!