Coconut Lime White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Cookies ~from Our Best Bites

 This recipe comes from Our Best Bites food blog and it is pretty spectacular. These cookies are one of the best things I have ever tasted & I wouldn't change a thing about them... and I don't say that very often! ENJOY!! 

2 cups flour, spooned lightly into measuring cups and leveled with knife

1/2 teaspoons baking soda

1/2 teaspoon table salt

12 tablespoons unsalted butter melted and cooled until luke warm

1 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1 large egg + 1 egg yolk

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1 cup chopped white chocolate or white chocolate chips

1 cup coconut (toasted or untoasted)

1 cup toasted macadamia nuts; roughly chopped

1 1/2-2 tablespoons grated lime zest (1-2 limes)

Heat oven to 325 degrees.  Mix flour, salt, and baking soda together in medium bowl; set aside.

 With an electric mixer, mix butter and sugars until thoroughly blended. Mix in egg, yolk, and vanilla. Add dry ingredients & mix until combined.

Add white chocolate chips, coconut, macadamia nuts, and lime zest.  Mix to distribute.

Scoop cookie dough into balls and place on parchment lined baking sheets.  Bake until cookies are set around outer edges, yet centers are still soft and puffy, and appear slightly under-baked, about 9-10 minutes. Cool cookies on cookie sheets for a few minutes and then transfer to a cooling rack.

Banana Protein Cookies

I am always looking for a healthy alternative when it comes to baking. My family loves sugary and indulgent baked desserts, you know... the good stuff. But who doesn't? This recipe is made with zero sugar or flour but is packed with protein, fiber, & all the chewy goodness that satisfies! **Can also be made in Pumpkin, Sweet Potato, or Apple flavored cookies as well... I think Chocolate would be great too!

3 very ripe bananas

1/4 cup coconut oil

1/4 cup nut butter- use your favorite!

1/3 cup plain greek yogurt- I use cottage cheese sometimes too

2 eggs

 a pinch of salt

1 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. vanilla extract

2 tbsp. flax seeds

1/4 cup ground flax seeds

1 tbsp. chia seeds

2-3 tbsp. sunflower seeds

1 tsp. xanthum gum

2 scoops vanilla protein powder- I've used chocolate too- works great! 

1/2 cup 6 grain oats- any oats will work

2-3 tbsp honey or sweeten to taste with the sweetener of your choice

Combine all ingredients in a large mixing bowl until well blended.

Place heaping tablespoons 2 inches apart on greased cookie sheet and bake 18-20 minutes or until dark golden brown. Cool completely and store in an airtight container in fridge for up to 1 week.

**For other varieties- in place of bananas-use 1 1/2 cups of cooked sweet potatoes- canned pumpkin, or shredded apple 

Happy healthy eating! 

Snickerdoodle Bread

I found this recipe on Pinterest but it wasn't Snickerdoodle Bread... it's supposed to be Amish Friendship Bread 

without the questionable, fermented batter you leave on your counter for ten days. After making it I decided it is 

delicious however, it doesn't taste much like the original Friendship bread but more like that of a Snickerdoodle

  Cookie! Call it whatever you like... it is DELISH!!

1 cup butter, softened

2 cups sugar

2 eggs

2 cups buttermilk or 2 cups milk plus 2 tablespoons vinegar or lemon juice

4 cups flour

2 teaspoons baking soda

Cinnamon/sugar mixture:

2/3 cups sugar

2 teaspoons cinnamon

Cream together butter, 2 cups of sugar, and eggs. Add milk, flour, and baking soda. Put 1/2 of batter (or a 

little less) into greased loaf pans (1/4 in each pan). Mix in separate bowl the 2/3 c sugar and cinnamon. 

 Sprinkle 3/4 of cinnamon mixture on top of the 1/2 batter in each pan. Add remaining batter to pans;

 sprinkle with last of cinnamon topping. Swirl with a knife. Bake at 350 degrees for 45-50 min. or until 

toothpick tester come clean.

Cool in pan for 20 minutes before removing from pan