Healthy Apple Cinnamon Breakfast Cookies

Healthy breakfast ideas are always something I’m looking for! These healthy apple cinnamon breakfast cookies are a family favorite and so perfect for grabbing as you walk out the door.

They are high in fiber, low in fat and sugar and full of flavor! And who doesn’t want cookies for breakfast?!

I’ve had this breakfast cookie recipe in a photocopied hand-out for years. When my husband & I started riding the bus at 6:15 every morning, I started looking for fast and healthy breakfast recipes. I pulled this one out, made some changes to lower the fat and raise the fiber and this is what I got. In addition to a healthier recipe, the cookies turned out to be more moist and tastier than ever!

I feel like there are a few breakfasts that I love, but I know aren’t good for me (hello french toast and killer breakfast sandwiches!) and they won’t keep me satisfied in a healthy way which means I’ll be making poor decisions all day. I try to choose better breakfast choices all week, like these breakfast cookies and then save pancakes for Saturday morning. One day a week doesn’t kill ya, especially if you’re still smart about what you eat for your other meals.

What Do I Need to Make Healthy Breakfast Cookies?

These cookies are packed with healthy ingredients and loads of flavor. Here is what you will need:

• Whole Wheat Flour
• Oat Flour
• Baking Powder
• Salt
• Cinnamon
• Cardamom
• Apple Butter
• Brown Sugar
• Egg
• Vanilla Extract
• Apple
• Oatmeal
• Pepitas
• Raisins

The measurements for each ingredients can be found in the recipe card below.

How to Make Healthy Breakfast Cookies

These breakfast cookies come together quickly, and if you limit yourself to two a day (so hard!), then you’ve got breakfast for the whole week! Here are the basic steps:

1. Preheat the oven.
2. Combine all the dry ingredients in a large bowl.
3. Add all the wet ingredients.
4. Fold in all the chunky ingredients.
5. Spoon the dough onto a greased baking sheet (or line it with parchment paper) and smash them down a little.
6. Bake and cool.

More detailed instructions can be found in the recipe card at the end of the post.

Is Whole Wheat Flour Better Than All Purpose?

Whole wheat flour is rich in vitamins B-1, B-3, and B-5, and contains riboflavin and folate.

Whole wheat flour also has more iron, calcium, protein, and other nutrients than white flour.

Is Apple Butter the Same as Applesauce?

Applesauce is lighter and has more water content than apple butter.

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Protein Baked Oatmeal Mug Cake

Oatmeal mug cake loaded with peanut butter and chocolate chips…for an excuse to eat cake for breakfast, look no further!

Over the years, I have learned that I feel so much better throughout the day if I start with a high protein breakfast. I joined the baked oatmeal trend and have been obsessed with trying different combinations of flavors. It’s no surprise that peanut butter and chocolate was a combo that had to make it on the blog.

This mug cake is loaded with 34 grams of protein and is a hearty (and outrageously delicious) way to start the day! And just for the memories, this mug cake recipe and our chocolate chip cookie version pretty much saved my life after the bike crash. I couldn’t eat normally for so long, and these mug cakes were the perfect way to get loads of protein.

Ingredients in Peanut Butter Choc Chip Mug Cake

These ingredients are so simple and likely ones that you’ll already have at home which is always a winner! This is meant to just be an overview of the ingredients needed. For all the details and full measurements, scroll down to the recipe card at the end of the post.

• Banana: adds moisture and natural sweetness to the cake
• Peanut Butter: adds flavor and protein
• Egg: helps with the structure of the cake and adds more protein
• Oats: go with old fashioned oats or quick oats
  • NOTE: Steel cut oats will not work in this recipe
• Protein Powder: we have been using vanilla but I’m sure it would be great with chocolate or peanut butter protein powder too
• Milk: any type of milk will work, use almond milk and make it dairy free!
• Baking Powder: gives the cake some rise and fluffiness
• Salt: enhances all the flavors
• Mini Chocolate Chips: you can mix these in or just sprinkle them on top after baking
• Peanut Butter Chips: totally optional but they are a delicious addition

Substitutions

If you aren’t down with using bananas in your mug cake, here are few ideas for substitutes:

• Applesauce
• Zucchini
• Apple Butter
• Yogurt
• Canned Pumpkin

You’ll want to use about 1/4 – 1/3 cup of these.

Possible Variations

Skip the chocolate chips and add a dollop of jam on top. It will be like eating a breakfast pb & j.

Add chopped peanuts for more peanut flavor and added crunch.

Slice up some bananas and add them on top.

Add flaxseeds or chia seeds for even more added nutrition.

Drizzle with caramel or top with a scoop of ice cream. Ok, this may have entered the dessert zone, but it just feels right!

What to Eat with a Mug Cake

Protein Chocolate Chip Cookie Baked Oatmeal in a Mug

If you want a simple and delicious high protein breakfast (27g!) that tastes like a chocolate chip cookie, then you have to try this protein chocolate chip cookie baked oatmeal in a mug!

I’ve seen the recipes for oatmeal in a mug, aka mug cake, a slightly healthier mug cake, haha, but I wasn’t loving a lot of the recipes. It turns out that they all had a piece of a puzzle and merely needed to all be put together! This healthy baked oatmeal in a mug has a little protein powder which gives extra flavor and nutrients without overcomplicating the recipe.

Whenever we have a busy day or I’m not in the mood to cook I’ll make a little baked oatmeal and let the family pick out their toppings. It’s like pancake night, but less sugar!

Speaking of, if you want to go all crazy with this protein breakfast recipe you can totally mix up the flavors and add-ins (see ideas below).

Ingredients for Baked Oatmeal in a Mug

Here is a brief overview of the ingredients needed for blended baked oats. This is meant to be a quick snippet of what is included. For all the details, scroll down to the recipe card.

• Banana: adds natural sweetness and moisture
• Egg: binds all the ingredients together
• Oats: You can use old fashioned oats or quick oats since you blend it up. I prefer old fashioned because it’s been processed less. You could also use oat flour if you prefer (since that’s what we are making when we blend these oats up). Use a scant 1/2 cup of oat flour. NOTE: Steel cut oats will not work for this recipe.
• Protein Powder: You can use any flavor you want. Vanilla is my favorite for that true chocolate chip cookie flavor. We have been using coconut flavored protein powder lately which is also yummy because that’s what we have right now.
• Milk: any type of milk works great…whole, 2%, 1%, fat free, almond milk, oat milk, etc.
• Baking Powder: gives the mug cake some rise and fluffiness
• Salt: enhances all the flavors

Substitutes for Banana

I know that there are strong feelings about bananas out there, so if you aren’t a banana fan or you don’t have any, here are few ideas for substitutes:

• Applesauce
• Zucchini
• Apple Butter
• Yogurt
• Canned Pumpkin

You’ll want to use about 1/4 – 1/3 cup of these.

Ideas for Toppings and Mix-Ins

You don’t have to stop at chocolate chip cookie flavor! The possibilities are endless! You can change the flavor of protein powder you use as well as the toppings or mix-ins you add. Here are a few ideas to customize your own baked oatmeal in a mug…

• Chopped nuts – pecans, almonds, walnuts, etc.
• Nutella
• Caramel
• Granola
• Yogurt
• Chopped fruit
• Nut butter – peanut butter, almond butter, etc.
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Protein Waffles – Easy Healthy Breakfast

Two ingredient protein waffles…2 INGREDIENTS…that’s all you need to make this high protein breakfast! We are eating protein waffles for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

We practically live off of these things. A few times a month I seem to have one of those days where no matter how badly I want to make dinner (or sometimes don’t even want to think about it), it just isn’t going to happen. Or maybe we just got home from vacation or ate super heavy all week, the list goes on and on. Either way, having something in your pocket that isn’t cereal or nachos comes in quite handy. Introducing what we call, “protein waffles”. 

We eat protein waffles for dinner, but we also have them regularly for breakfast. A healthy breakfast sets the tone for my day, and I love getting a lot of protein in at breakfast. With this waffles recipe, you get 16 grams of protein in just one waffle.

Ingredients for Protein Waffles

Okay, don’t blink because you might miss it! For these protein waffles all you need is protein powder and eggs. You can use whole eggs or go with just egg whites for an even healthier waffle recipe.

What is the Best Protein Powder?

We use lots of different protein powders and have tried just about everything out. Our favorite brand of protein powder for these waffles is Just Ingredients Vanilla Bean. When you’re picking a protein powder, keep a close eye on the sugar. A lot of protein powders have loads of sugar in them and we don’t want that! Just Ingredients brand has only 2 grams of sugar per scoop.