Strawberry and Blueberry Oatmeal Breakfast Cookies

These cookies are perfect for memorial day because they are just as sweet as the unofficial start of summer should be! These "red, white, and blue" cookies are perfect as a breakfast of a dessert post bbq!

If you're like me, you could eat dessert at any point of the day. I love starting my day off with food that makes me really happy because I think it sets the pace for my day. I love to wake up and make something fun, sweet, and above all, satisfying. These cookies are packed with oats that keep you full, maple syrup that adds richness, and berries that give you a burst of sweetness! I could start everyday off with a cookie like this!

I love baking because it is so creative. You can literally make anything you want and any way that you want to. That being said, I went through a point in my life where I had to find healthy alternatives to everything I ate, so baking wasn't as much fun as it was restrictive. I was trying not to use sugar, butter, even flour. I WASN'T USING FLOUR PEOPLE. Flour is literally an ingredient in any baked good. Like, name a baked good, I bet you there's flour in it. Cookies? Flour. Cake? Flour. Brownies? Flour baby! When a recipe would call for regular AP flour, I would have to find an alternative like almond or oat. I got so deep into "healthy alternatives" that I forgot what the real stuff tasted like. Now, I own my flour, and sugar, and even butter! I incorporate it as much and as little as I want to. To me, that's what having a healthy relationship with food is all about. It's about using whatever ingredients you want whenever you want. As much and as little as you want.

That being said, I still love to bake with oats because they are so tasty and hearty! In fact, my favorite type of cookie is an oatmeal raisin cookie (I know, I've been made fun of many a times by my family for saying this!)

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Ingredients (makes 16 cookies):

• 1 C of rolled oats

• 1 C whole wheat flour

• 1 1/2 tsp baking powder

• 1 tsp cinnamon

• Pinch of salt

• 1 tsp vanilla

• 2 tbsp butter (melted)

• 1 egg

• 1/2 C maple syrup (or honey, I prefer maple syrup)

• 1/2 C diced strawberries

• 1/4 C diced blueberries

Directions:

• In a medium bowl, whisk the oats, flour, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt

• In a large bowl, mix the vanilla, butter, and egg and whisk well

• Add in the maple syrup to the wet ingredients and combine well

• Stir in the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients and combine well with a spatula

• Add in the strawberries and blueberries

• Chill recipe in the fridge for at least 30 mins

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees

• Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and scoop cookie batter onto sheet (you should get 16 cookie scoops in total!)

• Bake for 12-14 minutes

• Let cool for about 5 - 10 minutes, or really as long as you can wait

*These cookies are best kept refrigerated and last up 5-7 days with total freshness!