Chocolate Protein Nuggets - Low Sugar

A cookie that is more like real food! That was my goal when I created this cookie for my extremely picky son. Stevia brings the sugar way down; flax seed and whole grains brings nutrition up, chocolate makes it yummy!

• Ready In: 20 mins
• Yields: 36 cookies

Ingredients

• Combine in a medium bowl with wire whisk

• 1 1⁄2 cups whole wheat pastry flour
• 1  cup quick oats
• 1⁄2 cup ground flax seeds
• 3  scoops  vanilla protein powder (I use whey based)
• 1⁄3 cup cocoa powder
• 2  teaspoons baking powder
• 1⁄2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1⁄2 teaspoon salt

• Combine in a large bowl

• 1⁄4 cup applesauce (or unsweetened apple butter)
• 1⁄4 cup plain yogurt
• 1⁄4 cup  vegetable oil
• 1⁄4 cup sugar
• 1  large egg
• 1 1⁄2 tablespoons  stevia plus (or 3/4 cup sugar equivalent of your brand)
• 1  teaspoon vanilla (optional, I like a lot of vanilla)
• 1⁄2 cup  mini chocolate chip

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Combine first 8 ingredients in a medium bowl using a wire whisk. Whisk together rest of ingredients, except chocolate chips, in a large bowl using a whisk. Whisk until sugar is dissolved. Add dry to wet in thirds combining with a sturdy mixing spoon after each addition. Mix in chocolate chips. Will be very stiff!
3. Lightly spray a cooking sheet with non-stick spray. Drop balls the size of a large walnut spacing 1-2 inches apart. Flatten slightly as the cookies will not spread much. Bake for 10 minutes. Remove to cooling rack. Cool completely.
4. Note: My protein powder is sweetened with sucralose. I don't know how much sweetness it contributes or if you will need to adjust the recipe for unsweetened protein powder.