Maple Pecan Chip Breakfast Cookie

I made these cookies with my friend's twin sons in mind.  They love everything sweet and especially at breakfast time.
One of them recently wished aloud that he could eat cookies for breakfast.  To that, I say,
"Your wish is my baking dream."
Nothing makes me happier than having a couple of 8 year olds eat what they call a cookie, simply because it has some vegan chocolate chips in it, when in fact it is a perfectly healthful breakfast.
This cookie is very low fat with only ONE tablespoon of organic canola oil in the entire recipe of 20 plus cookies.  It is high in fiber and protein from the oats, spelt and quinoa in it.
Yeah, some brown sugar and chocolate chips are in there as well, but really...lets have health and some fun too!
Some people due to allergies or plain dislike, can absolutely leave out the nuts.
And raisins, cranberries or any dried fruit would be an equally delicious substitution for the chips, if chocolate is not your morning thing.  Bake it how you dream it!

Maple Pecan Chip Breakfast Cookie

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper or a silpat mat.

Makes 20-24 cookies

In a medium bowl whisk together:

1 1/2 cups rolled oats

1 1/2 cup organic spelt flour

1/2 cup organic quinoa flakes

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

In another medium bowl, whisk together:

1 cup organic brown sugar

1 tablespoon organic canola oil

1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce

1/4 cup pure maple syrup

1 teaspoon organic vanilla extract

1 teaspoon organic maple extract

2 tablespoons of hot water

Mix the dry ingredients into the wet and stir until fully incorporated.  You may need to add another tablespoon of hot water to get a thick cohesive type of batter.

Fold in:

1/2 cup chopped pecans

1/2 cup mini vegan chips 

or other options like raisins,dried cherries, apricots

Use a cookie scoop or a tablespoon and drop the cookies onto the tray about 2 inches apart.  These cookies do not really spread, so using damp fingers, gently press the dough into flatter disks.

Bake at 350 degrees for 12-15 minutes or until golden brown.  You can tell the cookies are done because the house gets filled with this outrageously great smell of maple.

Remove from the oven and allow the cookies to sit on the sheet for 5 minutes.  Remove to a wire rack to continue to cool.  Enjoy!