Chocolate Chip Proatmeal Cookies

I had a few bananas that were about to go rotten but it wasn't enough to make banana bread, so I made oatmeal cookies instead! The best part about these is that you don't need to add sugar, stevia, honey, or any other sweetener because the bananas make them sweet enough. They have a combination of protein, healthy fats, and good carbohydrates that make for a great on-the-go breakfast or quick snack.

Ingredients:
-3/4 cup quick oats
-3 ripe mini bananas, or ~1 medium sized, mashed
-1/3 cup unsweetened applesauce
-2-3 tbsp any nut butter (I used You Fresh Naturals Cinnamon Roll Coco-nut Butter...obsessed)
-1/2 scoop vanilla protein powder (could sub flaxseed meal)
-2 tbsp chopped pecans--or almonds, walnuts, etc.
-3 tbsp dark chocolate chips, carob chips, etc. (I used Enjoy Life gluten-free mini chocolate chips)
-1/2 tsp vanilla extract
-1/2 tsp cinnamon
-optional: 1/2 tbsp Maca Powder

Directions:
Preheat the oven to 350F. In a mixing bowl, combine the nut butter and mashed banana. Then mix in the protein powder, applesauce, vanilla extract, and cinnamon. Add the oats and nuts, and mix well. Finally, fold in the chocolate chips. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Use a spoon to place to the dough on to the parchment paper, forming balls about 1-1.5 tbsp big, and then flatten them slightly. Bake for 15-20 minutes. Let them cool and enjoy! Store in a container in the fridge to make them last longer.