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Apple Peanut Butter Cookies made with flax, chia and oats. A low calorie, gluten-free and vegan friendly snack that's easy to make and a nutritious treat! Gluten Free + Vegan + Low Calorie
Just letting you know, this Apple Peanut Butter Cookies recipe was originally published October 2015. I retested, rephotographed and updated the content for you. Hope you enjoy it!
It all starts with a cookie. You see one of the healthy habits I started when I was losing weight was eating an apple and a healthy, low calorie cookie every day with my lunch. I'm a big believer in everything in moderation. If I completely eliminated certain food groups or told myself certain foods were off limits, I would have never lost 80 pounds or kept it off for this many years.
All that walking I did to lose weight, wouldn't have helped either because I have a sweet tooth. A big one! Sooner or later I would have fallen back on old habits had I not made a lifestyle change and found ways to eat what I love in moderation.
That lifestyle change meant looking for alternative ways to satisfy my sweet tooth while still eating healthy. That can be a tricky balance to keep sugar cravings under control, but that's why I'm here. To help you make healthy changes that will stick for life!
After years of sticking to those habits, you need to find ways to keep things fresh so they don't get boring and you don't stray away from them. That's why I'm always experiment with food. To keep things interesting and fresh for my belly.
Like, I was saying, it all started with a cookie. Well, and an apple. Why not combine my two healthy habits I started many years ago into one delicious warm apple cinnamon cookie? These cookies are made with gluten free oats and brown rice flour making them chewy and dense.
No sugar added. A touch of maple syrup to keep the sugar real and low. To make the cookies even more delicious, I added a peanut butter swirl with powdered peanut butter and chia.
Powdered peanut butter is a great way to get healthy fat with fewer calories, but you do need to watch the kind you buy. Many of them have hidden sugar lurking in them! This is the one I recommend.
All you need to do is add water to the powder and you have yourself creamy peanut butter goodness. Drizzle it over the cookies and add a sprinkle of chia seeds, and you have yourself one amazing cookie for 135 calories. Now tell me you can't stick to a cookie eating habit for life!
Apple Peanut Butter Cookies With Flax and Chia
Ingredients
- 1 apples cored and diced
- 1 tablespoon flax meal
- 2 tablespoons water
- 2 tablespoons coconut oil melted
- 1/2 cup maple syrup
- 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup Gluten Free rolled oats
- 3/4 cup brown rice flour
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
For the drizzle
- 2 tablespoons powdered peanut butter
- 1 1/2 tablespoons warm water
- 1-2 drops liquid stevia or to taste
- 2 tablespoons chia seeds
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 F. Prepare a large baking sheet with parchment paper. Prepare a flax egg by stirring together the flax and water in a small ramekin.
- Using a hand or standing mixer, mix together flax egg, coconut oil, almond extract, maple syrup and mix until smooth.
- Fold in diced apples, spices, oats and flour and combine until everything is combined.
- To the prepared baking sheet, add 1 heaping tablespoon of batter to form a cookie.
- The batter will be loose and you may need to form it a bit with your hands, but they will harden nicely when they bake. Wetting your hands periodically helps to stick the dough together.
- Bake at 350 F for 15 minutes until edges are slightly browned.
- Remove from the oven and transfer to a wire cooling rack to cool.
- In a small ramekin mix the drizzle together, you may need a little more water or powdered peanut butter to get the desired consistency.
- Using a 1/4 tsp, pour drizzle on top of cookies and sprinkle with chia seeds as desired.
- Enjoy warm or cold. Keep in the refrigerator up to a week or in the freezer up to 30 days.
Notes
- My Amazon shop has more products similar to those used for this recipe and that I recommend to my nutrition clients.
Kristen @ The Endless Meal says
I agree that it's so important to have healthy treats to stay on track. These cookies look incredibly delicious and the perfect healthy cure for my sweet tooth!
Megan says
Thanks Kristen! If you like sweets, then you will love these!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
Gotta love powdered PB! I just love easy cookies like these, easy but so flavorful!!
Megan says
Right? I don't think I could live without it. I'm glad I do not have a peanut allergy. That would be torture.
Laura @ Sprint 2 the Table says
I love the drizzle idea! I am a peanut flour junkie.
Megan says
You really are. Do you eat the real stuff too?
Ashley @ A Lady Goes West says
All of my favorite flavors! Yes! And I agree, you can't totally deprive yourself of something, or you'll want it more. Healthy cookies for the win! 🙂
Megan says
Hehe...obviously I never deprive myself. Hope you've had a great day Ashley!
Kathleen says
Thanks for your inspiring story and this great recipe I'm anxious to try and so many others. I've never tried powdered pb and always looked at it but thought it was the same as regular. Plan to purchase. I have 100+to lose because of health issues and have made a good start and you have helped me so so much and I really appreciate the tips and recipes etc. Keep up your good work and I am so happy to have you d you a couple weeks or so ago!
Dani @ Dani California Cooks says
I would love to try their PB powders!! I feel like they would make for awesome additions to oatmeal or pancakes.
Also - this recipe looks awesome.
Megan says
Any sweet snack they make a great addition to. I really liked how these had the chia and flax additions.
Beverley @ sweaty&fit says
wow!! i had no idea that you lost 80 lbs - i just read your story on it. thats so amazing and you look fantastic. i completely agree with your point on not giving up certain things. that is definitely not the way to go about it! these cookies look like the perfect snack 🙂
Megan says
Thanks, I sure did lose a lot of weight! One of the best things I ever did for myself and completely changed my perspective on life.
Kim says
These cookies look delicious - I will definitely be trying them out! I would like to try the flax and chia PB.
Megan says
You will love it!
Judiths says
These look great! I'll have to try them out
Danielle says
These look delicious! I haven't tried PB & Company powdered version yet but I would love to.
Megan says
It's really nice for baking!
Sam @ PancakeWarriors says
Yes this is the perfect way to get your sweets in and still stay on a healthy eating path. This has been my motto for years. I used to make these huge protein cookies as my dinner the nights that I taught late night group fitness. I found I was always craving "dessert" when I left, so I would eat the cookie - full of protein, fiber and healthy fats, as my dinner instead of ignoring my sweet cravings! I did an apple cinnamon one similar to this, but the mighty nut on top takes these to the next level! Pinning!
Megan says
Perfect for a late night snack! Sometimes you have to get creative with food to stay healthy.
Dannii @ Hungry Healthy Happy says
Apple and peanut butter are such a delicious combo. I love cookies that are make with oats too. Yum!
rachel @ athleticavocado says
pb and apples are one of my fav snacks, even better in a cookie! 🙂
Megan says
Sometimes the best foods are right in front of you.
Susie @ SuzLyfe says
Moderation and not completely cutting yourself off from what you love (unless you truly need to because it will cause triggers) is one of the great tricks to a successful lifestyle reset. These are a great use of the Mighty Nut!
Megan says
That's certainly been my secret to success!
Michele @ Paleo Running Momma says
Love the classic combo- these look yummy!
Megan says
Simple is always best recipe!
Megan says
Simple is always best recipe!