Bejeweled Maca Cookies • 4-ingredients • Raw Option

In my years as a vegan, I haven’t tried many superfood powders. Why? One simple reason: they’re expensive. I know a little bit goes a long way, but the price tag still deters me. But after hearing so much about the butterscotchy, energy-boosting maca, I had to get my hands on some.

An 8 oz. bag for $35, I don’t think so!

Bulk bins to the rescue! There on the bottom row next to all the grains and nuts and powders was red maca. I know nothing about the brand or quality, but its a good place to start. I walked out with a decent-sized scoop of maca powder for less than $5! Perfect for the maca-curious like me who isn’t ready for a bag-sized investment.

My take on the taste • Some superfood powders hit you over the head with their funky flavor (I’m looking at you lucuma). But maca was subtle, a bit nutty, a bit earthy. I can’t say I picked up on the butterscotch note, but other brands might be better. If you have any brand suggestions, let me know.

After tasting a finger full, my imagination began to wander in the recipe direction. The obvious option would be to blend up a smoothie. But why smoothie when you can cookie? And these superfood-laced cookies are almost as fruit-packed as a smoothie would be.

Maca is the real star in this splendid snack. But also on the ingredient list are dates to sweeten, oats to offset the date stickiness, and dried berries to look pretty. Substitute dried white mulberries for the oats and you have a raw version of these Bejeweled Maca Cookies.

Bejeweled Maca Cookies

Makes 6

1 1/2 cup pitted medjool dates

1/2 cup rolled oats

2 tbsps maca powder

Assorted dried berries for bejeweling (goji berries, mulberries, raisins, blueberries, goldenberries, etc.)

1. Grind the oats in a food processor.
2. Add the dates and maca. Process to form a dough.
3. Roll into 6 balls and flatten into cookies.
4. Bejewel with the berries.
5. Refrigerate.

I may be new to maca, but other people have been doing great things with it for a while, like…

• Putting it in hot chocolate
• Baking up a stack of maca pancakes
• Maca caramel…enough said
• Pairing it with orange and cinnamon in muffins
• Or blending it into maca nicecream