You might consider these Maple-Oatmeal Cookies breakfast cookies. They’re reminiscent of your favorite granola.
These moist-centered, crisp-edged Maple-Oatmeal Cookies are perfectly flecked with nubby oats– plus I’ve added chewy, extra-large golden raisins and a hint of maple syrup. With a list of ingredients like that I can see where these would indeed make a great start to the morning. In fact anything you’d consider stirring into a bowl of warm oatmeal would make a perfect substitution here. Don’t have raisins? Use dried apples. Is cinnamon too strong? Try nutmeg instead.
However, I have to admit, I find the idea of breakfast cookies a little foreign. In fact I’d put breakfast cookies in the same category as breakfast salads. They’re both just a little too cute. They seem like something marketing geniuses thunk up. However, to be fair to fans of breakfast cookies and good morning salads (as well as any marketing geniuses out there), I will say that I could get into the idea of a breakfast cookie if these treats were winking up at me each day.
Besides, I’ve been reading a lot about the benefits of sweets for breakfast. It may have started with the Nicholas Bakalar article in the The New York Times proclaiming that eating dessert for breakfast might help a person lose weight. The idea being if you satisfy the sweet-tooth first thing in the morning you’re less likely to overindulge as the day wears on. Hmm. Sounds reasonable, I guess. Still, I don’t totally buy it. There’s far too much evidence proving that sugary sweets in the morning are a surefire way to crave a nap by noon. Still, there are plenty of sweets that are readily accepted as breakfast foods: coffeecake, donuts, anything smothered in syrup. So why not cookies? After all, I bet there’s a heck of a lot less sugar in these Maple-Oatmeal Cookies than there is in most bowls of cereal.
Despite the dietary myths and legends about breakfast, one thing is an absolute in my world. Cookies are a treat. I like cookies best as a break from the routine of the day. But you’ll have to decide for yourself. Are these Maple-Oatmeal Cookies for breakfast? Or are they an afternoon snack? You’d better decide quickly, once they’re in the cookie jar the real the challenge is not eating them for both breakfast and a snack. I wonder if any scientists have weighed in on that idea? GREG
I you start your day with sugar (a lovely idea), can’t you just eat it all day long? These look terrific, Greg.
I am totally down with having cookies for breakfast, it would be almost as good as breakfast for dinner!
Hm. What are your thoughts on starting the day with a little bourbon? We might be less likely to want to indulge later, after all.
…or I’ll just take one of those cookies. Any time of day.
Twist my arm and I’ll eat some for breakfast with Greek yogurt.
I’m fine without sugar, but once I have it, I want more. So for me, the dessert for breakfast thing probably wouldn’t work. In fact I know it wouldn’t — I’ve had cookies for breakfast before! And not just one. 😉 Anyway, these are great — thanks.
they look yummy!
I love the idea of cookies for breakfast! Perfect with coffee and so delicious 🙂
I’ve been eating cookies and desserts for breakfast without giving it a second thought since my college days. I think it’s no different from eating a doughnut or a muffin in the morning. But I could see why breakfast cookies would sound weird. Cookies are, as you said, a treat.
The cool thing about breakfast cookies is people are at least admitting they are eating dessert for breakfast. Other things like cupcakes get disguise-names like “muffin”. These look lovely though like all breakfast foods, I’d probably munch on them at night…
I totally agree re: breakfast cookies! Such a weird, salesy concept. But I would eat a handful of these guys any day — just probably not before 10 am. 🙂
These sounded so delicious I had to try them right away! I didn’t have any raisins so I used chopped apricots, and used oat flour in place of the all-purpose flour as I have to eat gluten free. Scrumptious!