Brain Boosting Blueberry Granola Breakfast Cookies

Looking for a mid week treat that will give your mood and brain a boost? 
Say heya to these indulgent, nutritious breakfast cookies.👋

⁠Whether it's that much needed 3pm afternoon pick me up, a needed activity for those kids at home, or a mental cooking break for yourself - these taste delicious and are filled with real, whole food, nutrient dense ingredients that include excellent ingredients for the brain. ⁠They are low sugar, plant based and pack a real supercharged fiber and antioxidant boost!  ⁠Check out the nutrition breakdown below the recipe. 

Sometimes everyone just needs a good cookie.

⁠

Ingredients

• 1 cup rolled oats
• ½ cup oat flour⁠
• 1 tsp baking powder
• ½ cup ground Rawcology Blueberry Grain Free Granola⁠
• ¼ cup pumpkin seeds⁠
• ¼ cup hemp seeds⁠
• ½ cup blueberries
• ½ tsp salt⁠
• 1 tsp cinnamon⁠

• 1 flax egg 
• ½ cup tahini⁠
• ¼ cup maple syrup⁠
• 1 tsp vanilla
• ¼ cup melted coconut oil ⁠

Method

1. Preheat oven to 350 °F. Place parchment paper on a baking sheet. ⁠
2. Prepare the flax egg and set aside. ⁠
3. In a blender or bullet, pulse blueberry granola until ground. Set aside. ⁠
4. In a medium bowl, combine all dry ingredients, except for fresh blueberries, and stir to combine. ⁠
5. In a separate bowl combine tahini, maple syrup, coconut oil and vanilla. Stir until completely mixed. Fold in flax egg.
6. Add wet to dry and mix together and then gently fold in the fresh blueberries. ⁠
7. Using your hands, shape cookies and place on cookie sheet. This recipe yields 11 cookies. Place in preheated oven and bake for 15-17 minutes. Allow to cool completely then devour every single one! 💜 Store in fridge or freezer.

What makes these brain boosting breakfast cookies?

• Rich in anthocyanins, plant compounds with anti-inflammatory & antioxidant effects
• Antioxidants act against oxidative stress & inflammation, conditions that can contribute to brain aging & neurodegenerative diseases
• Studies showing that blueberries may help improve memory & delay short-term memory loss

• Antioxidant rich
• Rich in zinc, magnesium, copper & iron - key nutrients to support brain health
• Zinc - nerve signalling; deficiency linked to neurological conditions (Alzheimer’s, depression, Parkinson’s)
• Magnesium - essential for learning & memory; low levels linked to depression & other neurological conditions
• Copper - your brain uses copper to help control nerve signals
• Iron - deficiency linked to brain fog & impaired brain function

• Virgin coconut oil, tahini, pumpkin seeds, hemp seeds, flax egg
• In general, good fats: olive oil, avocados, nuts & seeds, flax, hemp, chia, coconut
• Up to 60 percent of our brain is made of fat. Fat is essential for proper brain function, but it needs to be the right kind of fat (monounsaturated, polyunsaturated, EFAs, MCTs) vs trans fats, processed fats, inflammatory oils
• Support balanced hormones, reduce inflammation, provides insulation for organs, essential for nutrient absorption (fat soluble nutrients ie vitamins A, D, E & K)

• Omega 3 essential fatty acids are the essential building blocks of our brain & crucial for learning & memory.
• Mix of DHA & EPA
• 10g protein per 3 tbsp for hemp seeds

• Rich in B vitamins, essential for brain health (brain function, energy production, support neurotransmitters)

• Anti-inflammatory foods
• Antioxidant rich foods
• Healthy fats & importance of Omega 3 essential fatty acids
• Protein rich foods (important building blocks for the neurotransmitters that send messages throughout the brain)
• Probiotics & prebiotics: gut friendly ingredients to support gut-brain connection