Beauty From the Inside Out

Introducing another delightful creation that came from my time owning Leo & Co. Bakery.

My younger sister and I simply craved an excuse to enjoy more cookies without that nagging guilt about our daily dessert intake. We sampled so many healthy cookies that were on the market that were filled with adaptogens. Sadly, none met our standards – they were either bland, loaded with artificial sweeteners, or had a less-than-desirable texture. Naturally we took matters into our own hands, concocting a recipe that not only fulfilled our cravings but one that we could feel good about eating and thus the Beauty Cookie was created!

These Beauty Cookies are chewy, with a bit of crunch from the pumpkin seeds. They have a nut, cinnamon taste to them. They are perfectly sweetened and ever so addicting.

Now, let's get down to the nitty-gritty. I won't bore you with an exhaustive breakdown of each ingredient and their benefits (because, let's be real, you're here for the recipe). But here are a few reasons why these delectable treats earned the title of Beauty Cookies. Disclaimer: I'm not a doctor, but my insights come from years of personal research and testing.

• Maca: an adaptogen that helps your body adapt to stress and heal itself. Its incredibly nutrient dense, and rich in vitamins that help fight free radicles that can cause skin damage and iunflamation

• Collagen: this essential protein is already available in your body but depletes with age. it is a building block that can help ease join pan, improve digestion, promote skin elasticity, as well as hair and nail growth

• Pumpkin seeds: rich in skin friendly vitamins, minerals, and fatty acids. The is some evidence that says pumpkin seeds improve skin tone due to their levels of vitamin E, aid in cell regeneration (vitamin a) and maintain the oil production and moisture levels of your skin with their essential fatty

• Dark Chocolate: rich in vitamins a, b1, c, d, e, iron and , dark chocolate nourishes your skin by replacing lost moisture. It is also said to protest against harmful UV rays thanks to its antioxidant flavonoids

On top of all of the nutrients provided by the ingredients, these Beauty Cookies are free from:

• gluten

• grains

• dairy

• refined sugar

• nuts

• eggs

• soy

• legumes

I don't need much persuasion to indulge in cookies, but it certainly doesn't hurt that these are filled with ingredients I can feel great about. Do something wonderful for your body – treat yourself to a cookie!

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beauty cookies

makes roughly 14 cookies

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INGREDIENTS

• 1/4 cup + 2 tablespoons water

• 2 tablespoons ground chia seeds

• 1 cup tigernut flour, sifted

• 1 cup coconut sugar

• 2 teaspoons baking powder

• 1/4 teaspoons salt

• 2 tablespoons maca

• 1 teaspoon cinnamon

• 3 tablespoons collagen

• 1/4 cup pumpkin seeds

• 1/4 cup dark chocolate (I use a 100% dark chocolate bar and chop it into chunks)

• 1 1/3 cup tahini

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Preheat your oven to 350C/170F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

2. In a bowl, whisk together ground chia seeds and water and set aside for at least 10 minutes.

1. In a large bowl, combine tigernut flour, coconut sugar, baking powder, salt, maca, cinnamon, collagen, pumpkin seeds, and dark chocolate.

2. Add the tahini, vanilla extract, and chia mixture to the dry ingredients and mix until a cookie dough is forms.

3. Using a cookie scoop or your hands, portion out the dough into 14 dough balls. Place them on the baking sheet with 2 inches of space in between each cookie. press the cookies down so that they are about 1/2 inch high. These cookies wont spread when baking.

4. Bake for 9 - 11 minutes or just until they are slightly golden brown on the edges. Dont over bake the cookies.

5. Take the cookies out of the oven and let cool for 10 minutes between enjoying!