Hi friends! Let’s talk about a few things. Are you ready for a midweek chat? Consider this a check-in / overshare / banana bread cookie recipe. This is what friends do.
It’s February which means that last month (which feels like a lifetime ago) I did that thing so many of us do – I made a New Year’s resolution (though I prefer to call them intentions) to myself to survive another pandemic year if not become a marginally better versions of myself in the process. You too?
My intentions this year have been these:
• I intend to feel as strong and healthy going into my 40th (literally WHAT!?) birthday as possible. We’re talking body, brain, and heart strong and no one is in charge of that but me.
• I intend to teach myself how to enjoy swimming and running and otherwise train my mind and body for a triathlon.
• I intend to stay curious about my life, all the newness I can add to it, the growth I can experience, and all the joy I can squeeze out of it. It’s an everyday choice.
One month and eleven days into the new year and here’s the real question: how’s it all going? WELL…
Before I answer this question let me tell you: I tend to be a person who is reeeaaaalllyy hard on myself. The ol’ inner monologue can be a bit of a bully. I have to remind myself to be generous before answering.
How am I doing? Most superficially I ate too many potato chips and didn’t drink nearly enough water today, but I’d like to remind myself that there’s more to the story.
How am I doing?
I’m staying motivated to move my body. What’s worked for me the last month or so is Nike Run Club and Nike Training Club. I noticed that I’m a person who needs a lot of verbal encouragement to work out and let me tell you – Coach Bennet in the Nike Run Club app has done the impossible and turned me into a runner. I actually look forward to crossing another starting line aka just stepping outside my front door to jog my slow slow mile.
I’m practicing my swimming which means I drag my butt out of the house at 7:30pm when the pool will be empty at the gym down the street so I can work through the drills in Total Immersion Swimming. There are times when it’s so frustrating that I don’t think I’ll ever figure it out. Have I cried in my car about it? Yes absolutely. There are also fleeting moments where things feels almost like swimming and those are the moments I hold on to.
There are times when I talk myself out of swimming and opt for watching television in bed, but there are more nights that I remind myself that no one can do this for me. It’s me @ me in this life lesson and I’m trying to stay curious about how I can rewrite this swimming story for myself.
Does it suck sometimes? Yes. And yet I’m still just out here trying.
Lastly friends, I’m really trying to get a handle on the pain I have associated with my endometriosis which was diagnosised 2018. Yay, finally, it only took 10 years to figure out! These bodies are wild. I’ve been on a specific-to-me anti-inflammatory diet under the supervision of a functional nutritionist for the last three months and I miiiiight be seeing progress. I’ve done a lot of research for myself about endometriosis, had one laparoscopic surgery, and am currently exploring how I can live with this disease.
I know I know… we haven’t talked about this whole diet thing mostly because it’s all been so weirdly specific to my body (I’m sensitive to things like sunflower seeds and olive oil WHO KNEW!?). I also just needed space to simply see if I would feel a change with a shift in diet. I think the answer is yes but I’m still on the road.
BUT!
The want to share the banana bread cookies that I’ve kept in my fridge the last few weeks. It’s a little treat sweetened mostly with bananas and a hint of monkfruit sugar. They’re packed with almond flour and flax, crunchy walnuts, and chocolate (my favorite being the unsweetened chocolate chips from Trader Joe’s). When stored in the refrigerator and enjoyed cold, they taste JUST like sneaking a perfect little slice of banana bread from the fridge right before bed. I’ll leave the recipe for you below and continue to share recipes I love on my tuned-up alternative diet. Just be patient with me.
That’s my half of our check-in, friends. How are you!? (You don’t have to tell me but definitely tell yourself.)
I just wanted to give you a quick glimpse of my small world. I wanted to give you a peek into my efforts in case you needed a little encouragement yourselves. Encouragement to put your feet on the ground in the morning. Encouragement to prep your kids for another day of distance learning… whatever it may be. We’re still well within an insane time and I feel like the only rule is to do our best to take care of ourselves. I respect that that surely looks different for all of us. Some days are harder to motivate than others but we’ve got a whole year to make progress and a ton of small (tiny, even) victories to celebrate along the way.
I’m rooting for you. I’m rooting for us. Now cookies.
Print
The Almond Flour Banana Bread Cookies I Always Have In The Fridge
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 16 minutes
- Total Time: 36 minutes
- Yield: about 18 cookies 1x
Description
Gluten, dairy, and refined sugar free snacking cookies. Sweetened with banana, studded with dark chocolate and walnuts, they’re a perfect little banana bread bite!
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cup (145 grams) almond flour
- 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
- 2 teaspoons flax seed meal (optional)
- 1 large egg
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup, honey, or monk fruit sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 1/4 cup (about 375 grams) lightly mashed banana
- 2/3 cup (about 100 grams) coarsely chopped walnuts (optional)
- 2/3 cup (about 108 grams) chocolate chips (optional)
Instructions
- Place a rack in the upper third of the oven and preheat oven o 350 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and lightly spray the paper with nonstick cooking spray (or spread very lightly with coconut oil, whatever you prefer).
- In a medium bowl whisk together almond flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger and flax seed meal (if using).
- In a small bowl or a large liquid measuring cup whisk together egg, maple (or your chosen sweetener) vanilla, and mashed banana.
- Add the wet ingredients all at once to the dry and stir until well combined. Stir in the walnuts and chocolate, if using.
- Spoon cookie batter by the two tablespoonful onto the prepared baking sheet. Bake for 16-20 minutes (longer than traditional cookies because there’s so much moisture), until lightly puffed and golden brown. Keep an eye on them past 16 minutes of baking.
- Allow to rest on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely. Repeat with the remaining batter.
- Enjoy cookies warm and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for a week or so. These cookies are actually super delicious cold from the fridge.
Britt
I so love that, about 10 years into reading your blog, connecting with your content, and imagining how hard I would friend you if we lived near, I feel very much the same as I did in my early years of readership: Seen, nourished, connected. Thank you for being you Joy! (And a lil fist bump from the auto-immune soldier on my shoulder to the one on yours)
★★★★★
Lin
I’m not so keen on eating chilled cookies. Is there a specific reason for storing them in there? Otherwise I’d just leave them at room temperature, ready to eat…
joythebaker
Feel free to leave them at room temp for three or four days.
megeowyn
Joy! These look very fine and I’ll be making them real soon. Mostly inspired by your February share and the work that you are doing. It’s not easy but it’s so important and I feel inspired reading this to think hard on how this year is looking for me and how I can best face it. Also, in terms of your bod – there’s an excellent Australian book recently published called Show Me Where It Hurts by Kylie Maslen about the politics and experience of invisible illness and in particular the lack of research, understanding and support for women’s health. Would highly recommend!
Anete
Thank you so very much for sharing, Joy! It takes courage to open up like that, and I really want to thank you for doing it. Such vulnerability makes us all closer to one another, lets us see the struggle behind the beautiful pictures. There is such power in acknowledging it, sharing it and then sooo much more strength in being able to persevere nevertheless, ooh you fighter! The yummy recipes and you writing and sharing like this is what keeps bringing me here. Lots of love to you, and remember to be gentle with yourself! (my inner critic and slave-driver is very present, too, so I know how that feels). We are worthy and bold and wonderful! x
Erin
we are worthy and bold and wonderful. love that wording so much I might write it on a post it note and put it on the bulletin board over my desk.
thank you for opening up, joy! I find your willingness to share your vulnerabilities with this community so inspiring. and you are so thoughtful about the work that you do.
I totally stopped working out for like 6 months last year and I’m trying to get back into it. I started running with the couch to 5k app and I love it! similar to nike run club with the encouragement but you get to alternate running and walking and it is making running feel doable for the first time in a long time. here’s to learning new things about ourselves in 2021.
anastasia
Thanks for sharing your journey, as a fellow explorer on the anti-inflammatory path I so appreciate ideas and also just the feeling of being in good and nurturing company. I, too, was an adult swimming student and I can attest that eventually things will click and, girl, on a good swimming day moving through the water is pretty darn close to what it must feel like to fly. Have you used teff flour? It’s protein-filled, no gluten, and incredible when baked with loads of chocolate. Now imma watch those bananas on the counter get just a wee bit more ripe, and then bake some of these cookies!
Ashley V
Joy! So nice to hear from you. I, too, have endometriosis and have had multiple surgeries, on a special diet, etc. Yoga has really helped as other more intense modes of exercise have exacerbated the endo. I imagine swimming will be great for you along with the yoga I already know you do. I will try these cookies-sometimes soaking raw walnuts and roasted them low and slow yourself can aid in digesting them. As you say, every body is different. Keep on keeping on….
Jen
As an avid triathlete, I’ve been following your triathlon journey. I remember learning how to swim as an adult :) it was a struggle. But its so cool when it starts to click! Now I love swimming. Its such a good antidote to hunching over my computer and also to pounding my legs on the pavement. But all the pools around here are closed due to covid!! So please enjoy the process for me! So jealous of your outdoor pool situation!!
Holly
I will try these cookies. You really are courageous and making the best at what life has to offer or throws at you. I will try to be as determined as you when trying to make myself better. Thank you for the encouragement.
Brittany
Thank you for sharing your story and your journey with us! As a fellow endo warrior I understand some of the struggles you are going through with this disease and I myself am on an anti-inflammatory diet to try to help relieve some of this endo pain. I hope you continue to find some relief! I’m so glad you were able to get diagnosed finally, it took me 10 years as well. Thank you for bringing the realness of this disease to your platform and sharing it with your followers. I love hearing from others living with endo and learning what helps them feel better or just knowing they are still working on things every day like I am. I wish you all of the luck on your path towards wellness and trying to feel your best. You are truly inspiring! Thank you ?
★★★★★
Cory
Thank you for the encouragement and yummy recipe! Both were definitely needed this morning. I bake my way through a heavy heart sometimes, and this recipe is sure to cure:). Learning how to bake in healthier ways has been a gift during this crazy time. Keep pushing through to your greatness…and I’m sure your fans will be right behind you trying to do the same;)
★★★★★
Michele
Hi there. Thank you for opening your heart to us! Embrace age 40! The 40’s will be your best decade. It the time when your physical self and mental self meet up (even just for a moment lol. Good luck with the exercise/training. Our bodies are strong and resilient. We are all capable of doing difficult things (I know believe me).
Thanks for being here with us day in and day out. And keep the recipes coming!
Oh- and perfect timing for this recipe. Going to try it next week!
Samantha Martin
For my birthday my husband bought me different kinds of flours, because I’m not very interested in flowers. This’ll be my first almond flour newlywed cookies. Thank you for this surprise check in—we’re with you, you’re living life and it’s inspiring and I love to see it.
Kristiana
Love that your husband did this ??
Mere
Could I use another wet ingredient in place of the egg such as almond oil to make it vegan?
joythebaker
I haven’t experimented with this myself but almond or avocado oil sound like a great way to make these cookies vegan. I would increase the flax seed meal to 1 tablespoon to help with binding!
Robin
Hi Mere. I haven’t yet tried the recipe but Im a vegan as well. My idea was to make a flax egg using water and flax. You can Google how, but I make them by using 1 Tbsp flax meal mixed with 3 tbsp. Water. Set it aside about 10 min. and you have a vegan egg for baking. Use this in place of an egg in any baking recipe.
★★★★★
joythebaker
Robin I think that’s a great idea!
Lee Rosenthal
Can these be made as bars? Thanks and good luck.
joythebaker
Hi Lee. I haven’t tried making these into bars. I suspect the batter is too wet and the outside edges of the pan would cook well before the center of the pan. I think this batter is best as cookies but of course you’re welcome to try!
Sarah
Gosh this was the recipe and encouragement my heart needed tonight.
Your words so regularly make me smile and feel seen, it is such a gift.
You are such a gift.
Thank you.
★★★★★