Good and Good For You! Oatmeal-Banana-Applesauce Treats

I wouldn't exactly call this a cookie. And it's not a muffin either, but something in between. What it is is delicious! And easy to bake. It's hard to screw this one up unless you leave it in the oven too long, but they smell so good, you'll be counting the minutes till they're ready!

The best part about this recipe is that it's made with natural sweeteners — no added sugar, sugar substitute or honey. In my opinion, they are plenty sweet as is, but if you really wanted, you could add a little honey and it wouldn't hurt. (Shhhhh! I didn't really say that!)

Add a handful of unsalted pumpkin seeds or combine with another fruit, such as blueberries or raisins, for a change of pace. These mookies (cuffins?) are also yummy with a handful of dark chocolate chips added to the mix. This recipe is ripe for experimenting. And speaking of ripe: bananas that are on the ripe side work best (as they usually do when added to any baking recipe).
I wonder if they'd be good with a little peanut or almond butter? I'll have to try that. 

Give this a go! And let me know what you think.

Oatmeal-Banana-Applesauce Treats

Ingredients:

2 c. uncooked oatmeal

2 bananas, ripe

1 c. unsweetened applesauce

1 tsp. cinnamon

1 tsp. vanilla extract

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees

2. Mix together all ingredients in a bowl, making sure the bananas are mashed smooth.

3. Lightly spray cookie sheets with Pam or similar product, or line with parchment paper (no oil is better for you, anyway). 

4. Drop spoonfuls of mixture onto the cookie sheet. 

5. Bake for 15 to 25 minutes or until golden brown on top.

6. Let cool and store in an air-tight container. 

Makes approximately 18 single servings.