Porridge Breakfast Cookies

My very close friend, Lisa, has a wonderful vegan blog called LisasProjectVegan.com.  She writes recipes with the intent to take simple, healthful ingredients and create delicious meals without spending hours in the kitchen.  She recently posted a recipe for breakfast porridge with oats and apples. The porridge was such a yummy, warm way to start the day...I thought, I need to make a breakfast cookie out of that!  Here you get the same satisfying feeling, but in a hand held, on the go, kind of way.  My kids love to eat one walking to the school bus!

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.  Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.
Makes 10-12 large cookies.
Begin by toasting the nuts you will be using at the end of this recipe.  I chose almonds and walnuts.  Use what you love!
To toast the nuts, chop them coarsely and sprinkle them on a parchment lined cooking sheet.  Place them in the 350 degree oven for about 5-8 minutes.  Watch them carefully!  When they are fragrant, they are perfectly done.

Whisk together in a bowl:
1 cup of whole wheat pastry flour
1 1/4 cups rolled oats
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon vanilla powder or 1 tsp. pure vanilla

In another medium bowl use a hand or stand mixer to combine:
1/4 cup Earth Balance non-dairy butter
1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
1/2 cup brown sugar
2 tablespoons pure maple syrup
2 tablespoons oat milk (or non-dairy milk of your choice)

Add the dry ingredients to the wet, stirring to combine completely.
Fold in:
1/2 cup dried apple or fresh, cut into bite size pieces
1/2 cup your toasted nuts.

Use an ice cream scooper or just a tablespoon and roll the dough into a ball shape.  Place the dough on the cookie sheet, 2 inches apart, gently pressing it down into a large round shape. Bake for about 12 minutes until the cookies are a golden brown.  Cool on the baking sheet for 10 minutes and then transfer to a wire rack.
Grab one warm and get going to where you need to be, breakfast in hand!