As the Fitnessista’s Breakfast Cookie took blog world by storm, I was skeptical. I love oatmeal for breakfast… whether it’s cooked on the stove or soaked over night in milk and yogurt, oats are pure breakfast bliss.

I’d read my share of posts where people raved about the breakfast cookie. I was turned off because everyone was putting protein powder in theirs and protein powder ain’t my thing. I thought protein powder was a key ingredient in getting it work so I never tried it.

Fortunately, I saw Meghann’s version sans protein powder, and suddenly the clouds began to part, angels started to sing and I saw the light.

Here’s my version, a chocolate breakfast cookie!

1/2 c rolled oats
1 Tbsp ground flax seed (optional)
1 Tbsp sliced almonds (optional)
1 Tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder (optional, cocoa powder for a chocolate cookie, but it’s just as good without it)
1 banana, 1/2 mashed, 1/2 set aside.
1 Tbsp almond butter (or any nut butter)
A splash chocolate unsweetened almond milk (1 – 2 Tbps? And any kind of milk will do)

Throw oats, flax, and sliced almonds into a bowl.

Mash your banana!

Add banana, almond butter and cocoa powder to bowl and stir.

Add almond milk (or milk of your choice) until it’s wet and a little soupy. I like mine more moist but others seem to like their more dry. Personal preference.

Once well combined, put onto a plate and flatten into your “cookie”

I use to cover mine with wax paper but now I just throw it in the fridge as-is overnight. The oats will soften as they soak up the milk and the banana and almond butter firm it up and hold it together. I also found that I had to tweak this recipe to my own liking before I was hooked. You might want to use less liquid, different nut butters, nuts, raisins, chocolate chips. The combos are endless. Believe me, it’s worth experimenting with until you find your own personal breakfast cookie perfection.

In the morning, top with slices of the other half of the banana. Zak said this looked like a cow pie. Cow Pie Surprise, to be exact. Well then let me eat cow pie.

Totally yummy and different, I can’t believe I waited so long to try it! A big thanks to Gina for your fabulous breakfast creation, and thanks to Meghann for showing me it’s possible to make it without protein powder!

Go on now, what are you waiting for?