![Chunky Monkey Quinoa Breakfast Cookies - with chocolate chips, chopped walnuts and dates! [gluten-free + vegan]](https://www.simplyquinoa.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/chunky-monkey-quinoa-breakfast-cookies-2.jpg)
Posting a cookie recipe on the day that you're starting a 3-day juice cleanse probably isn't the best idea.
Here I am, sipping on green juice, practically drooling on my keyboard. I want to devour my screen! Seriously, all I want to be eating are these Chunky Monkey Quinoa Breakfast Cookies, and instead I'm drinking vegetables and won't be having another bite of solid food for three days…wah!
BUT I couldn't resist sharing these. I made them on Friday and they were gone by Saturday, so that was a sign that you needed them as soon as possible.
We're big fans of breakfast cookies around here, aren't we? There's been a total of four different flavors so far – Toasted Coconut Quinoa Breakfast Cookies, Zucchini Bread Quinoa Breakfast Cookies (one of my faves!!), Carrot Cake Quinoa Breakfast Cookies and Pumpkin Pie Quinoa Breakfast Cookies – and honestly, I think these new ones might be my favorite.
The goodies inside this version are just too hard to resist.
First there's chocolate. We haven't had chocolate in our cookies yet, and let's be honest…chocolate just makes everything better.
Second, there's peanut butter + banana, which if you know me, is pretty much my absolute favorite combo.
Third, there's chopped dates which again…obsessed.
And fourth, well….they're cookies. for breakfast. I just can't even.
If you haven't tried quinoa breakfast cookies before, you might wonder, “are these actually suitable for breakfast?”
Yes, my friend they are. They're gluten-free, vegan (which means no dairy, eggs or honey), oil-free and naturally sweetened. The base is banana, flaxseed meal, peanut butter and a little bit of maple syrup. Then we mix in oats, quinoa flakes, chia seeds, some spices and then our add ins.
So basically…it's like we're eating a bowl of oatmeal but in cookie form.
I love the combo of oats and quinoa flakes because unlike using just oats, the quinoa flakes add more protein which makes each cookie just a teeny bit more filling.
It's Sunday meaning it's the perfect day to bake. I encourage you to whip up a batch of these babies because they'll be a great (and healthy!) breakfast for the week ahead. That is…if they last that long 😉
Your turn…
What other flavors would you like to see? I'm tossing around a chocolate brownie one and maybe one with freeze-dried berries (like strawberry cheesecake maybe?!), but is there any that come to mind for you? Let me know in the comments!
xx Alyssa
![I can't wait to make a batch of these Chunky Monkey Quinoa Breakfast Cookies -- simple ingredient list and they're actually good for you! [gf + vegan too!]](https://www.simplyquinoa.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/chunky-monkey-quinoa-breakfast-cookies-7.jpg)
Chunky Monkey Quinoa Breakfast Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 flax egg (1 tablespoon flaxseed meal + 3 tablespoons water)
- 1/2 cup peanut butter (or nut/seed butter of choice)
- 1/4 cup pure maple syrup
- 1 medium banana, mashed (+ slices for topping, optional)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup rolled oats
- 1/2 cup quinoa flakes
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 cup dark chocolate chips
- 1/4 cup chopped walnuts
- 2 medjool dates, pitted and chopped
- 1 tablespoon chia seeds
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
- Whisk together the flaxseed meal and water, and set aside.
- Beat together peanut butter, syrup, banana and vanilla in a large bowl. Add flax egg and mix to combine.
- Pour in oats, quinoa flakes, baking powder, spices and salt to the bowl and stir together. Fold in chocolate chips, walnuts, dates and chia seeds.
- Drop 2 tablespoons of dough onto the baking sheet and repeat until no dough remains.
- Bake cookies on center rack for 15 – 18 minutes until edges are golden brown. Remove and let cool on the pan for 5 minutes then transfer to a wire rack and cool completely.
- Enjoy at room temp or slightly reheated in a microwave.
by Alyssa
| Nutrition Facts | |
|---|---|
| Serving Size | 2 – 3 cookies |
| Amount Per Serving | As Served |
| Calories 154kcal Calories from fat 71 | |
| % Daily Value | |
| Total Fat 8g | 12% |
| Saturated Fat 2g | 10% |
| Transfat 0g | |
| Sodium 71mg | 3% |
| Carbohydrate 19g | 6% |
| Dietary Fiber 2g | 8% |
| Sugars 9g | |
| Protein 4g | |
Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs:
| Calories | 2000 | |
|---|---|---|
| Total Fat | Less than | 65g |
| Sat Fat | Less than | 25g |
| Cholesterol | Less than | 300mg |
| Sodium | Less than | 2,400mg |
| Total Carbohydrate | 300g | |
| Dietary Fiber | 25g | |
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Alyssa is the quinoa-obsessed girl behind Simply Quinoa. She's passionate about helping you find health, happiness and balance with wholesome recipes and lifestyle tips.
I can relate. I’m on a five-day fast and I know it’s not a good idea to browse food blogs this week, but here I am, drooling over breakfast cookies. Hello chocolate. I want to curl up in a corner and eat a plateful of those cookies by myself.
I hear ya there 😉 Glad to be done with mine and ready to make a batch of these beauties this weekend!
Hi Alyssa,
Just made these and eaten one. Lovely, nutritious and easy to make. Thank you so much for making my non refined sugar journey easier. I substituted blueberries and a full cup of flakes instead of oats and chocolate. Also added a tap of poppy and sesame seeds. Looking forward to trying more of your recipes. Sonia
SOO glad that you enjoyed them!
These breakfast cookies are excellent. My two picky teenagers liked them too. They have great flavor, texture and taste. I would definitely recommend these cookies. Thanks so much for the recipe
So glad you enjoyed them! xo
This looks delicious! I am a very recent quinoa convert. Now, I have no idea what I was waiting for! I make meals for my two young boys, my hubbie and myself, plus my stepfather a few days a week. My older son is 12 and is a Type 1 diabetic (used to be called “Juvenile Diabetes”-it is an auto-immune disease). We try very hard to eat healthy and balanced, but are just at the early phases of this journey. Do you happen to have the nutritional data for your recipes? Specifically, serving sizes and carbohydrate information? Thank you!
So happy you’ve found quinoa and that it’s helping you and your family. Those are exactly the types of comments I adore hearing 🙂 I actually don’t have the nutritional data, but here’s a really helpful website that you can use to analyze any recipe you find online. Simply copy and paste the ingredients, enter the serving size and it will give you everything you need! http://www.caloriecount.com/cc/recipe_analysis.php
xo Alyssa
You have some really great looking meals I have tried Quinoa and I like it a lot I’m just trying to find more dishes that will help with weight loss and detox I find some of these to be.
Hope you give the cookies a try – they’re a fave around here!
Hi Alyssa, these cookies look delish! however, i don;t know if we have quinoa flakes here (Vancouver Canada), can it be substitutes with another form of quinoa or can they only be made with the flakes?
Hi. I live in Toronto and found the Quinoa flakes at Bulk Barn…. Pretty sure those stores are across the country. Or try a health food store (whole foods for example) and they’re sure to have it.
Haven’t tried the cookies yet… But got all the ingredients yesterday and planning on making them today. They look very promising!
Thanks for letting us know!! xo
I need these in my life *goes to buy bananas*
They’re seriously SO addicting 🙂
These look fab!
You requested other flavors
what about:
toasted peacan, coconut, strawberry, chocolate chip?
LOVE those ideas! I have a blueberry muffin one coming tomorrow and have a toasted coconut one already too. The strawberry and also chocolate chip sounds amazing. Thanks, Carly!
Any ideas on what to substitute for the oats… I am grain free.
How about more quinoa flakes?!
Hi, are the quinoa flakes cooked or raw when adding
I am thinking yes because I just made them with the uncooked flakes and they were amazing…
So glad you enjoyed them!
They’re raw when you add them in 🙂 Glad they worked for you!
Hello! I have a quick question, I don’t have quinoa flakes, but I do have quinoa seeds. I am a total lover of healthy breads and cookies, and I have been craving to make some of your recipes, but I see that they usually call for flakes and not seeds!
Is there a way that I can substitute the seeds for the flakes?
Thank you so much!
I haven’t tried making it with cooked quinoa, but if you have quick cooking oats, you could just swap those in for the flakes. My mom actually made these the other day and said she used almond flour and it worked well, so you could try that too 🙂 xo!
Blueberry Crumb!
Check out my blueberry one 🙂
http://www.simplyquinoa.com/blueberry-muffin-quinoa-breakfast-cookies/
Thank you for this recipe. Knowing I’d like it, I doubled the batch. Only change was to use blueberries in place of the choc. chips. This will be easy breakfasts at home or during travels. And, yes, they are so good.
So glad you enjoyed them! I’m now doing a monthly breakfast cookie flavor, so make sure to check back regularly to see the new ideas 🙂
I hate to tell you but OATS are not gluten free. There is a major toss up on these and anyone with gluten sensitivity or celiacs should not be eating OATS.
I always tell readers to make sure to purchase certified GF oats if they have celiac or a severe gluten intolerance 🙂
I would love to see this in an orange-cranberry variation <3 or even lemon Poppy seed with lavender honey…
Adding it to the list!
I’m ok woth eggs. Can I substitute the flax egg with real egg? I dont have flax seed at the moment and want to bake them today! 🙂
You can totally just use an egg 🙂 xo
This recipe looks delicious. I just found your site today.
Hope you give them a try! And welcome 🙂
Hi there! New to your blog and already a huge fan! Love anything to do with quinoa. I came in search of quinoa breakfast cookies and breakfast bowls since I typically use quinoa in savory dishes and want to try something new! Question, are the quinoa flakes a must or is it possible to use regular quinoa? I’m sure the texture would be different but curious if you’d ever tried it? Thanks so much!
Hi there! First, welcome!! So happy to have you here 🙂 I actually haven’t tested these with regular quinoa, but what I think you might be able to do is replace the quinoa flakes with rolled oats and add in about 1/4 cup of cooked quinoa. Again, can’t guarantee results, but that’s where I would start 🙂 I’ve had a lot of requests for that, so I think I need to come up with an option that doesn’t use flakes!
Hi there! I made these cookies this morning with the ‘help’ of my toddler and they’re delicious! Is it ok to freeze them? If there’s any leftover that is 😉
I think so, yeah! So glad you enjoyed them 🙂
If I were trying to calculate the nutritional values, do you have an easier way than taking the sum of the ingredients and then dividing it by serving size? My grandma is on a fairly strict low sodium diet but she might enjoy these… I’m definitely making them for myself but would need to figure out the total sodium per cookie before she could give them a try.
Thank you for any input.
You can use a calculator like this one 🙂 https://www.caloriecount.com/cc/recipe_analysis.php
These look amazing. My little boys are allergic to oats, what would you recommend I sub in for them?
More quinoa flakes will work I think 🙂
Did you come up with a quinoa grain version instead of flakes? My concern is flakes cost 4x the grain. Which is not good if you want to eat these EVERYDAY.
I do not have a quinoa version, sorry! But you could use quick cooking oats instead and maybe just try stirring in some cooked quinoa for the protein 🙂
Can I use quinoa flour (I don’t have flakes) instead of the flakes? THank you!
I haven’t tried with flour vs. flakes, but if you do, I’d say you would want to reduce the amount. Start with 1/4 cup of flour and add more until you get the right texture!
These look so good! I am trying to avoid eggs though and don’t have flax seed. Would chia seed with water instead of flax seed with water work? Thanks. I’m planning to make these soon substituting Oats for the quinoa flakes.
I haven’t tried it, but I think so! Let me know how it goes 🙂 xo
I made a “flax egg” for the first time to make these cookies. Once you try it, you will see that it instantly turns into an “yolk like” consistency. I do not think chia seeds would work at all in the same way. Maybe ground chia? Also I just used uncooked quinoa (organic) and they turned out fine! Maybe cooking the quinoa first would be better but, overall, these turned out pretty good! I’m strictly nursing my first baby (almost 5 months) and I’ve acquired a real “sweet tooth”. These CMC’s are pretty darn good to curb that sweet craving!!! I’ll let you know what my best critic (I.e., husband) has to say about these ones!
I can honestly say this is truly the best healthy cookie on earth. I substituted oats for the quinoa flakes and didn’t add the dates and vanilla (because I didn’t have either).
I would just add to flaten them out, since not stated I expected them to spread and flatten during baking! I did half way through, not ideal. Very good cookies, thanks
Thanks for the note!
It looks delicious 😍😍😍 but are you sure for the nutrition facts table ? Is one of this have 2 calories??? Wooooow
Please reply to me ASAP 😍😍😍
We’re working on updating the nutrition info for all of my recipes, so stay tuned! These cookies tend to stay in the 125 – 150 calorie range per cookie 🙂
Just wanted to let you know that when I read ‘quinoa flakes’ I assumed it was some kind of breakfast cereal, so I subbed in cornflakes and they turned out well! Nice crunch. Not quite as healthy but an interesting variation.
Wow, so cool! Excited to try that 🙂