Breakfast cookies are a big hit around here. With a 4am wake up and a hankering for healthy carbs and sweets I have declared my kind of cookies an exceptional breakfast. In them is creamy ricotta cheese, whole grains, a little bit of butter and lots of lemon. You might find yourself leaping out of bed (OK, maybe not at 4:00) for breakfast like I do. I even made them gluten and nut free to get more of you guys to eat the most important meal of the day.
At the end of the month I am speaking at my alma mater Syracuse University. I am so excited to share all about my fun career with the students on campus. They have also lined up for me to be on the local TV show Bridge Street on WSYR. I believe I will be doing a cooking demo.
With the ease, simplicity and flavor of these cookies they will be perfect for my on air presentation. They personify everything I do on this blog. Healthy whole food ingredients put together creatively with respect to health and great flavor.
A slight crust on the outside yields a soft corn and oats cake-like texture in the middle. As you can see, I top a bowl of thick greek yogurt with a cookie for snack or breakfast. Serve with or without the dollops of lemon vanilla cream cheese frosting.
This weekend I attended a huge natural foods expo with the great folks from Udi’s Gluten Free Foods. We learned all about their wonderful line of products and toured the show. We also enjoyed gluten free Banh Mi sandwiches at the Nom Nom Truck. Check out a few fun photos and details from the event.
What are your favorite lemon cookies? Do you have any recipes for breakfast cookies?
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Lemon Cookie Recipe Links
- Buttermilk Cookies with Lemon Zest Orangette
- Gluten Free Lemon Lavender Cookies Elana’s Pantry
- Lemon Curd Cookies You Made That?
- Lemon Rosemary Shortbread Cookies Fresh Tart
- Lemon Spiral Cookies Try Anything Once
- Meyer Lemon Shortbread Cookies Tiny Urban Baker
Beautiful cookies Marla! I was just chatting with some ladies last night and we all agreed that we LOVE lemon treats, these look gorgeous and delish!
Love this healthy gluten free recipe, my mom is gluten free and would love these cookies. Also thanks for the link to my lemon curd cookies 🙂 Have a great week.
Great recipe! And YAY YOU on speaking at your Alma Mater and being on TV!! I cant wait to see… thats awesome!!!
Lemon and ricotta are a wonderful combination. Love that these are gluten-free too!
These breakfast cookies look lovely! I love lemon in the morning…well, any time of day I guess, haha. WHY do you wake up at 4am? I’d be so tired!!
Now this is the kind of breakfast my kids would love!
These are some of the prettiest cookies I’ve ever seen!
They look delicious 🙂
What a fun way to use so many cool flours! And ricotta in
cookies = LOVE 🙂
Heather: I have been obsessed with ricotta in my baked goods. Love the texture and subtle flavor it adds. Protein to hold you over too!
Oh, those look fantastic! I love lemony treats. Cheers,
Rosa
Is the nutritional information available for your recipes?
They sound wonderful and I can’t wait to try them, but keep a food
journal and need the info. Thanks.
Leslie: At this time I am not able to provide calorie counts for my recipes. There are however some wonderful sites where you can type in the ingredients to figure out those helpful numbers. As with all food, if we are mindful of portion sizes then we can easily maintain a healthy weight. I love the idea of food journals. They are a great tool to help keep up accountable.
Calorie Count
Google Calorie Counter
Calorie King
These look great and so easy for rushed mornings. Sounds
like it will be an exciting time at your alma mater! 🙂
Brandi: These cookies are perfect for those grab and go moments. They are “fast food” over here and way tastier than anything packaged.
These look amazing!
These look fantastic, Marla. Definitely my kind of
breakfast. Must have been fun to see the Nom Nom Truck up close and
personal!
These look delicious-I’m going to make them this weekend
for my sister and husband who eat gluten-free. Also, love the
fabric with the lemons-I have the same one 🙂
Cait: That is a great idea. The good thing too is you can make ’em in a pinch. So easy & quick 🙂 Have fun with your sis.
What a great combination for a breakfast cookie. I love
that idea. They look fantastic.
What a delicious breakfast treat! Everything is better when you start your day with lemon!
Kristin: “Everything is better when you start your day with lemon!” – – – – and cookies 😉
These cookies look so light and refreshing, I love that they are for breakfast!
I adore lemon treats. These sound delicious Marla!
So pretty! I can just picture the lemon being such a refreshing start in the morning with these breakfast cookies.
These are such lovely cookies, Marla! What a wonderful
flavor. I would never think to bake cookies with ricotta, but this
is something I’ve got to try. I just made The Italian Dish’s
homemade ricotta yesterday, and after making an Italian dinner
tonight, I think I’ll use the leftover ricotta for these. Thanks
for sharing this recipe! 🙂 Have a great start to the
week.
Georgia: I have not yet made homemade ricotta but it is definitely on my to-do list. I am addicted to baking with it. The texture of the baked goods with it is unbelievable. I like switching between that and my thick greek yogurt in recipes. They both add a certain something special, plus a little protein which I love.
Marla, the recipe looks fabulous, as do the photos!!! Wow!
I just posted a new recipe for No Bake White Choc & Mango
Cookie Dough. Can you come over to my site when you have time and
give me a photo critique? Seriously, just tell me what’s WRONG with
the photos. I want to learn, learn, learn. Please! 🙂
Averie: Thanks girl. One of the best things to do with the photography is to go around to peoples sites that you love and take it all in. Magazines and cookbooks are great too. I am constantly looking at how food is plated, how color is used, how light is reflected, where the light is coming from, props, focus, angle, etc. There are so many elements that go into a great photo. Practice is essential & it sounds as if that is what you are doing. Treat each photo shoot like a small study. I actually talk to the food sometimes when I am shooting. I know it sounds goofy – but then there is a certain silliness in playing with food all day 😉 xo
These cookies are totally calling my name – thanks for the recipe!
Oh and I just found your blog and LOVE it – your fam is so cute! Picture perfect!
Ally: Thanks! I am so happy you found me. Gonna go check out you blog now. You have one of my all time favorite ingredients in your blog name – oats 🙂 love spice too!
These look great! Can’t wait to try these!
Marla, another yummy breakfast cookie and gluten free! I’ve
been experimenting with gluten-free baking a lot lately now that we
have a gluten allergy in our family and am always looking for more
recipes. We have an oat allergy too now, any suggestions for
another gluten free substitute?
Jeanette: Sorry to hear about the oat allergy. How about a mix of corn flour and a medium ground corn meal for a little texture play? I bet the corn flour would be great by itself too. I am gonna think about some more options. Off the top of my head maybe an amaranth or quinoa flour…..Let me know if you explore this. I will try to soon.
These look so good…lemony spring time feeling! Possibly could get me up at 4am too for a bite of these!
You can keep your 4 am wake up but I think I’ll take some of those cookies. 🙂
I’ve heard of lemon ricotta pancakes, but lemon ricotta cookie?!?!? O-M-G! Get in my mouth…!
I love the idea of breakfast cookies, especially ones with ingredients like these. I’ve got several cookies recipes that I can think of now that when tweaked would make a much better breakfast than a donut. Of course, just about anything would be a better breakfast than a donut. 🙂 They are tasty, though.
What a way to start the day!
Congrats on the speaking and TV appearance; what a fun opportunity.
I am sure you will rock it, especially with yummy ideas like this one.
Marla – I love the idea of this breakfast cookie. Lemon anything is really all right by me. I have a meyer lemon tree and I am coveting the last 2 dozen lemons and have to use them sparingly. These look terrific, Marla. P.S. if I wanted to sub the stevia for sucanat – any suggestions? x
Susan: I have not experimented yet with the sucanat, maple syrup, etc. in these cookies. Something that certainly needs my time and consideration though. Recently we converted one of my stevia sweetened gluten free cookies for a magazine and the results were awesome. Generally I try a few tablespoons up to about 1/4 cup and taste the batter as I go. Cooking times might need to be adjusted a smidge. Again, I have not tried that with these cookies so if you do let me know & I will do the same.
Yay GF! These are so pretty. I love lemon/ricotta, just
another all-round clever, delicious recipe.
i don’t know that i’d bound out of bed at 4am for ANY type
of breakfast . . . but i might ‘roll or slide’ outta bed around
6-ish for these delectable goodies; i do love me some lemon
ricotta!
Yum cookies for breakfast! Cant go wronge there. Now I must
find a place that sells coconut flour locally :-/
These cookies sound like the perfect start to a morning!
I’m all about a cookie in the morning, but maybe not as early as
4am. 🙂 Love that these cookies are healthy and gluten-free. And
congrats on your upcoming TV spot! How fun! You’ll be a hit with
your energy and passion. Can’t wait to hear all about it.
These are so cute, love your photos!
These are lovely! I can’t wait to try and make some of
these lovelies. Thanks for sharing the recipe. 🙂
These sound amazing.
These cookies are great to kick start our day!! So lovely
and healthy!
I am always searching for GF recipes for my brother-in-law. That sounds like a great cookie to try. Love your pics!
How yummy-looking – this looks great. Just found your blog and loving all your recipes.
Awesome cookies Marla…love the idea of gluten free. Lemon
and ricotta…great flavors. Have a wonderful week 🙂
I’m a serious early bird too, but my laser-like focus is always on coffee rather than food during the am hours. That said, you’ve got my two favorite flavors of lemon and cheese in a totally scrumptious and healthy combo here. I’m thinking that a couple of these with afternoon tea would be just perfect!
Cookies for breakfast? Yes, please! I’d love for you to submit this to the M&T Spotlight at http://www.makeandtakes.com/spotlight
Ooh and gluten free too! What a fabulous idea-like a portable breakfast. Best of luck with your cooking demo. You’ll knock em dead! 😀
4:00 am? These delectable and healthy breakfast cookies are about the only thing that would get me up that early! Lovely. Enjoy your cooking demo!
MMmmm I would definitely wake up (any time) for this! Looks perfect and perfect lure for breakfast 🙂 Your lemons looked delicious by the way!
Breakfast cookies??? You are speaking my language daaahling. The sharpness of the lemon and the creaminess of the ricotta sound like an awesome combo!
*kisses* HH
Your cookies are stunning! 😀 Love your recipes!!! They are
the best! 😀 xoxox Kathleen
Awesome breakfast. I always want some cookies for
breakfast! Yours, though, won’t leave me feeling guilty later. I
haven’t used coconut flour before but it’s been popping up lately.
I’ll have to see if they have some at the natural foods
store.
Mariko: I bet you will be really pleased if you can get your hands on some coconut flour. A little bag lasts a long time too. You only need a small amount in recipes. Find it girl! You can always order it online too. xo
I might jump out of bed at 5 am for these, but not 4 am. 😉 What great flavors! Congrats on the speaking and TV engagements. That is very exciting! Can’t wait to see you in May!
These will be a huge hit during your cooking segment. Well done, my friend!
Cookies for breakfast? YES please. That ensures a good day! And lemon is such a great flavor – it makes life good!
Kulsum: “Lemon makes life good.” I really like the sound of that!
Eating these cookies for breakfast will surely make up my day. Add some frostings on top of those cookies and match with a cup of hot chocolate is definitely wonderful. I can’t wait to try this.
The cookies look amazing and I really want to try them. However I’m also dairy free. I can sub coconut milk for the milk and vegan margarine for the butter…but any thoughts for the ricotta? I find most things I make these days are just too dry without being able to use cream and yogurt and cheese and such.
you had me at lemon, swept me away with ricotta and I cried at Breakfast cookie.
🙂
Those are beautiful Marla! I love everything lemon, I know
I would love these!
I’ve never had a lemon cookie before, but that’s something I’m fixing to change…thanks to your recipe! Now my little brain’s whirling trying to think of ways to veganize it. Hope you’re having a great day!
Marly: I bet you can come up with many ways to veganize these cookies. My first thoughts include lots of coconut – milk, oil, butter etc. They would be so tasty vegan.
I adore ricotta…with the lemon zest this is a great
combination. These cookies are so pretty.
The icing looks tasty. When I try this one I will put more icing on the top to make it yummier.
Melanie: I usually dab on some more icing as well! Can’t have too much of that 😉
Wow. A 4am start is earlyyy! The cookies looks delightful. Congratulations on your talk at the university. I’m sure you’ll do a smashing job 🙂
Marla, Thanks so much for stopping by my blog via Georgia’s. Your blog is gorgeous and all of your dishes look amazing! All of your photos are so wonderful. Would you mind telling me what cirumstances you shoot in to get such great lighting(or any photo tips you may have)? Thanks so much.
Katie
Katie: Thanks for stopping by. I always shoot in natural light. Reflective boards are very helpful to get the lighting just right, to highlight certain areas and subtract light from others. Also I use a tripod. Even though I have great light, the slower shutter speeds I use would show way to much jiggle and blur if I was holding the camera. Hope those tips help and feel free to ask away with the questions. We all learn from each other 🙂
Marla, thank you for your helpful reply. I had another
quick question And I really want to thank you for our time 🙂 Is
the reflective board a special item from a store or just a white
foam board? By natural light do you mean shoot outside or just
shoot right in front of a window? Thank you so much for your
help!
Good for you, Marla – they do look light and lively and lovely!
Pucker perfect for first thing in the morning! 😉
Valerie
I love the idea of a healthy breakfast cookie. I usually grab a protein bar on my way out of the door, but I think one of these cookies with a tub of yogurt looks much more satisfying. 🙂
I was wondering if you would consider adding the nutritional value information for your recipes (calories, protein, carbs, fat)
Liz: I would love to add the nutritional info for my recipes however I would need an assistant to help me out with that 😉 It is certainly the plan one day to be able to provide you guys with that info. I know it would be very helpful. Thanks for the suggestion – I value the input on ways I can enhance my content.
Can’t wait to make my next batch of these—one of my favorite breakfasts, now! Any suggestions on a substitution for the ricotta? I need to make them for someone who is allergic to cheese!
Hi Kate, hmmm instead of the ricotta how about fat free strained greek yogurt? Is your friend allergic to dairy?
Greek yogurt sounds like a great substitute (and one of my all-time favorite foods, too!). Dairy isn’t a problem, just cheese, so this is perfect. Thanks so much!
At last! Someone with real expterise gives us the answer. Thanks!
The cookies look delicious, but I am stuck on the 4am thing!!! I thought I was an early riser at 5:45. I so want to get up earlier, because there is just never enough time in the day. Goodness, 4am…I could get in prayer time, yoga and a blog post before the house is awake!! You are inspiring me! What time are you going to bed??
I will be recommending these to everyone i know, not only because of the time factor but they can be eaten through the day. The perfect answer to a busy life.
Mark, these are fun + nutritious cookies to have on hand at all times. Keeps you satisfied and away from the heavier stuff too!