Running on Veggies

Runner & a little bit of everything else. Recipe Developer. Holistic Health Coach. Let food be medicine. Count nutrition not calories.

Banana Matcha Oat Cookies

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IMG_9344Matcha tea has recently become all the rage, featured in tons of coffee shops, from the most mainstream coffee chains to the much smaller mom and pop cafes.  I fell in love with matcha tea after trying it at David’s Tea in NYC; it was filling and had a great earthy flavor. It was also much less acidic than coffee and easier on my stomach. I was totally thrilled to discover this new beverage. And when I found out I could get it at Starbucks, it was a done deal. This would be my new go-to beverage. Yummy either iced or hot! IMG_9368Of course, on my morning trip to Starbucks, I had to ask about their Matcha tea and if it was sweetened, what the ingredients were etc… Yes, I was that annoying girl you don’t want to stand behind when you’re on line for coffee. They assured me it was just matcha tea, but after drinking one (or two), I started to think, “This tastes too good to be true.” And of course, I was right. Not only did it have sugar in it, but sugar was the first ingredient! I decided to buy some matcha powder from David’s Tea and be able to make a fresh cup at home whenever I desired. IMG_9388

I know I am not alone in my addiction to coffee. But too much of anything is never good. I began coaching my coffee-addicted clients to switch out some of their regular cups of coffee for some matcha tea. Of course I warned them not to trust any chain retailers! I recommend buying an organic brand on Amazon. This way its convenient, reliable, and portable for brewing at work. I also began to think that it would be a better pre-workout option since coffee so often causes mid-workout stomach irritation. (Running with a gurgly stomach is so not fun!) One of my clients bought a ton of matcha and asked how to use it for baking. She had too much of it to just drink it all and, she was also looking for a good alternative to her usual pre-workout almond butter muffin.  
 
And so, Banana Matcha Cookies were created…..since they are really low in natural fats, they have more of a chewy dense feel than the usual crispy cookie types. The bananas and dates offer the slightest bit of sweetness. I also love the mysterious color of the cookie. People are always wondering why its green! Bananas offer high levels of potassium, which prevents cramped muscles and settle your stomach. Perfect for a pre-workout treat. And the best part about these cookies are that they are caffieniated.  They are easily stored in the freezer and delicious even when eaten frozen. Feel free to switch up the dates for any dried fruits you like! IMG_9357Recipe: preheat oven 350 degrees
  • 2 ripe bananas
  • 1 cup of unsweetened apple sauce
  • 3 tablespoons almond butter
  • 1 1/2-2 teaspoons matcha tea powder
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 2 cups of oats
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon 
  • 1/2 cup shredded unsweetened coconut
  • 3/4 cup chopped dates
  • 19 almonds to garnish
  1. In a medium size mixing bowl mash bananas really well 
  2. Add your apple sauce, almond butter, matcha powder and vanilla extract mix together  (make sure the matcha is well combined)- you can also just blend all your wet ingredients together
  3. In a small mixing bowl mix oats baking powder and cinnamon
  4. Add your oat mixture to your wet mixture combine well
  5. Fold in coconut and dates
  6. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper, spray with non-stick spray. Using a little more than a tablespoon portion form cookies on the tray. (I used an ice cream scooper) around 19 cookies
  7. Flatten with a fork place one almond in the center
  8. Bake for 22-25 minutes at 350  IMG_9377

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