My kids have been asking for peanut butter cookies lately. So, I set out to find a way to make them as healthy as possible while still getting the “kid approved” stamp. I tried a few different recipes with different sugar substitutes (coconut sugar, honey, maple syrup) until I landed on the recipe below. I like the combo of maple syrup with peanut butter; it reminds me of the pretty fall days we’ve been having here in NC lately. I’ve also included a few reasons why I like using maple syrup from a health perspective in the “Nutrition Tips” section below. If you try the recipe, let me know what you think. 🙂
Nutrition tip:
I like using pure maple syrup in recipes for a few reasons. First, it is about three times sweeter than regular sugar, which means you could use less while still getting the same level of sweetness. Second, some research has suggested that using maple syrup as a substitute for traditional sweeteners (cane sugar) in moderation could improve health. This potential health benefit could be due to maple syrup having a higher nutritional value compared to many other sweeteners (table sugar, corn syrup, etc.). Maple syrup has many components that have health benefits, such as minerals (calcium, magnesium, iron, etc.), vitamins (thiamine, riboflavin, etc.), and phenolic compounds (anti-inflammatory compounds). These components have been linked to improvements in health outcomes associated with many health conditions. I will qualify this by saying all sugars are still best consumed in moderation. (Sources 1, 2).
Sources:
- Arshad S., Rehman T., Saif S., Shahid M., Rajoka R., Modassar M., Ranjha A.N., et al. Replacement of refined sugar by natural sweeteners: focus on potential health benefits. Heliyon. 2022;8 doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e10711
- Mohammed, F., Sibley, P., Abdulwali, N., & Guillaume, D. (2023). Nutritional, pharmacological, and sensory properties of maple syrup: A comprehensive review. Heliyon Journal, 9(9). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e19216
Maple Syrup Peanut Butter Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 1/3 cups whole wheat flour recommend sprouted flour
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 cup coconut oil melted
- 3/4 cup pure maple syrup
- 1 egg
- 3/4 cup peanut butter recommend one with no sugar or oil added
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Instructions
- Mix dry ingredients (1 1/3 cups flour and 1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder).
- Mix wet ingredients (1/2 cup coconut oil and 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder).
- Mix wet and dry ingredients together.
- Put dough in the fridge for at least 30 minutes.
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Scoop 1-2 inch balls of dough onto a baking sheet. Just make sure the balls are all about the same size, so they cook evenly.
- Press the back of a fork onto the top of each dough ball twice at 90 degree angles. This will make a checkered pattern.
- Bake cookies for 10-12 minutes.
- Enjoy!
