Peanut Butter Cookie Dough Bites

I get choked up when NYC counts down the last 10 seconds of the year before the ball drops.  Does anyone else get emotional when that happens?  (Assuming you also watch it or something similar.)  Maybe you can’t go by me because I cry at the same sad scene in a movie even if I’ve seen it a bazillion times.

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My new year’s resolution is to lose a few pounds, again.  I seem to have that resolution about 10 or 30 times during the entire year so I’m not sure if that’s truly a resolution except that it happens to coincide with the first day of the year.  I’m not usually one for making resolutions.  I suppose January 1st is a good reminder to kick the healthy eating back in high gear, especially after the past month of holiday food binging.  If you watch almost any TV channel or shop in any store you’ll see that diets are a huge part of January.

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My father-in-law’s wife introduced me to these fun power snacks.  They are sort of like cookie dough balls, or cookie like deals, or tasty round thingies, or whatever you want to call them.  I have to admit that when I saw the recipe I didn’t jump for joy.  It’s all healthy… and stuff.  Maybe I’m just used to eating cookies with lots of sugar, like oatmeal cream pies or chocolate caramel shortbread bars.  I’m starting to see why my resolution is an all year long event.  😉

I tried one at their house and I could not believe how delicious it was.  It does not taste healthy… does that make sense?  Of course it makes sense.  Bad for you things are almost always delicious and that leaves healthy things in the “yuck” category most of the time.

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This tastes like raw chocolate chip oatmeal cookie dough.  That means that if you like eating raw cookie dough then you can safely eat these without hiding from your husband who might lecture you if he caught you (I’m not speaking from experience or anything).  Oh and FYI, even though these are called peanut butter cookie dough bites, you can use almond butter instead of peanut butter, which is what I did today.  The recipe says you can use either, so I chose almond butter this time.  I plan to try again with peanut butter because it is WAY cheaper than almond butter and I suspect they will taste different but still delicious.

You don’t have to turn your oven on to make these.  I know right now that doesn’t seem like a big deal but when you don’t want to turn your oven on because it’s 99 degrees in the middle of the summer these will become your best friends.  (Because I’ll still be working on some random resolution or other then.)

The best part about these little bites is that I do not feel guilty at all for eating these.  I enjoy one after dinner and that’s enough to satisfy my sweet craving.  Sure, I’d rather have 5 chocolate chip cookies, but I’m on a mission and that’s simply not an option right now.

Do you have any new year’s resolutions, Cinco de Mayo resolutions, random Thursday resolutions, or resolutions without a name?

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Peanut Butter Cookie Dough Bites Recipe
(Makes 14 balls)

Ingredients:

  • 1 and 1/2 cups rolled oats
  • 2 tablespoons coconut oil
  • 2 tablespoons smooth peanut butter or almond butter (I used almond butter.)
  • 1/4 cup pure maple syrup
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/2 cup almond flour or almond meal
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 2 tablespoons mini chocolate chips

Note: Per the source below, this is a gluten free (if you use gluten free oats), raw/no-bake, soy free option (if you use soy free chocolate chips), and refined sugar free (but obviously not without sugar or carbs).

Directions:

  1. In a high speed blender, blend the oats until a fine flour forms.  Set it aside.
  2. If your coconut oil is hardened and opaque you should melt it.
  3. In a large bowl, combine the coconut oil, peanut butter or almond butter, maple syrup, and vanilla extract and beat it with a hand mixer until it’s smooth.
  4. Add in the almond flour, oat flour (i.e., the oats that you blended in the first step), and salt and beat it again until combined.
  5. Fold in the mini chocolate chips.
  6. Roll the dough into small balls, about 1 heaping tablespoon each.  I used the OXO good grips medium cookie scoop.
  7. Place the dough balls onto a plate or cookie sheet lined with parchment paper.
  8. Freeze the balls for 5 to 10 minutes or until firm and then enjoy!
  9. Store the balls in the freezer in a freezer safe bag.

Source:  The Oh She Glows Cookbook by Angela Liddon

 

Rating:

5 Hats

 

Here are some other healthier treats.

Cranberry Date Nut Bars

04Cranberry Date Nut Bars

Light Fudgy Brownies

07Light Fudgy Brownies

Light Chocolate Chip Cookies

17Light Chocolate Chip Cookies

Comments

  1. Amy says:

    I prefer these over the a baked cookie.

    1. Tina says:

      Sometimes I do too! 🙂

  2. These look amazing!I love the maple syrup and coconut oil 🙂

    1. Tina says:

      Thanks much!

  3. Annie says:

    Oh man! I am loving these little bites! These look fantastic!

    1. Tina says:

      Thank you!

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