Adding herbal components to recipes is one of the simplest ways to unwind and enjoy a tasty snack. One of the best floral herbs for relaxation is lavender, a soothing option you can use in various recipes, like these Lemon Lavender Cookies! This plant-based recipe is made with wholesome ingredients that will nourish the body and support relaxation. We paired lemon and lavender together for a delicious batch of cookies made with Lifeway Oat cultured oat milk and rolled oats for prebiotic fiber, B vitamins, magnesium, and more. Give these a try next time you want a fragrant and calming cookie!
Not Just Oat Milk: Cultured Oat Milk Benefits to Know
With increasing research linking the correlation between probiotics, gut health, and immunity, it’s no secret that the integrity of our gut is vital to our health. Although additional factors such as stress, antibiotic usage, and individual health conditions can contribute to the condition of our gut, a focus on healthy food choices is one of the easiest ways to support the microbiome.
Several studies have shown a strong association between the gut-brain-microbiota. Probiotics introduced to the gut have been found to support immunity, improve allergies, and improve digestion. Studies have also shown that reduced diversity of healthy gut bacteria during early years is associated with an increase in food allergies during school-age years. In addition, a combination of fiber and probiotics is even more beneficial for the gut, immune system, and for brain health due to the way this combination strengthens the microbiome, the powerhouse system of your entire health. This is where Lifeway Oat is so beneficial since it is an organic, cultured oat milk beyond just another standard oat milk. Lifeway Oat contains both fiber and probiotics to help support a healthier body and brain, which means an overall healthier you.
Prebiotics + Probiotics = A Healthier You
Prebiotics are non-living, non-digestible carbohydrates naturally found in a variety of fiber-rich plant foods. Your body actually can’t digest prebiotics, so they’re what probiotics feed off of to remain actively working in your digestive system. They help the digestive system by promoting the growth of good bacteria. Prebiotics and probiotics work together in balance to make sure our digestive system stays on track and regular. Research has found that consuming a variety of prebiotic and probiotic food sources may improve your body’s natural functions, including both your immune and digestive systems.
Ingredients
- 1 cup rolled oats, blended to a flour consistency
- 1/3 cup almond flour (not almond meal) or brown rice flour
- 2 tsp. culinary grade lavender buds
- 1/2 cup coconut sugar, organic brown sugar, or date sugar
- 2 tbsp. flax meal (ground flax seeds)
- 1/2 tsp. baking soda
- 1/2 tsp. baking powder
- juice from 4 lemons, peels saved and set aside
- 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
- 1 tsp. vanilla extract
- 1 1/2 cups Blueberry Oat
- water if needed (see directions)
Directions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and coat a large baking pan/cookie sheet with parchment paper; set aside.
- In a mixing bowl, all the dry ingredients, and mix well to combine.
- n a small mixing bowl, add your wet ingredients and stir well to incorporate or blend with a hand mixer. Add this mixture to the dry ingredients and mix again very thoroughly, ideally with a hand mixer. The mixture should resemble cookie dough, however, if you need to add more water to get it to that consistency, do so. Depending on the flours you choose, this can vary in amounts.
- Let the mixture set in the fridge for 20 minutes to firm up more, and then scoop the mixture out with a cookie scoop onto the prepared baking pan. Make sure the cookies are no larger than 2 inches in total diameter so they cook evenly.
- Bake cookies for 8-10 minutes, then set aside on the counter to cook for 5-10 minutes and enjoy!
