Chester Cookies

Yield:3½ dozen cookies

As the name suggests, Chester Cookies are a staple in my house.  These “cookies” are so healthy they can literally be eaten for breakfast.  A traditional soaking technique is introduced below, so make sure to read the instructions carefully.  The oats will be fermented overnight, which greatly increases their digestibility. Cool completely before storing in an airtight container. Chester Cookies are even better the second day!

 

Ingredients
2 cups rolled oats
1 cup raw plain kefir
2 pastured eggs
1/3 cup butter, softened
3/4 cup almond butter *
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp sea salt
1 tsp green powdered stevia **
1 ½ cups ¼” diced green apple (approx 1 large)
1/2 cup currants
1/2 cup chopped soaked walnuts
1/2 cup unsweetened coconut (optional)
1/2 cup unsweetened carob chips (optional)

Instructions
The Night Before – Put oats in a clean, glass bowl. Add kefir and stir until fully combined. Cover with a clean dishcloth and set-aside until morning. Unwrap and put 1/3 cup butter in a small bowl to soften, cover with a tea towel and go to bed!

In the Morning – Preheat your oven to 350˚. Locate 2 regular cookie sheets lined with parchment paper.  To the kefir-oat mixture, add eggs, softened butter, almond butter, cinnamon, sea salt & stevia. With a hand mixer, beat until fully combined. Add remaining ingredients, and with a hand mixer, bean until fully combined. Using a 1½“ ice cream scoop or large spoon, drop cookies onto the prepared cookie sheets leaving an inch in between each drop. These cookies won’t grow much in the oven.  Bake for 12-14 minutes or until the bottoms are beautifully brown.  The crunchy bottom is important.  Serve warm or cooled.

* Almond butter is just like peanut butter but ground almonds, instead!  Look for it in your local health food store.  If your family eats these cookies regularly, it’s best to make almond butter at home from dehydrated almonds using a high-speed blender.

** The Stevia currently found in grocery stores is a refined product.  Unrefined stevia is a green powder that can be found in many health food stores.  Many people, who do not like the white refined stevia powder, prefer the less chemical taste of unrefined Stevia.  If you simply can’t tolerate Stevia in any form, ¼ cup maple crystals is a delicious substitute.