Healthy Granola Cookies
Here’s how to turn granola into cookies that make a healthy, delicious snack!
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I LOVE granola, especially granola bars. As I talked about a little bit in my copycat Quest protein bars post, I went through a phase where I was obsessed with trying different protein bars, and granola bars. I love vegan granola whether it’s in the form of a bar, or cereal, and you can even turn granola into cookies! This healthy, refined sugar-free recipe shows you how easy it is.
Healthy granola bar cookies are an easy and filling snack that tastes great for breakfast, or any time of day. These cookies are soft and chewy which is a huge bonus, if you ask me. The way you make these vegan granola cookies is simple - simply toast oats along with your favorite chopped nuts of choice. I used a combination of pistachios, pecans, and almonds.
Meanwhile, simmer almond butter and maple syrup together in a pot to make a healthy caramel. Once the oats and nuts are toasted, dump them in the pot with the healthy caramel and mix until coated. Scoop this mixture onto a lined cookie sheet and press them into cookie shapes. Allow to harden at room temperature for about one hour. Then, that’s it! You’ve got healthy, homemade granola cookies.
Can you make cookies from granola?
The short answer is - yes! You can make cookies from granola, but I recommend either making your own quick granola (recipe below), or trying this recipe with a loose granola or muesli. I haven’t tried this recipe with a store-bought granola, but it may work. If you give it a try, let me know how it goes!
Either way, I highly recommend toasting your granola before you use it for a better texture and flavor!
Can you freeze these granola cookies?
Yes, you can certainly freeze granola, and even these granola cookies! Simply wrap them in plastic wrap and store in an air-tight Ziploc bag. You’ll want to bring these cookies back to room temperature before eating again. An hour on the counter should do the trick!
How else can you store these granola cookies?
These cookies will stay fresh at room temperature for about five days, as long as you store them out of sunlight, and in an airtight container. These cookies will get softer over time, which makes them even chewier!
Are these granola cookies healthy?
I generally don’t like to categorize individual foods as healthy or unhealthy. Instead, I believe eating a balanced diet that mainly consists of whole, natural foods is more important than scrutinizing individual meals and ingredients.
That being said, the recipe for these vegan granola cookies contains wholesome ingredients. As with any treat, they shouldn’t be the main part of your diet. Don’t forget to eat your veggies, too!
Healthy Granola Cookies
Ingredients
- 2 1/2 c oats
- 1 c chopped nuts of your choice
- 1/2 c almond butter
- 1/2 c maple syrup
- 1/4 c non-dairy milk
- 2 tsp vanilla
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp nutmeg
- pinch of salt
- optional: chopped, dried fruit (like raisins)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Pour the oats and chopped nuts onto one baking sheet.
- Toast the oats and chopped nuts for 20 minutes, tossing halfway through. Keep an eye on them to make sure they don’t get too brown. Remove from the oven and set aside.
- Meanwhile, stir the almond butter, maple syrup, non-dairy milk, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt in a medium pot. Turn the heat to medium low and bring to a simmer.
- Once it’s simmering, turn up the heat and allow the mixture to boil, without stirring, for a full minute to thicken. Turn off the burner and remove from heat.
- Pour the oats and chopped nuts into the pot and mix together until it’s thoroughly combined. Add in your dried fruit, if using.
- Scoop the granola onto the second cookie sheet using a cookie scoop. Gently press each mound into a flat cookie shape.
- Allow the cookies to rest at room temperature for at least one hour, until hardened. Store cookies in an airtight container out of direct sunlight, or in the freezer long-term storage.