1 Bowl Zucchini Trail Mix Cookies

Published November 7, 2022 by Dr. Stephanie Gray, DC

This post may contain affiliate links.

Try my healthy, nutrient dense zucchini trail mix cookies. They are chewy, soft and lightly sweetened with chocolate chips. Nobody will ever guess that riced cauliflower is hidden inside. Perfect for breakfast on the go or a healthy snack. This recipe is grain-free, dairy free, low in sugar, and includes healthy fats and collagen (optional). Gluten-free, paleo and ketogenic friendly.

The Nutritional Science Part…If You’re

Interested

Benefits of Cauliflower

Cauliflower is so versatile and readily works with different spices. It is nutrient dense and offers a host of health benefits to those who regularly eat it.

Cauliflower is most known for being rich in indole-3-carbinol (IC3). IC3 is a substance found in cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, cabbage, collard greens, brussel sprouts, turnips, rutabagas and cauliflower. It offers protection from cancer by way of helping the body metabolize (break down) estrogen to favourable estrogen metabolites.

To be clear, estrogen is a wonderful and beneficial hormone that aids in normal cell function and growth. It protects our bones, promotes healthy pregnancies and aids in cognition. But estrogen imbalance or excess estrogen is a common issue that can lead to a cascade of undesirable symptoms and serious health problems.

When your body no longer needs estrogen, it is the job of the liver to break it down, so it can be excreted in the stool or urine. Without getting too science-y on you, the liver breaks down estrogen to 3 different metabolites. One type is considered “favourable” and two types are considered “unfavourable” that are associated with growth of breast and uterine tissue, including cancer. Cruciferous vegetables have been shown to help estrogen break down to the favourable type of estrogen. IC3 has been shown to do other things too, like induce cell death of cancer cells, inhibit tumour growth, upregulate other enzymes that promote cell death, activate anti-inflammatory pathways and tumour suppressor genes. Who knew cauliflower had such super-powers!

People of all genders need to be concerned about the effects of estrogen on the body as we are all environmentally exposed to estrogen (think plastics, food, water supply, etc). Also, all fat cells produce estrogen. In short, it matters how your liver deals with estrogen and cauliflower can help it get the job done properly!

Now that you know more about IC3 than you ever thought you needed to know, I’m going to share with you my AMAZING zucchini trail mix cookie recipe. This recipe will usually make 9 large cookies.

Now let’s get on with the recipe!

Why you will LOVE Zucchini Trail Mix Cookies

• They are healthy! Low in sugar and no grains these cookies are a no-brainer. These cookies satisfy all needs for a snack without breaking the sugar bank.

• They are nutrient dense! These cookies are good for you– filled with nuts and seeds and cauliflower! Who knew you could hide cauliflower in a cookie.

• They are super quick and really easy to make!

• You only need 1 bowl for this recipe making less mess!

What you need to make Zucchini Trail Mix Cookies?

• 1 cup riced cauliflower raw
• 1/3 cup almond butter
• 2 eggs
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1/3 cup pumpkin seeds
• 1/3 cup sunflower seeds
• 1/3 cup unsweetened coconut flakes
• 1/3 cup walnuts chopped
• 1/4 tsp sea salt
• 1/3 cup chocolate chips
• 1 tbsp unsweetened collagen powder optional
• 1 tbsp MCT oil optional
• 2 cups blanched almond flour
• 1 cup zucchini grated

How do I make Zucchini Trail Mix Cookies?

It’s EASY!

Step 6:

Use an ice cream scoop to scoop 8 or 9 mounds onto the prepared baking sheet.

Step 7:

Key Ingredients & Substitutions:

• Cauliflower rice– This recipe showcases cauliflower as the star ingredient. It gives the cookie substance and replaces traditional oats, making them gluten and grain free. There really is no good substitute here. You can buy riced cauliflower in most grocery stores or you can rice your own at home in a blender or food processor.  Use fresh riced cauliflower, not frozen.

• Walnuts – I used walnuts as they pair nicely with zucchini. Pecans would work too. Buy your nuts raw. Sometimes nuts are packaged with canola or soybean oils on them. Do not buy these. Seed oils ruin the nutritional benefits of nuts. Read labels to ensure your nuts are raw. I buy all my nuts at Costco.

• Pumpkin seeds & sunflower seeds– these seeds are used to give the cookie substance and to provide nutritional benefit. Make sure your seeds are raw when you purchase them. Seeds are often packaged in canola or soybean oil which ruins the nutritional benefits of seeds. Read labels! You could substitute seeds for dried cranberries or raisins being mindful that this would increase the sugar content.  

• MCT oil– MCT oil is a healthy saturated fat that has many health benefits including improved cognition, which is why I include it in these cookies.  If you don’t have any, skip this ingredient. It is not needed to ensure good taste of this recipe.

• Collagen – For best results, use an unflavoured powdered collagen. I used Bulletproof Collagen. Collagen is not needed to ensure good taste of this recipe, so if you don’t have any, skip this ingredient. Collagen is an excellent supplement to support tendon, skin and joint remodelling.

• Zucchini– I chose grated zucchini for this cookie recipe, but grated carrot or grated (and peeled) sweet potato would work too.

How to Store Zucchini Trail Mix Cookies

Store cookies in an airtight container for 2 days. Any longer than 2 days and they should be put in the fridge. Cookies will freeze nicely.

Tried this recipe? Mention @drstephanieskitchen or #drstephanieskitchen on social media