Chocolate chip oatmeal cookie could be the new healthy breakfast start option…
Because they’re filled with old-fashioned oats that have a balanced protein, fat, and carb macros plus fiber, magnesium, iron, calcium and B6 vitamins.
And add 70% or higher cocoa chocolate to the mix that adds anti-inflammatory benefits (to help prevent chronic inflammation that can cause certain cancer, heart diseases, and cognitive decline). Keeping the cookie wholesome (but always delish 😋) is the game changer.
There’s no butter or shortening that’s often used in Southern baking and cookies.
…I wish I knew this kind of breakfast when I was a young’un chomping on morning cereals that didn’t fill me up until school lunch.
Nonetheless, this type of low-sugar chocolate chip oatmeal cookie is near and dear to my heart and memories because my first career was as a catering manager food professional for a DoubleTree Hotel.
…And that was and is the famous cookie hotel with a Chocolate Chip Cookie reputation with the BIG C’s as very large cookies, the size of dessert plates. 🍪
So it’s gimme that I was inspired to make a decadent giant chocolate chip oatmeal cookie big enough for a breakfast snack with healthy sensibilities… and this one I baked is a low-sugar version in my healthy evolve.
Here’s a little brief inspiration background in case you’re curious….
Early on when I started work in catering, big cookies and decadent food surrounded me and was what I lived and breathed (literally!) in hotel kitchens and event spaces.
You probably know hotels don’t take holidays and they don’t close doors.
Their full-time employees (me) spent long hours and some overnight weekends there on duty. When I counted up all the hours I worked, I made peanuts (while I was making menus).
…That’s how many starter jobs are when we’re brand spanking new, proving ourselves, and so green we have no idea what we don’t know that’s more than what we know!
The one thing I did know on Day One was that the hotel Doubletree brand was known for their fresh signature chocolate chip cookies (…you may have heard of or tried them).🍪
And every day these cookie gifts sat in the office entrance just a few feet away from me, so I had no choice but to get hooked.
It was my brand at the time as a sales ambassador.
..I gave two or more away at a time and ate one (I had to do taste test quality assurance 😉).
And that was every work day.
If you’ve ever had one of those cookies, you know how good and chocolaty filling they are.
I used to use them as a desk paper weight after a few bites before I got busy again… and the day-old ones packaged in new brown bags could probably be turned into disc or desk weapons.
Those cookies were good fillers when I was rushing around the day.
They were comfort food in my super stressful work lifestyle, where eventually one day I would have a panic attack in the chaotic office.
And in those days If I were paying more attention to health and weren’t so busy in my work bubble (or head down in a windowless office), I would have been more healthy-inspired.
This lower calorie and natural sugar cookie recipe is my evolved version that’s also good for healthy weight loss diets (diets are what you eat vs. Diets that are what not to eat). Maintaining a healthy weight is good to help prevent against Diabetes.
The healthy sourced ingredients for this low-sugar chocolate chip oatmeal cookie includes:
Protein/fiber – old fashioned oats and whole wheat flour
Healthy fats – almond milk and walnuts (optional); you can substitute some of the applesauce amount with a light extra virgin oil (e.g. 3-1/2 oz apple sauce + 1 Tbsp olive oil).
Sweet – maple, honey or molasses. Maple is good for cooling and Pitta in hotter months. Molasses has a more bitter and sweet taste good for cooler months. And honey is good year round. Raw honey is a good choice and useful for moisturizing.
Dark chocolate – use 70% cocoa for anti-inflammatory goodness.
Other vitamin/anti-inflammatory ingredients: unsweetened applesauce has quercetin, vitamins A, C, and E, and some B-vitamins that compliment B-vitamin in oats.
Low-Sugar Breakfast Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookie (One-Bowl Easy)
Ingredients
- 2/3 cup oats
- 1/2 cup whole wheat flour
- 1 tbsp maple sugar, honey, or molasses
- 2 tbsp chocolate chips (or 40 chip morsels)
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 cup almond milk or milk of choice, unsweetened
- 4 oz apple sauce, unsweetened
- walnuts or almonds, chopped finely (optional)
Instructions
- Combine ingredients and pour onto baking pan forming a roundish shape.
- Bake on 350°F for about 20-25 minutes until well baked.