Oatmeal pancakes - Refined Sugar and wheat free

These days, I'm on the hunt for wheat free and refined sugar free recipes.  Our family has had to change up the way we eat a little bit, and it's been a challenge, but it's also been fun. Some food we have just given up completely, but for others, I've just replaced the ingredients so we are still able to eat some of our favorites.  Pancakes are definitely a favorite that we didn't want to give up at our house.  I found a recipe that I was able to modify, and whip up in about ten minutes.  These pancakes are wheat free and sweetened with maple syrup or honey.  They were delicious served with just butter, but would be tasty with a little syrup or sauteed apples on top too.

Oatmeal Pancakes
2 cups whole oats
2 eggs
1/2 cup milk
1/4 cup coconut oil (melted)
1/4 cup real maple syrup or honey
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 cup diced dried apples (optional)

Place oats in blender and pulse a few times to make oat flour.  Add the rest of the ingredients and pulse until mixed thoroughly.  Add the apples if you are using them and pulse just to mix.  Pour onto a greased griddle or pan and enjoy!  This recipe makes about 12 small to medium sized pancakes.

Healthy Peanut Butter Brownies

Healthy brownies?!?!  If you are craving a yummy dessert, and want to skip the flour and processed sugar, then these light and chewy and ridiculously tasty brownies are for you.  They are sweetened with honey and are gluten free.  Next time you get the hankering for brownies, instead of reaching for the overly processed box of brownie mix,whip up a batch of these, you probably have the ingredients in your kitchen already. 

Peanut Butter Brownies:
Recipe adapted from Fly through our window

Ingredients:

16 oz of peanut butter (I use natural peanut butter)
2 eggs
1 cup honey or agave
1/2 cup cocoa powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
5 ounces dark chocolate bar , chopped, or chocolate chips
 
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350.  Mix peanut butter, eggs, & honey. Add in cocoa powder, salt, & baking soda. Fold in chopped dark chocolate/chips.
Spread into a greased  9×13 pan.
Bake for 20 to 25 minutes. Let cool before cutting.

 

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chunk Cookies

I made these cookies after a friend put the recipe on Facebook.  They are gluten-free, and possibly the quickest cookie to make in the entire world, mainly because of the lack of ingredients.  They are also super fun to make with kids!  Enjoy!


Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 egg
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup peanut butter
1 cup chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  

Whip the first five ingredients together until thoroughly mixed.  Add the peanut butter and mix until creamy.  Mix in chocolate chips (I used dark chocolate, but any kind would do).  Bake for 12-15 minutes. 

Almond Maple Cookies

A friend made some yummy cookies the other day with basically just almond flour, oat flour, and maple syrup.  They were so good, I had to find the recipe myself.  I found a few recipes and went for it.  These are so good and gluten and refined sugar free (for those of you on special diets).

Here is the recipe:

1 cup almonds (whole)
1 cup oats (whole
1/4 cup maple syrup
1/8 tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.  Prepare cookie sheet by either greasing it or using parchment (I use a silicone mat).  Grind the almonds into flour in a food processor and set aside, then grind the oats into flour and add to the almond flour, add salt and mix.  Add maple syrup and vanilla and mix together.  Form the dough into balls, place on cookie sheet and flatten a little with your hand.  Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until edges are slightly browned.  Enjoy!!