Watching What I Eat: Tropical Coconut Mango Breakfast Cookies

Tropical Coconut Mango Breakfast Cookies

Tropical Coconut Mango Breakfast Cookies, with optional white chocolate chips ~ With pineapple, macadamia nuts, coconut & mango ~ these breakfast cookies let you enjoy a taste of the islands in your own kitchen. :)

I decided to try making a new Breakfast Cookie without using bananas, just for a change of pace. I thought pureed mangoes would work in a similar way as the mashed bananas & I'm happy to report they do! Summer is in full swing & I'm really jonesing for the beach, tropical climes & some Jimmy Buffet on the radio ~ so this Breakfast Cookies is my way of living on island time ~ in my Midwest kitchen. :)

I love eating fresh mangoes!

Since I was using all mangoes, I thought I might as well really embrace the tropical vibe, so I included the flavors of coconut, pineapple & macadamia nuts. I figured as long as I was splurging, I might as well add some white chocolate chips to some of the cookies, too & just let me say they were divine! I felt like I was eating a healthier, coconut-y version of a White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Cookie ~ YIPPEE! They are flour & egg free and have no sugar added (unless you include the optional white chocolate chips). Roy is a big fan of this new cookie flavor & I hope you will be, too!

For those of you who are you're not a fan of bananas, this will be the cookie version for you. If you are a fan of bananas & not of mangoes ~ then make them that way instead...or maybe try it with 1/2 mango & 1/2 banana. Add the vanilla protein powder, or not ~ same goes for the coconut. Just go native, tweak this recipe as you see fit & make it your own. Happy sailing! Now, were did I put my Buffet CD's....

Tropical Coconut Mango Breakfast Cookies ~ with pineapple, macadamia nuts & optional white chocolate chips

makes 12 large or 16 regular sized cookies

2/3 cup mango puree ~ from fresh or frozen (about 2 fresh mangoes) (*can exchange 2 mashed bananas for the pureed mangoes or use 1/3 cup mango puree & 1/3 cup mashed banana)
2/3 cup unsweetened applesauce
1/3 cup crushed pineapple ~ drained
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp coconut extract
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 1/2 cup old fashioned oatmeal ~ uncooked
1/4 cup golden raisins (I used the golden raisins for their light color in this recipe , it's OK to use regular dark raisins if you prefer)
1/4 cup chopped macadamia nuts ~ (OR ~ use chopped walnuts if you prefer)
1 scoop vanilla protein powder ~ (optional)
3 Tbsp unsweetened flaked coconut ~ (or sweetened, if you like that kind better or already have that in your pantry)
1/4 cup white chocolate chips, or to taste (optional ~ if you feel like splurging :)
additional coconut flakes for sprinkling on top of the cookies ~ if desired

Preheat heat oven to 350 degrees.

In a large bowl mix ~ mango puree (and/or mashed bananas, if you are using those), applesauce, crushed pineapple, coconut extract, vanilla extract & cinnamon until well combined.

Stir in the dry ingredients ~ oatmeal, coconut flakes, raisins, macadamia nuts (or walnuts) & protein powder (if you're using) ~ combine until well blended. Let mixture sit for 10 minutes.

Drop cookie dough, by spoonfuls, onto a parchment paper lined cookie sheet & flatten cookies into rounds or bars. Add white chocolate chips to top of breakfast cookies, if using, & press them into the dough (OR, just mix them in with the dry ingredients, see above). Sprinkle some additional coconut flakes on top, if desired.