Day 6: Oatmeal Almond Butter Dark Chocolate Cookies

Long name...amazing cookies! Gluten-free, vegan, gooey, rich...the list goes on! The original recipe calls for peanut butter, but I love homemade, raw almond butter so I whipped up a batch and used it for these cookies. Nut butters are really easy to make at home. Simply grab some raw nuts of choice and blend in a food processor until you have the consistency you'd like! You can add honey, agave, cinnamon, etc...and still have a delicious butter. I like to keep it simple and just use raw almonds - especially if I'm going to be using the butter in other recipes.

These cookies almost have the consistency of no-bake cookies because they are so gooey post-oven. You can bake them longer than 10 minutes, but I love my cookies more on the soft side than the crunchy side. The dark chocolate adds an extra *oomph* to make these healthy cookies a little more decadent...but you can still eat one without feeling like you just swallowed a stick of butter dipped in sugar. That's gross..don't do it. Eat one of these instead...

Oatmeal Almond Butter Dark Chocolate Cookies
makes 2 dozen

• 1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
• 3/4 cup organic cane sugar
• 1 ripe banana, mashed
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 3/4 tsp. baking soda
• 1/2 cup raw almond butter
• 1 1/2 cups Trader Joe's gluten free rolled oats
• 4 oz. dark chocolate chopped
• 1/2 TBS. ground cinnamon

Preheat oven to 350F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside. In a large bowl, combine applesauce and sugar, and beat until thoroughly mixed. Add banana, vanilla, and baking soda and mix well. Add almond butter and blend well. Stir in oats, chocolate chunks, and cinnamon. Drop by tablespoon onto lined baking sheet, about 2 inches apart. Bake at 350F for 10-12 minutes or until lightly browned around edges. Allow to cool for about 2 minutes, then enjoy the gooey goodness with a big ol' glass of cold milk. Or a cute little friend...

Roomie (and coworker and client) Reactions...

Jamie: "Dude the cookies from today were so stinkin' good that it's not even funny"

Stina: "Yummy!"

Megan: "They were so good!"

Brittany: "Supes delish!"

Sophia: "Sooo yummy!"

Lisa Maris: "Best. Cookies. EVER. I don't like to play favorites but day 6 cookies RULES!"