ALMOND AND ORANGE ZEST COOKIES

As a coach, I find that I learn just as much from my clients as they do from me!

A client of mine has recently been struggling with a health condition and has committed to some major dietary changes in order to help her body heal. As someone who loves food – cooking it, eating it, sharing it with others – she could have easily felt defeated by her newly restricted food options. However, instead she decided to use this as an opportunity to get creative and experiment in the kitchen to create a sweet treat that she can enjoy while staying on her path to healing. And I am so happy she did, because these cookies she concocted, which are gluten free, vegan, and even paleo, are like little bites of heaven! You would never guess how healthy they are from the taste of them, and they could not be any simpler to make. Coconut sugar, one of the few ingredients in these, has only 20% of the glucose and fructose in regular cane sugar and even contains some micro and phyto nutrients.

Do yourself a favor and whip up a batch of these – you won’t be disappointed!

Almond and Orange Zest Cookies

Ingredients:

• 1 cup almond flour

• 1/3 cup nut butter (I used almond butter)

• 1/3 cup maple syrup

• 1 T coconut sugar

• 1 T olive oil

• 1 t orange zest

• 1/4 t cardamom

• 1/2 t sea salt

Instructions:

Mix all ingredients well. Scoop on to a lined cookie sheet. Using a wet hand, press the dough into 1/2 inch disks.

Bake at 350 for 12-15 minutes, or until edges begin turning a golden brown (they will stiffen upon cooling).