As many of you know, I chat each week with Matt Swaim on the Sonrise Morning Show/Sacred Heart radio. We share recipes using ingredients from the Bible, and today was all about energy giving cookies.

How about a power cookie to power you and the kids through a summer’s day of swimming, hiking or just having fun outside? 

Now these cookies are a good “Bible foods” lesson (think vacation Bible school) too since they contain ingredients from the Bible, like butter, eggs, almonds, in the form of flour, cinnamon and raisins.

Note that the recipe calls for hemp seeds –  Not mentioned in the Bible obviously but here’s the deal:  Hemp seeds come from the Cannabis plant—the same species as marijuana—but are a completely different product. Eating them will not get you high and are superfood.  High in protein, omega 3’s, minerals and more. You can always sub in flax or sesame seeds, both seeds mentioned in the Bible! 

GLUTEN FREE POWER COOKIES

Part energy bar, part cookie!

Adapted slightly from Food & Wine magazine

Yield: 12-16 cookies

Ingredients

1/2 cup natural creamy nut butter (such as almond butter or peanut butter)

1/2 cup maple syrup

6 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened

1 large egg

1/4 cup plain whole-milk Greek yogurt

2 teaspoons vanilla 

1 3/4 cups almond flour 

2/3 cup hemp seeds, sesame seeds or chia seeds 

3/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon cinnamon (optional but good)

1 cup add-ins (pumpkin seeds, chocolate chips, yogurt chips, raisins, chopped dried figs, really whatever…)  

Instructions

Line 2 large baking sheets with parchment paper.

Beat together 1/2 cup any natural creamy nut butter, 1/2 cup maple syrup, and 6 T butter in bowl until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. 

Add 1 egg, 1/4 cup yogurt, and 2 t vanilla; beat until incorporated.

Then add dry ingredients 1-3/4. cup almond flour, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, 3/4 teaspoon baking soda, and1/2 teaspoon salt.

Fold : 2/3 cup hemp, sesame or chia add-ins and either 1 cup dried fruit or chocolate chips.

Using a 2” cookie scoop OR 3 tablespoons dough, portion 16 cookies; place about 2 inches apart on baking sheets. 

Here’s the deal: they’re soft so yo have to Chill, uncovered, until slightly firm, about 1 hour.

Preheat oven to 375 with racks in upper and lower third positions. Flatten cookies a bit – to 1/2- to 1/4-inch thickness.

Bake until golden and set, about 15-20 minutes, rotating from top to bottom halfway through baking. 

Cool completely on baking sheets, then enjoy!

Gilding the lily: We like them with a thin powdered sugar glaze