Banana chocolate chips cookies

These are like one of the best cookies I have ever eaten in my life! and the best of all, they don't have any sugar, they are sweetened with bananas, yes, that is right! Delicious ripe bananas.
The recipe comes from an amazing source, one of my favorite food writer, her name is Heidi Swanson from 101 cookbooks, the recipe is actually from a friend of hers!. Her blog has helped me a lot in finding new ways to venture in the world of wholeness, whole grains, natural sweeteners.

And the recipe goes as follows:
3 large, ripe bananas, well mashed (about 1 1/2 cups)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 cup coconut oil, barely warm - so it isn't solid (or alternately, olive oil)
2 cups rolled oats
2/3 cup almond meal
1/3 cup coconut, finely shredded & unsweetened
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon fine grain sea salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
6 - 7 ounces chocolate chips or dark chocolate bar chopped

Preheat oven to 350 degrees, racks in the top third.

In a large bowl combine the bananas, vanilla extract, and oil. Set aside. In another bowl whisk together the oats, almond meal, shredded coconut, cinnamon, salt, and baking powder. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and stir until combined. Fold in the chocolate chunks/chips. The dough is a bit looser than a standard cookie dough, don't worry about it. Drop dollops of the dough, each about 2 teaspoons in size, an inch apart, onto a parchment (or Silpat) lined baking sheet. Bake for 12 - 14 minutes.

Makes about 3 dozen bite-sized cookies.

Note: I have always used olive oil. To make the almond meal at home, simply grain some almonds and there you go! I have also substituted the almonds for hazelnuts or walnuts, anything I have had at hand in the moment and they are always delicious!

www.101cookbooks.com