Last week I was craving something sweet but also wanted something healthier than store bought cookies or ice cream so I started playing with cowboy cookie recipes.

I wasn’t sure I was going to post this because it has a couple of slightly unusual ingredients, but after sharing them with several people who said they wanted the recipe, here it is.

One of the unusual ingredients is the Nutzo, that I personally love because it’s a combination of 7 nuts and seeds made into a spread. You can certainly sub out your favorite nut or seed butter here.

The other ingredient, that I would highly recommend you keep, is the buckwheat groats, which you can purchase in most health food stores. They gave the cookies a nice crunchiness that really complimented the oats.

I also have a client who can’t eat chocolate so she decided she wanted to make these with white chocolate instead.

Modify the recipe as you see fit and enjoy a healthier version of the cowboy cookie.

Ingredients:
2 medium bananas
1 egg
1/4 cup pure maple syrup
3/4 cup Nutzo (or your favorite nut / seed butter)
1 1/2 cups oats
1/2 cup buckwheat groats
1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 cup raisins
1/2 cup chocolate chips

Directions:

1. Preheat your oven to bake 350.

2. Mash the 2 bananas in a bowl with a fork, then add egg, maple syrup and whisk well.

3. Add the Nutzo and whisk again until the nut butter spread is mixed in.

4. Add the oats, groats, salt and cinnamon and combine with a wooden spoon.

5. Add raisins and chocolate chips and mix until combined.

6. Line a large cookie sheet with parchment paper and spoon approximately 18 cookies onto one or more sheets (depending on how big your cookie sheet is).

7. Flatten cookies slightly with a spoon or your hand.

8. Cook for approximately 25 minutes or until the tops are slightly browned and mostly firm to the touch.

9. Allow to sit for 5 minutes and then finish cooling on a rack and enjoy.