Honey Nut Chex™ Granola Breakfast Cookies for #HeartHealthMonth

This article is sponsored by three new breakfast and snack items from General Mills at Publix: Cheerios™ +Ancient Grains ^[4], Gluten Free Chex™ Granola Mix ^[5], and Nature Valley® Nut Crisp Bars ^[6].

{Giveaway below!}

I’m just as guilty as most. I gear up right after the first of the year during new years resolutions time and promise to eat better, along with many other empty promises to myself. The truth of the matter is that it’s not too difficult to be heart healthy and so let’s all go for it together! There’s no better time than Heart Health Month!

Today I’m sharing a recipe for Honey Nut Granola Breakfast Cookies using gluten-free Chex Honey Nut ^[5] granola mix from General Mills ^[5]. Products from General Mills, particularly Cheerios ^[4], have been staples in so many households. I mean, raise your hand if any given morning of the week called for honey nut or original Cheerios. I see you all out there. I KNOW, me too!

Anyway, back to the granola cookies. They took me all of, um, no time and before I knew it, I had these treats that are such a great grab and go item for weekday breakfasts on the way to work. (Get printable coupons for these products here ^[7] and here ^[8]! And visit Publix through February 11 for additional deals including BOGO on Cheerios +Ancient Grains ^[4] and Nature Valley Nut Crisp Bars ^[6] for 2 for $5!)

Before I even started putting ingredients together for this recipe, I was eating granola mix by the fistful. It’s so tasty, you guys, I can’t even. It’s a wonderful mixture of granola, Chex squares, almonds, and sweet honey nut clusters. (It’s also gluten free, made with simple and nutritious ingredients, with NO artificial flavors or colors and NO high fructose corn syrup.)

Have a go at it!

Print Recipe ^[9]

Honey Nut Granola Breakfast Cookies {with gluten-free Chex™ granola mix}

Prep Time: 25 minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 55 minutes

Ingredients:

• 1 cup almond butter
• 3 tablespoon honey
• 1 teaspoon pure maple syrup
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 2 dried pineapple rings, diced
• 2 tablespoons dried cranberries
• 1 tablespoon flaxseed
• 1 1/2 cups Gluten Free Chex Honey Nut Granola Mix ^[5]

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350*F. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil.
2. In a large bowl, stir together almond butter, honey, maple syrup, sugar, egg, salt, baking powder, dried pineapple, and dried cranberries until thoroughly combined.
3. Add granola mix and fold into mixture. Make sure the granola mix is evenly distributed.
4. Roll the dough into 1 1/2 inch balls and place on the baking sheet, a couple of inches from one another, about 8 breakfast cookies on each sheet.
5. Bake for 13-15 minutes, or until the edges are browned. Remove from oven and allow to cool for 10 minutes on the baking sheet before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

Also, Cheerios ^[4] has now come out with a new +Ancient Grains ^[4] cereal which is so good! We’re talking kamut wheat, spelt, and quinoa – and it doesn’t taste “diet”. I know a diet taste can be a turnoff for a lot of people, the turnoff that leads you to break your resolutions, so I feel the need to say that it’s easy to be heart healthy with these new +Ancient Grains. Plus, they only have 5 grams of sugar!

It’s so difficult for me to find breakfast that tastes good, is fast to make (or grab and go), and is something I don’t mind eating over and over again. These heart healthy options fit all my criteria, especially as far as these granola cookies go.

Now I’m giving away $15 so you can experience these products for yourselves! The $15 will be in PayPal Credit. Just follow the entry options in the Rafflecopter widget below! Remember: #HealthySnacksHealthyHeart!

a Rafflecopter giveaway ^[10]