Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Raw Banana Bread Cookies

Something about that Love Force raw bar had me in a raw mood. Usually when I "do raw" its all-out for a day, and after that, I'm over it until the next time I decide for a full-on raw day.

This time, something clicked that I didn't have to eat super high raw for the day in order to incorporate some raw food in my day.

I soaked some almonds, cashews, and sunflower seeds, and then set to finding recipes for them. Believe it or not, these started out as...falafel. Don't let that sway you, I abandoned that recipe after grinding up the almonds and decided to go my own way.

Banana Bread Cookies were born. And they were yummy. If you are in the mood for something raw, this is a pretty good treat made with things you may very well have sitting in your pantry, begging to be made into raw cookies!

1 cup Raw Almonds, soaked
1/2 Banana
1 Tbsp Maple Syrup
2 Tbsp Water
1 Tbsp Sunflower Oil*
1 tsp Cinnamon
1/4 cup Raisins

I processed my almonds when they were still wet, just out of their soak, so they grinded together in the food processor together to make a wet meal. If you are using dry almonds, you may need to add a little more water. After grinding the almonds, add all but the raisins, and process until you have a smooth, sticky batter. Add the raisins and pulse a few times, until combined.
*You can use another oil, like melted coconut oil instead of sunflower.

Use a Tbsp measure to portion out each cookies, and flatten so that it looks like a cookie. The batter will be sticky, you may need to wash your hands a few times.

While these are quick and easy to make, they do take a bit of time to dehydrate. If its nice out (it finally is here), stick them outside for a few hours (we have no outside space). I dehydrated them at 115 degrees for 6 hours, and they are still slightly soft in the middle (in a good way). They were still good at 4 hours though, so anywhere from 4-8 hours would be tops. I always like to flip stuff like this halfway through, so..I did.

This makes about a baker's dozen.
Serves 13
Nutrition Information: 89.2 Calories; 6.6g Total Fat; 0.5g Saturated Fat; 0.0mg Cholesterol; 6.5g Carbohydrates; 1.6g Fiber; 2.5g Protein

If you don't have a dehydrator and live in a small apartment with no lanai like us, you can use an oven. Just keep it on the lowest setting, cracked, and check from time to time. Your oven will be warmer, so it probably won't take quite as long.

Don't feel like making your own raw treats? Be sure to enter the giveaway for some Love Force bars!! Five more days to enter!

With that, I am going to go enjoy some raw cookies at the beach. Peace :)

16 comments:

Annie said...

Those look delicious! I've never had raw cookies before...

Katrina said...

ANOTHER USE FOR MY LEFTOVER ALMOND MEAL!!!!!!! YAY!!!!! Love it! Thanks for the great idea!

itstartedwithafish said...

You are making one mommy here VERY happy !

Our school system is switching to "all-day teaching", sometimes offering a lunch break (and the cafeteria ladies ALWAYS forgetting to order a vegetarian alternative *grmbl*) and most days not (with lessons from 7.55 AM to 2.15 PM) so I am happy for some quick, tasty and healthy snacks and this sounds like something, the two Js will actually eat (along with the NRG balls the whip up all on their own already :) ) thanx again for such a great idea, - I think you encouraged me to get creative in my own kitchen again :)

VW: gravili, - is the way my two Js feel when they show their lunch card and the lunch lady tells them, she forgot to order their veg lunch AGAIN....

Gina said...

I love creating my own new recipes! That's so awesome (even if it wasn't supposed to turn out that way..). They look great, and I am sure they tasted delicious too. I love soft cookies!

nora said...

omg that's so funny that they started out as falafel! i can't get over that! :)

i really want to make the banana bread biscuits in ani's raw food desserts. these sound similar..

Hannah said...

Wow, that sounds great! And I love that they don't require an oven... A big plus in this hot weather!

Liz² said...

yummy! when I did the raw thing, I (for some reason) never ended up making banana cookies, but I think I'll have to change that soon, because these look really awesome and I do so love making raw cookies even when the rest of my food is cooked. ;D

aredcardigan said...

Wow you are so creative!

Shannon said...

these sound great-- thanks for the no dehydrator instructions :) while i wish i had one, maybe someday!

Fruitful Vine2 said...

Awesome! And to echo Shannon's comment - thanks for the no dehydrator instructions.

I got this link through twitter.

~Jessica~ said...

What a delicious-sounding recipe! I love how creative you are and how you managed to 'go with the flow' after abandoning the concept as falafel...when things don't work out for me in the kitchen I just go into a blind panic.

You're a better person than I am ~ I couldn't even manage full-on raw for one day!

xoxoxo

Theresa said...

Yum, raw cookies sound much better than raw falafel! They look great.

aTxVegn said...

These look great, Gina! I may have to get the dehydrator out.

Mama Veg said...

Love an easy raw recipe!

Clay said...

Great, just what i need.... another reason to spend money on a Dehydrator. You are soooo gonna bankrupt me Gina. You know what? Making the cookies twice as big would be kind of like a pancake....

Ummm, good recipe, GOTTA GO!

agusa99 said...

I just made some and they are so delish! A new fav for sure. Thank you so much for sharing!!