Granola Breakfast Cookies

Special thanks to ZonePerfect for providing us with product and sponsoring this post.  As always, another delicious recipe has been included and all opinions are my own.

Today I’m sharing our new favorite ways to eat right on the go with Granola Breakfast Cookies and ZonePerfect protein bars.

This recipe for Granola Breakfast Cookies comes from my daughter.  She just started cosmetology college a few weeks ago and LOVING it… despite the LONG hours!  She’s up and out by 7:00 am and doesn’t get home until 6-7 pm, sometimes later.  
With this has come a new way of thinking about breakfasts, lunches and snacks.  Every minute of sleep is precious but breakfast is very important and she’s pretty serious about eating right.  

She’s searched (and tried) many “grab and go” breakfast recipes and so far, these Granola Breakfast Cookies have been one of her favorites.      

Now, Moms…. don’t let the “cookie” part fool you.  The name may encourage your family to try them but rest assured….they aren’t “junk food”.  

We made them on the weekend, stored them in an airtight container and they stayed fresh several days.  I’d like to tell you they stayed fresh all week, but I can’t…. because they didn’t last that long!

They also freeze well.  All you’d need to do is take out a couple the night before and you have your “grab and go” breakfast.  

My daughter is also packing snacks and lunches for school days.  Eating out just isn’t a great option….financially or nutritionally.  This can also be where those “snacccidents” happen.  You know what I mean, we’ve ALL had them…I didn’t mean to eat a whole bag of chips, it was a “snaccident”.  To avoid these, she loves to take protein bars to munch on during her afternoon break.  

This week we tried ZonePerfect bars.  I will admit, however, as I stood in Walmart reading over the ZonePerfect varieties, I had a tough time deciding!  Would it be Strawberry Yogurt, Dark Chocolate Almond, Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough or maybe Chocolate Peanut Butter….they were all calling my name.  

In the end Cinnamon Roll and Fudge Graham won out, and we were NOT disappointed!  They are the perfect combination of high protein, vitamins, minerals and great taste!  

Here’s the Recipe:

• 1 1/2 cups granola (we used protein)
• 1 1/2 cups rolled oats
• 1 cup raisins (or other dried fruit)
• 1/2 cup chocolate chips (we used dark)
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 2 ripe bananas
• 1/2 cup peanut butter
• 1/4 cup honey

Preheat oven to 325 degrees

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper

Mix first 6 ingredients in a medium bowl

In separate bowl, mix banana, peanut butter and honey

Add wet mixture to dry and stir to combine

Mound about 1/4 cup of dough onto prepared pan about 1″ apart

*Cookies will not spread so they are fine as long as they aren’t touching*

Bake 15-17 or until lightly brown around edges

*When you start to smell them, they are done*

Remove from oven and place pan on cooling rack

Allow cookies to sit on pan 5-10 minutes before removing

Yields 12-14 large cookies

Sometimes is just about the #LittleWins!