Today was the first day I have stopped for long enough in the last two months to bake something delicious. I am in the final 5 weeks of a 12 week challenge at my gym, so I also have been eating very clean and trying not to have jars of delicious tempting cookies around! However, these are not too bad in moderation, and I have a whole week of holidays and people to share them with too.

We are heading up to the Hunter Valley for a 4 day refresh and relax. I am looking forward to doing nothing and spending some time cooking in a big kitchen and just exercising and eating and sleeping and doing nothing...and also sitting on the porch sipping tea, reading a book and perhaps munching on one of these delicious but healthy little cookies.


'Healthified' Chocolate Chunk & Peanut Oat Cookies
serves 18 / approx. 116 calories per serve
approx. macronutrient breakdown: fat 5.7g / carbs 13g / protein 3.2g
printable recipe  

Ingredients
1 cup rolled oats
3/4 cup wheatgerm
1/2 cup besan (chickpea) flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 egg, lightly beaten
1/2 cup brown sugar
2 tbsp golden syrup
1/2 cup apple sauce
1 tbsp coconut oil
100g dark 70% chocolate (Lindt), chopped
1/3 cup raw peanuts



Method
Preheat a fan forced oven to 180°C and line a baking tray with baking paper.
Whisk the egg, apple sauce, vanilla extract, brown sugar and golden syrup together until creamy. Whisk the besan flour in until smooth. Fold through the wheatgerm and oats, and then mix in the peanuts and chopped chocolate.
Drop spoonfuls onto a lined baking tray, and bake for 12-15 minutes (watch for the edges to lightly brown.)
Allow to cool slightly before serving. Delicious warm with gooey chocolate!