The secret ingredient in these nutritious and delicious chocolate-chip cookies? The amazing protein power of quinoa!

By Peggy Kotsopoulos

4 large, very-ripe bananas
2 tbsp almond butter
1/2 cup coconut sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla
1 cup cooked whole-grain quinoa
1 cup uncooked quinoa flakes (or oatmeal flakes)
1 cup unsweetened, shredded coconut
1/2 cup chocolate chips

1. Preheat oven to 380 F.
2. In a large mixing bowl, mash bananas with a fork and add almond butter, vanilla and coconut sugar. Mix well.
3. Add quinoa, quinoa flakes and coconut. Mix until well combined.
4. Stir in chocolate chips.
5. Line baking sheet with parchment paper and drop batter on to cooking sheet. Bake for 25-30 minutes.
6. Remove from oven and let cool.



Bonus Recipe!

Use the same batter for pancakes! Simply spoon batter onto a lightly greased frying pan. Flip once and serve.