If you've ever been tempted to grab a sugary cookie on your way out the door, you're not alone. But that quick pick-me-up doesn't last very long and can leave you feeling crummy. These breakfast cookies have all the flavor with none of the sugar crash. They combine the creamy texture of almond butter with the tangy-sweet flavor of dried fruits, all mellowed out by sweet, thick molasses. The oats create a strong base to get your morning off to a healthy start—not to mention that delicious crunch of the caramelized edges.

What Are Breakfast Cookies?

Breakfast cookies are a convenient way to enjoy breakfast on-the-go—a particularly helpful option for busy weekday mornings. They're created with balanced nutrition in mind, often with a mix of oats, nut butters, dried fruits, or other healthy, nutrient-dense ingredients to keep you satisfied and energized throughout the morning. Unlike traditional cookies, they're typically low in sugar, and offer a start to the day you can feel good about.

The best part of these breakfast cookies is that they're customizable. Once you find a good base recipe like this one, you can mix and match ingredients to create the exact cookie you love. After all, breakfast is the most important meal of the day.

What Type of Oats are Best for Breakfast Cookies

To prepare these cookies, make sure you get rolled oats at the store—they go through a steaming and flattening process which gives them a milder flavor and much softer texture, making them the perfect base for your cookie. But the flavor and texture aren't the only things going for your oats. These whole grains are a great source of protein, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and fiber. Mixing them in alongside antioxidant-packed cranberries, sweet molasses, and bolstering almond or peanut butter will get your morning off on the right foot when it comes to your stomach.

Ways to Change Up Almond Butter, Fruit, and Oat Cookies

To change up this breakfast cookie recipe to suit your preferences or what you have on hand, consider these variation ideas:

• Applesauce: Experiment with substituting part of the applesauce with mashed bananas or pumpkin puree for a unique flavor profile.
• Almond or peanut butter: Use other nut butters as desired, or sunflower butter for a nut-free option.
• Rolled oats: Rolled oats will give you a perfectly chewy texture, but you can substitute with quick oats in a pinch (the results will be slightly drier, with a more dense texture).
• Whole wheat flour: You can also experiment with using alternative flours, like oat flour or a gluten-free flour blend.
• Spices: Add nutmeg, cloves, ginger, cardamom, or other spices as desired.
• Dried fruits: Swap or add in dried cherries, blueberries, goji berries, dates, figs, mango, apples, or pears as preferred.
• Other mix-ins: Stir in flaxseed, chia seeds, chopped nuts, sunflower seeds, dark chocolate chips, cocoa nibs, shredded coconut, coconut flakes, or zest for a flavorful boost.