When I was going through yoga school at Laughing Lotus Yoga in San Francisco, I took the vow, so to speak, of becoming a vegetarian.

It was easy for me, as I never really craved meat anyway. One thing led to the next, and before I knew it, vegan baking became a passion of mine.

Here’s my first, and very favorite, cookie recipe. I call them Monkey Cookies, because they give me the energy of a monkey, and when I developed the recipe I was living in a co-op with seven other people; we would constantly refer to each other as monkeys.

These cookies are filled with wholesome, grounding ingredients, lots of fiber and just a pinch of spice to help keep you warm during these cold, kapha months.

Try them with a glass of your favorite milk substitute. I suggest homemade almond milk.

Vegan Oatmeal Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

>> 2/3 cup + 2 tablespoons crunchy peanut butter (or almond butter)

>> 5 tablespoons coconut (or vegetable) oil

>> 1/4 cup maple syrup

>> 1/2 cup brown sugar

Photo by Grey Marcoux

>> 2/3 cup milk-alternative (I like using home-made almond milk)

>> 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

>> 1 cup whole wheat flour

>> 1 cup all-purpose flour

>> 1 teaspoon baking soda

>> 1 teaspoon salt

>> 2 cups rolled oats

>> 2 bananas, mashed

>> 1/2 cup shredded coconut

>> 3 tablespoons ground flaxseed

>> 1/2 cups dark chocolate chips

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

In a large mixing bowl, stir together all wet ingredients—including the bananas and nut-butter.

In a small bowl, thoroughly stir all dry ingredients.

Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients in the large mixing bowl. Stir in dark chocolate chips.

Drop tablespoon-sized mounds of batter on an oiled baking sheet. Bake for 12 minutes or until golden brown. Remove sheet from oven and let cool on tray for 5 minutes.

Makes about 2 dozen.

Be sure to place at least one cookie on your alter in offering for Lord Hanuman.

 

Born and raised on the tiny, historic island of Nantucket MA, Grey Marcoux always had the desire to travel—externally as well as internally. It was in 2003 that she was first introduced to yoga, when on a whim she followed her intuition to postpone going to college and instead travel into the mysterious heart of India for four months to dedicate herself to service work, spiritual studies and soul-searching. It was there that the divine flame of consciousness and selfless service was ignited. A San Francisco heart-throb, she moved to the bay in 2005 for school and to immerse herself in activism, the healing arts and redwood trees, and found herself devoting more and more time to practicing yoga. She views the body as a great temple holding many sacred secrets, and treasures that yoga can unlock—thereby transforming ourselves and coming more into alignment with our true self. She is infinitely grateful to her cosmically conscious teachers Jasmine Tarkeshi and Keith Borden of Laughing Lotus Yoga San Francisco. She works at Buen Dia Family School and Laughing Lotus Yoga in San Francisco, CA and lives in Oakland.

 

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Asst. Ed: Amy Cushing

Ed: Bryonie Wise