Healthy No-Bake Almond-Coconut Cookies

I struggle with healthy eating, I really do. One part of me says things like, “only eat healthy foods”, and the other says “don’t be orthorexic!”

But I’ve learned that the second I start giving into sugar, and the resulting blog sugar spikes, my eating habits spiral out of control, and it’s hard to get back on track!

No-bake cookies are a particular weakness of mine, but as I mentioned back in my first healthy no-bake cookies recipe post, they don’t have to be! In fact, the healthy version is actually pretty beneficial:

The almond butter packs protein. As an aspiring functional fitness nut, I try to eat as much protein as I can, and obviously, you can’t eat meat all day long, so whatever treats I make, I do my best to add more protein! Almond butter packs six grams of protein per 1 oz. serving, which goes a long way toward keeping hunger at bay.

Coconut oil is full of health benefits, and I’ve been working at eating more of it. Surprisingly, I’ve found that I don’t actually like it as much as I thought I did. Desserts are pretty much the only way for me, so these almond joy cookies are an easy way to achieve my goal.

Maple Syrup is one of my favorite things. Yes, it’s expensive, so it’s definitely a splurge, but I like to buy grade B syrup, and not just because it’s cheaper – It’s a great source of antioxidants! Maple syrup also happens to have a lower glycemic index than refined sugars.

Oatmeal is a no-bake cookie’s best friend, and it’s a great source of fiber and whole-grain nutrition. I use gluten-free oats for my family to protect against wheat cross-contamination, so that’s what this recipe calls for, but of course, you can feel free to use your favorite rolled oats in their place.

So see? You can have your no-bake cookies and eat them too!

Funny story: Garrett had his first-ever tumbling class the day I first made these cookies. I put them in the refrigerator right before we left. It was a tough hour-long session the almost 90º heat for my poor out-of-shape kid, but he got through it – and ate half of the entire batch when we got home as his “post-workout meal”. Ha!

I was happy to see him load up on healthy proteins, fats, and carbs.

We so often think that quality protein has to come from meat, but we forget that plant-based protein can be just as high quality, and they’re super easy to work into your diet.

My two-year-old daughter loves to snack on a handful of raw almonds, while my four-year-old prefers nut butter spread on an apple – that is, when there aren’t any cookies around. 😉

Try the recipe today!

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