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These Healthy Breakfast Cookies are loaded with nuts, seeds, oats and whole grains for a cookie that packs some serious health benefits. Once you make them you’ll see why they’re the best! They can be made gluten-free and vegan if needed.
Are Cookies Healthy For Breakfast?
Now I’m not saying it’s healthy to go eat a batch of Ginger Molasses Cookies or Gluten-Free Peanut Butter Blossom, but when it comes to cookies packed with nourishing wholesome ingredients like these breakfast cookies or these Oatmeal Banana Cookies, cookies can actually be a healthy choice for breafkast!
While traditional cookies tend to be loaded with sugar, butter, and ingredients that won’t leave you feeling full, breakfast cookies are packed with good-for-you ingredients that you would typically enjoy in the morning.
These breakfast cookies are made with a combination of nuts, seeds, dried fruits, oats and an egg, which is basically everything you would find in a healthy breakfast.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Gluten-free cookies. These breakfast cookies are naturally gluten-free (made with gluten-free certified oats) and can easily be made vegan by replacing the egg with a flax egg.
- High in protein and fibre. Each cookie is packed with 4 grams of protein and 4 grams and fibre to keep you feeling full all morning long.
- No mixer. These cookies are easy to make directly in a bowl, no mixer required!
- Freezer-friendly. These breakfast cookies can be frozen for up to 2 months.
Key Ingredients And Substitutions
These Healthiest Breakfast Cookies have also got a permanent place on my weekly meal planning rotation. I love to prepare a batch of these healthy breakfast cookies on a Sunday and have
- Oats: it’s best to use large flaked oats here for more texture, but quick oats will work too. Just make sure not to use steel-cut oats.
- Almond flour: This flour is naturally gluten-free and is made from ground almonds. You can substitute with whole-wheat flour with all-purpose flour if needed.
- Nuts: I use almonds as my nuts in this recipe, but you can use any type of nuts you love like walnuts, pecans or cashews.
- Seeds: I use a combination of sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds and chia seeds. You can mix up the seeds you use or leave out any seeds you don’t like.
- Maple Syrup: this is used to sweeten the cookies and help them stick together. You can also use honey or agave syrup.
- Egg: this is an important ingredient to bind the cookies together. For a vegan variation use a flax egg. (1 tablespoon of ground flax seeds mixed with three tablespoons of water that you let sit to gel for 5 minutes.)
- Nut or seed butter: Use any kind you love! Nut butter is packed with healthy fats and will help the cookies bind together. It’s best to use the runny kind for easy mixing.
- Dried fruit: This is an optional mix-in. I recommend using unsweetened dried fruit to keep the sugar down, but any type you like will work like dried cranberries or dried blueberries
- Chocolate chips: Optional, but who doesn’t love chocolate chips in cookies?! I use 70% dark chocolate.
How To Make Healthy Breakfast Cookies
*This is a recipe overview. The full recipe with measurements can be found below in the recipe card.
Step 1
Step 1: Add the oats, almond flour, almonds, pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds, chia seeds, cranberries, chocolate chips, cinnamon and a pinch of salt together in a large mixing bowl.
Step 2: In a separate bowl whisk together the egg, maple syrup, tahini and vanilla extract until smooth and incorporated.
Step 3: Pour the wet ingredients into the bowl of dry ingredients.
Step 4: Mix the wet and dry ingredients together until evenly combined.
Step 5: Use a cookie scoop to scoop out cookies onto a baking sheet, then use your hands to press them down. (These cookies won’t spread on their own)
Step 6: Bake the cookies at 350 degrees F for 12-14 minutes until golden brown around the edges. Let the cookies cool before eating.
How to store these cookies
Counter: store leftover cookies in an airtight container on the counter for up to a week.
Freezer: store leftover cookies in an airtight container or a freezer bag in the freezer for up to 2 months. to defrost let thaw on the countertop and optionally warm slightly in the oven.
Jess’s Tips
- Use large flake oats for the best texture – Rolled oats (large flake) provide a chewy, hearty texture, while quick oats will result in softer cookies. Avoid steel-cut oats, as they won’t work well in this recipe.
- Press the cookies down before baking – Since these cookies don’t spread, shape and flatten them slightly before baking to achieve the perfect cookie shape.
- Customize with your favorite mix-ins – Swap dried cranberries for raisins, dried cherries, or chopped dates, and experiment with different nuts and seeds for a flavor you love!
- Let them cool completely before storing – These cookies firm up as they cool, so allow them to fully cool before transferring to an airtight container.
- Double the batch for meal prep – These cookies freeze beautifully! Make a big batch and store extras in the freezer for a grab-and-go breakfast option.
- Vary the sweetness – If you prefer a less sweet cookie, reduce the maple syrup slightly or swap for mashed banana for natural sweetness.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! These breakfast cookies are made with wholesome ingredients like oats, nuts, seeds, and natural sweeteners, making them a great alternative to oatmeal or cereal.
Absolutely! You can replace the egg with a flax egg (1 tbsp ground flaxseed + 3 tbsp water, left to sit for 5 minutes) for a vegan-friendly version.
Yes! Maple syrup can be swapped for honey, agave syrup, or mashed banana.
Try These Breakfast Recipes Next!
If you tried these Healthiest Breakfast Cookies or any other recipe on the blog let me know how you liked it by leaving a comment/rating below! Be sure to follow along on Pinterest, Instagram and Facebook for even more deliciousness!
The Healthiest Breakfast Cookies
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Total Time: 22 minutes
- Yield: 16 cookies
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: Bake
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
These are the BEST healthy breakfast cookie ever packed with seeds, nuts and oats.
Ingredients
- 1 1/4 cup gluten-free rolled oats
- 1/4 cup almond flour (can sub any type of flour)
- 1/2 cup raw sunflower seeds
- 1/4 cup pumpkin seeds
- 1/4 cup sliced almonds
- 1/4 cup sesame seeds
- 3 tbsp chia seeds
- 1/4 cup dried cranberries
- dark chocolate chips (as many as you like, I use about 1/4 cup)
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/2 cup maple syrup
- 1/3 cup tahini or almond butter (I like to mix both)
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 egg (*or flax egg)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and line a baking pan with parchment paper.
- Mix all the dry ingredients together in a bowl.
- Mix all the wet ingredients together in a separate bowl.
- Pour the dry ingredients into the wet and mix together until well combined
- Use a cookie scoop to scoop evenly sized cookies onto the baking sheet. Press down with your hands (these cookies won’t spread)
- Bake for 12 to 14 minutes.
Notes
- Use large flake oats for a chewy texture; avoid steel-cut oats.
- Press cookies down before baking as they won’t spread.
- Customize mix-ins with different dried fruits, nuts, or seeds.
- Let cookies cool completely before storing to firm up.
- Double the batch and freeze extras for meal prep.
- Adjust sweetness by reducing maple syrup or using mashed banana
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 155
- Sugar: 9g
- Sodium: 20mg
- Fat: 11g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Carbohydrates: 17g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 4g
So glad I found this recipe. They are so delicious and have become a staple in my household.
Thanks Christina! So happy you love it 🙂
I made them for the first time today. I thought 1/2 cup maple syrup was too sweet, so I used applesauce instead. The cookies are marvelous!!! I love them and will make them again and again.
Happy you enjoyed them Chris!
These were good. Substituted sunflower seeds for a ripe banana and they were softer for my toddlers. Should these be stored on the counter or fridge?
Hi Christina, these cookies don’t need to be stored in the fridge.
These are the best breakfast cookies!! They are filling with lots of protein and taste so good.
Thanks so much Whitney! Glad you love them 🙂
Excellent breakfast cookie! I powdered the seeds to make it more palatable for my young kiddo.
Does the batter freeze well?
Thank you! I wouldn’t recommend freezing the batter
I love these but my 6 year old son finds them a bit too hard to chew. How can I make them softer please?
Hi Elma, these are naturally not a “soft” cookie, but you can try popping them in the microwave to soften them.
WOW! WOW! WOW! Hands down best breakfast cookie ever (and I’ve tried A LOT). I didn’t have maple syrup or honey so I used molasses. I also toasted all of the dry ingredients in my cast iron pan and blended it all before adding the wet ingredients. These are NEXT LEVEL GOODNESS!
Thank you so much Nicole! SO happy you loved these cookies! They’re definitely one of my personal favourites 🙂
I have been using this as a base recipe for breakfast cookies for awhile. My partner and I found all the commercial options for grab and go bars and snacks way too sweet, and often with too many unpronounceable ingredients. I started sticking pretty close to the recipe as written, and have branched out to change things up as my heart desires. I tend to go light on the sweetener, add some moist fruit (banana thawed from the freezer, apple sauce, or canned pumpkin, and go heavy handed with the dried fruit and spices. Spicy autumn apple? yup. Summer citrus with zest and juice added, along with dried blueberries and cherries? yup. I’m waiting on a tropical batch right now – dried mango and coconut, banana, lime, nutmeg and ginger…. I come back every time (every couple of weeks) when I’m making a fresh batch to make sure I’ve got the backbone of the recipe intact. This is probably my most referred to recipe of the last year or two.
Hi Jess! So happy you love this recipe! It’s such a great recipe that can be modified with all kinds of add-ins!
Oh wow!!! They taste sooooo good!!!! Thank you for the recipe!!! Can’t wait for tomorrow morning to have more ?
Thanks Julie!! One of my personal favourites 🙂
I make these every week, love them! I love to make and appreciate recipes as is but if you are short on a nut or seed it is easy to substitute. I didn’t quite have enough maple syrup this morning so added some honey. I have gone low on almond butter so topped it odd with peanut butter. Also love walnuts in it. Thanks for this and will have to try some of your other healthy recipes