One of the best parts of being a grownup is not having to play by the rules when it comes to food.
Eat a slice of cake for breakfast? Sure! Eat your dessert first? Why not! Cook an entire pack of bacon for dinner? Damn straight.
Of course, I don't actually do any of those things on a regular basis, which is probably a huge source of disappointment to my inner twelve-year-old, but at least makes my doctor very happy when I drop in for my annual checkup.
One thing that both my inner twelve-year-old and my outer thirty-cough-cough-cough-year-old can agree on, though, is that these healthy breakfast cookies are the 'ish.
What's not to love? They're tender and a little bit sweet and yes, those are totally chocolate chips in there... but they're also full of healthy good-for-you stuff like fiber and unsaturated fats and vitamins and whatnot. It's the perfect compromise.
Since Halloween is just around the corner, it's open season on all things pumpkin spice, something these cookies deliver in spade.
In fact, this recipe features a double-dose of pumpkin-spice goodness from real pumpkin puree, a dash of cinnamon, and a big heaping dollop of Peanut Butter and Co's new Pumpkin Spice peanut butter.
Yes, you heard me right. Pumpkin. Spice. Peanut butter. It's just as awesome as it sounds.
The only bad thing I can say about this magical concoction is that it's not sold in Canada yet, so I'm going to have to find carry back a few jars when I come home from BlogHer Food in a couple of weeks, which means I'll be forced to check my bags on the way home. Oh, the humanity.
Anyway, the bottom line is that you totally need to make these cookies.
You owe it to your inner twelve-year-old.
//
Disclosure: The awesome folks at Peanut Butter and Co were kind enough to send me complimentary samples of their Pumpkin Spice peanut butter so I could try it out for myself.
While I have published sponsored posts and created recipes for PB&Co in the past, I was under absolutely no obligation to write anything in exchange for those samples, nor am I being compensated for this post. Needless to say, all opinions here are entirely my own.
//
- ½ cup unsweetened pumpkin puree
- ¼ cup Peanut Butter and Co Pumpkin Spice peanut butter
- 1 egg, lightly beaten
- ¼ cup maple syrup
- 2 tbsp canola oil
- 2 ¼ cup quick oats (not instant)
- ¼ cup whole wheat flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp cinnamon
- ¼ cup pumpkin seeds
- ¼ cup dried cranberries
- ¼ cup mini chocolate chips (optional)
- Preheat the oven to 325F. Line a medium-sized baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the pumpkin, peanut butter, egg, maple syrup and canola oil until smooth. Stir in the oats, flour, baking powder, salt and cinnamon, and stir just until everything comes together into a sticky, thick batter. Fold in the pumpkin seeds, cranberries and chocolate chips, if using.
- Drop heaping tablespoonfuls of dough onto the prepared baking sheet, spacing the cookies .
- Bake in preheated oven for 15 minutes, or until the cookies are set and golden brown around the edges.
- Let cool in the pan for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. Cookies will keep for up to 5 days in an airtight container.
Margie says
Do you suppose that almond flour can be substituted for regular flour?
Isabelle Boucher says
Hi Margie! The flour acts as a binder in these cookies, so substituting almond flour would result in a looser, crumblier cookie, since almonds aren't a very good binder. If you are looking to make these gluten-free, I would suggest using a gluten-free flour alternative or buzzing some gluten-free oats in the food processor to make oat flour.
Patricia @ Grab a Plate says
Cookies? Yes! Breakfast? Yes! These look and sound super delicious! I really need to be on the lookout for the Pumpkin Spice peanut butter! Wow!
Laura says
I am absolutely obsessed with PB&Co--I finally gave up and started buying their dark chocolate pb from amazon in bulk. :o I am also obsessed with breakfast cookies, especially ones without banana--score! These are so getting made!
Laura says
I am absolutely obsessed with PB&Co--I finally gave up and started buying their dark chocolate pn from amazon in bulk. :o I am also obsessed with breakfast cookies, especially ones without banana--score! These are so getting made!
Linda Roisum says
Once upon a time ... when I was in my 20s and 30s, I used to have ice cream for dinner on occasion ... so I really love the idea of cookies for breakfast, especially when they are healthy like these. I will be trying these soon with a few gluten free modifications.
Linda @ Roti n Rice says
Love the idea of cookies for breakfast. Looks awesome!
Sarah says
Thank you for giving me reason to eat cookies for breakfast...you're the best! :) XO
Sarah says
Oh yum! I'm allergic to peanut butter so I may just sub in some Trader Joe's cookie butter spread + pumpkin pie spice :) Awesome autumn recipe!
Marsha | Marsha's Baking Addiction says
Pumpkin spice breakfast cookies? Yes please! I could eat these all day!
Ramona W says
Wow, those breakfast cookies are packed with yummy goodness!! Love it! :)
Gloria @ Homemade & Yummy says
Who doesn't love cookies for breakfast...I sure do. These are packed with yummy ingredients that make it the perfect "on the go" food....like when you are driving!!
Dini @ The Flavor Bender says
I am so excited for these cookies!! Cookies for breakfast?!?! Hell YES! I need to get my hands on that pumpkin spice peanut butter too! These looks so delicious :D
Heather | All Roads Lead to the Kitchen says
I've been dying to try that peanut butter, but haven't found any yet. I'm pretty sure I'll want to eat it all with a spoon if/when I do, so I'll be sure to make a batch of these awesome breakfast cookies first thing!
Colleen (Souffle Bombay) says
Your cookies are a flavor explosion! I'd eat a few...after I cooked a pack of bacon! Funny, my Grammy would spoil me when I was a kid...I was her first born grandchild and she really did spoil me...she would cook me unlimited amounts of bacon when I slept over...after all when you are one of 5 kids...you don't get too much bacon! I ate so much bacon there for a bit that I didn't touch the stuff for about 6 years! I have since made up for lost time!
Sarah | (Cooking for) Kiwi & Bean says
My friend! Did you just put pumpkin and pumpkin PB in a breakfast cookie? Wow. I'm drooling over here! Sounds like a darn good breakfast to me... :-).
Angie | Big Bear's Wife says
Perfect breakfast cookies! Good thing that pumpkin is still a Thing in November because I'm going to want these every morning!
Erin @ Texanerin Baking says
I can't wait to try that new flavor! It sounds so delicious. And these cookies look totally appropriate for breakfast. I love that you used maple syrup to sweeten them. :)
Kirsten/ComfortablyDomestic says
Confession: my inner twelve year old often wins when it comes to my breakfast choice, and then my grown self beats herself up for the rest of the day. At least I can feel good about these cookies!
Renee - Kudos Kitchen says
All the flavors and textures going on in these cookies look amazingly delicious. I'm sadly not much of a breakfast eater, but I know I'd munch on these all day long. Can't wait to try them!
Sarah Walker Caron (Sarah's Cucina Bella) says
Cookies for breakfast? My inner tween totally approves. And that new PB&Co peanut butter sounds amazing -- I'll have to look for it!
Kim Beaulieu says
Dude, these look crazy good. I love cookies for breakfast too. That's a brilliant concept. For real.
Lora @cakeduchess says
I just love pumpkin recipes this time of year. These pumpkin spice cookies are perfect for breakfast or an after school snack (or for me with a hot cup of a coffee to just chill!).
Lauren Kelly Nutrition says
These are my kind of breakfast cookies! Love all of the ingredients!
The Food Hunter says
They sound wonderful. I love all things with peanut butter
Ashley @ Wishes and Dishes says
I have that peanut butter in my pantry right now and it's addicting!! I can't wait to try these cookies with it!