Avocado Cookies

It’s officially holiday baking season in my kitchen! Who needs food dye when you can use nature’s beautiful & colorful foods?! Not I. The avocado makes these cookies green and festive. One bite and you will be sold on these tasty Christmas treats.

Avocado Cookies

Ingredients

Cookies

• ½ cup mashed avocado (~1/2 medium sized avocado)
•  ½ cup cashew butter
• ¼ cup honey
• ½ cup oats
•  2 Tbsp coconut flour

Icing

•  ½ cup mashed avocado (~1/2 medium sized avocado)
• 2 Tbsp honey
•  ¼ tsp vanilla

All of the ingredients, except coconut flour which was a last minute add :) 

Preparation Instructions

Cookies

1. Mash avocado, then mix in remaining ingredients.
2. Form 10 cookies and arrange them on a baking sheet.
3. Bake at 350 degrees F for 12 minutes. 

Batter

Cookies Before Icing

Icing*

1. Mash avocado, then mix in honey & vanilla.
2. Spread on cookies.

*It turned out delicious but next time I might try adding a dollop of Greek yogurt & mixing with an electric hand mixer (I don’t have either of these right now so I made do without and it was still fantastic! Maybe you can try this option at home though.)

Avocado Icing

Fuel Facts

Numbers: 169 calories, 4 g protein, 10 g fat, 20 g carbs, 3 g fiber

            **For 1 cookie with frosting. Recipe makes 10.

Ingredient Breakdown:

v Avocado – You may have heard that avocados are a good source of “healthy” fats. This is absolutely correct. But what makes them healthy? The fats in avocado are largely made up of phytosterols and oleic acid. Phytosterols are integral to the function of our body’s inflammatory response, making them a natural anti-inflammatory. Avocado’s have been found beneficial particularly in the management of arthritis. Oleic acid (omega-9), also found in olive oil, is a monounsaturated fatty acid touted for reducing the risk of breast cancer and heart disease.

v Cashews – The tree nuts have a lower fat content than most other nuts and most of this fat is in the form of monounsaturated oleic acid, the same heart healthy fat found in olive oil. One quarter cup of cashews provides about 38 percent of your daily needs for copper, a mineral that acts as a coenzyme in many body processes. 90 percent of copper in the body is used to create the transport protein ceruloplasmin. Ceruloplasmin aids in the oxidation of iron, allowing iron to bind to transferrin for transport to body tissues. Without adequate copper intake, iron-deficiency anemia can occur.

v Honey – Due to the combination of glucose and fructose, honey will keep you energized longer than it’s sweet counterparts. Glucose is used quickly by the body, providing an immediate energy source. Fructose takes longer to absorb, sustaining blood sugar levels. When blood sugar is kept stable, your energy will also remain constant, so say goodbye to the afternoon crash.

Honey is also a great natural healer. For starters it is packed with polyphenols, antioxidants that have immune boosting properties to keep you from becoming sick. In addition, honey contains an enzyme that produces hydrogen peroxide which is why it is believed to be antibacterial in nature. Honey can be used topically to treat burns, wounds, and even acne. Honey fights off impurity-causing bacteria while also hydrating the skin.

v Oats – Oats are known for their heart healthy benefits. They contain beta-glucan, a specific fiber that helps lower cholesterol levels. Studies have shown, in those with high cholesterol levels (over 220 mg/dl), ½ cup of oats or 1 bowl of oatmeal can lower cholesterol by 8-23 percent.

v Coconut – About 92 percent of the fat in coconut comes from saturated fats. You have probably heard that saturated fats are bad for you and to avoid them in your diet. In general, the rule is to limit saturated fats to less than 10 percent of your total intake. However, not all of these fats are created equal.

Unlike other saturated fats, coconut has a high percent of medium chain fats which are smaller and easier for the body to break down. Instead of storing these shorter chain fats, the body is more likely to use them for energy. This may not lead to weight loss, but it will certainly boost your energy. A few studies have also shown those who consume coconut have an increase in HDL (good) cholesterol and a decrease in LDL (bad) cholesterol.

v Vanilla – Using vanilla in baked goods enhances the flavor, decreasing the need for large amounts of sugar. Some believe it may have aphrodisiac effects and help with intestinal gas, but neither of these benefits have been confirmed through research.