Gluten Free, Lower In Fat, “Sugar” Free Cashew Butter Cookies

So many frustrations right now.

When I try to run, my hip flat out hurts.  More rest is needed but that’s very difficult when you’re obsessive.  I admit it.   So what do I do?  I continue to run to see if it feels any better.  Today was a slow 3 with Shane then a faster 3 with Zoey, the last mile being a tempo mile.  The result was a very stiff, achy body.  Now I ask myself:  What would you recommend to someone who you were coaching?  I would say take an entire week off and cross train with exercise that does not hurt that hip at all. Maybe cycle? Maybe swim?    Take my own advice?  No. Excuse?  The college pool is closed in the evening now so it’s not accessible to me and the temperatures dropped so low that cycling is out of the question.  Ah! The trainer!  One more excuse:  The weather is suppose to warm up and I can’t be bothered to put the bike on the trainer only to have to remove it, carry it upstairs in 2 days.  Excuses.  They’re so easy to make up.

What else is frustrating?  Computer issues. That seems to be on going.  Lastly the kitchen.  STILL no oven, stove, full sink and we are living in half a house with a lot of dust and hairy dogs with another 2 weeks minimum to go.

All those things will resolve themselves eventually so in the meantime, I’ll remember when…. when I HAD an oven to bake delicious cookies, cakes, pies, and things.  Here’s one from the archives.

Nut Butter Cookies

Using the NEW NuNaturals products, I created an absolutely and quite literally melt in your mouth “nut” cookie. No flour, no granulated sugar, and lower in fat than typical peanut butter cookies. Here’s the how and the why.

First, why?  Because NuNaturals a member of the American Herbal Products Association sent me samples of their new line of stevia based products.  They also send pages of terrific looking recipes so I’ll be using those as well as creating my own.

Second, how?  The following cookie recipe uses No Flour = Gluten Free, uses Less Fat = Decreased the nut butter and mixed in 1 over ripe banana, AND…Sugar Free = the cookies use NuNaturals NEW sweetener called PreSweet Tagatose.

What is Tagatose:  “-ose”  Because you see that “ose” all you chemistry minded cooks are saying Ah Ha! SUGAR!  But Tagatose is a naturally occurring sweetener found in milk, fruits, and vegetables. It is lactose free, safe for diabetics since it won’t raise blood sugar levels and offers health benefits as a PREbiotic ingredient. PREbiotics feed PRObiotic bacteria like acidopholis found in yogurt. They assist the good bacteria in our digestive systems.  *Be careful: too much Tagatose and it could cause laxative effects.

Taste equivalent:  1 tsp Tagatose = 1 tsp. Granulated Sugar

Good for baking since it will brown as well as caramelize like sugar. It helps retain moisture longer and improves the shelf life of all your baking creations.

So lets get on with this recipe.

Gluten Free Lower in Fat “Sugar” Free Cashew Butter Cookies

Makes 24 cookies

Step 1:   Preheat oven to 350 F.

Step 2: Mix together the following

• 1 over ripe large banana, mashed in an 8 oz measuring cup.
• Natural cashew butter (no sugar added, just ground cashews and sunflower oil) – Enough to fill the measuring cup holding the mashed banana to make 8 complete ounces or 1 full cup. *NOTE:  That 1 full cup INCLUDES your mashed banana.
• 3/4 cup NuNaturals PreSweet Tagatose
• 1 large egg
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 tsp salt

Step 3:  Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.

Step 4:  Drop by rounded teaspoons the nut butter cookie batter onto the prepared pan. and bake for 10 minutes.  *It may be a thin batter.

Step 5:  Allow to cool COMPLETELY before trying to remove from pan.  It’s going to be difficult leaving these delicious babies alone but do it so they can set.

Enjoy!