Dried figs for me epitomise the festive season, big time. I love their flavour and they make for the yummiest alternative to things like raisins and sultanas, or dare I even say it, chocolate chips, in cookies. They bring a little chewy, sweet amazingness to these similarly festive cookies that I’m pretty sure you guys are just going to love.

If there were a competition for festive treats that cost next to nothing to make and are amazing snacks for a cold wintery afternoon alongside your favourite seasonal hot drink (mine’s an almond milk chai latte if you’re wondering), then these are they. They’ll cost you under £1 to make a batch, so we’re talking cheaper than supermarket prices here. Not to mention yummier, and with no nasty, yucky ingredients.

I’ve been making these for said chilly afternoons, to keep me going through the dark early evenings until we finally get to dinnertime. Because is it me or do those hours from about 4-7pm actually get longer in the wintertime? These cookies are great for little ones too, as they are very low in sugar and have lots of lovely ingredients. If I had an actual cookie jar or biscuit tin, I’m pretty sure my little cookie monster would be reaching into it for these on the regular.

Makes around 12 cookies

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup dried figs, roughly chopped
• 1 cup oats
• 1/2 cup ground almonds
• 2 large very ripe bananas
• 2 tbsp maple syrup
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp mixed spice

Preheat your oven to 180C. Mash the bananas in a small bowl. In another bowl combine the oats, ground almonds and spices, then add in the other ingredients and stir well. Shape into around 12 round cookies and bake in the oven for 10 minutes. Leave to cool, then enjoy!

Love, Mrs H xx