Chocolate Orange Breakfast Cookies

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Happy new year everyone! And helllloooo PALEO!

Almost. I’ve been looking into paleo recipes lately, I am intrigued. Mostly just by all natural desserts and breakfasts (I honestly don’t understand the whole paleo thing….). Not to mention thats ridiculously hard to do all day erryday. They usually have some flour I’ve never heard of, or some weird all natural ingredient unknown to the general public. Having that said, I see a foreign ingredient, make a face similar to O_O and close the page. Although, just because it isn’t 100% paleo, doesn’t mean you can’t do a little good for your body right?

I’ve always been interested in the healthiest breakfast possible (without sacrificing delicious breakfastey goodness). Y’all who love breakfast as much as I do can agree. Everyday I scour the internet looking for a new, healthy, and delicious way to get all my breakfast needs met. Hence forth…… the breakfast cookie! Soft, chewy, full of nutrients and energy. It is exactly what anyone on the go needs. It can be customized to basically whatever tickles your fancy. That is what makes it so great.

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1 1/4 cup quick cooking oats (not instant)
1 cup assorted dried fruits of your choice (I used apricots, dates, and figs)
1 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 cup walnut halves, chopped
1/4 tsp kosher salt
1 tsp cinnamon
1 1/4 cup orange juice
2 tbsp honey

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Whisk orange juice and honey. Set aside.
3. In a large bowl, mix together oats, dried fruit, walnuts, cocoa powder, salt, and cinnamon.
4. Pour orange juice mixture into oat mixture and stir coating everything evenly. Let stand for 15 minutes.
5. Using a cookie cutter (whatever shape you want), spoon into cookie cutter about 1/2″ thick, firmly packing it in. Bake for 15 – 20 minutes, until desired texture is achieved.