Dante Carrillo
Oatmeal cookies are a delicious treat, and they can be made healthier by using ingredients such as whole grains, honey, maple syrup, and coconut oil. These cookies can be made gluten-free, dairy-free, and vegan, making them a perfect snack for those on restricted diets. They are also easy to make, requiring simple ingredients and minimal prep time. This article will provide an overview of how to make healthy oatmeal cookies, including recipe variations and tips for achieving the perfect texture and taste.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Ingredients | Oats, flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, salt, brown sugar, maple syrup, honey, coconut oil, butter, walnuts, raisins, chocolate chips, eggs, flaxseed, nutmeg, vanilla extract, bananas, peanut butter, almond butter, tahini, grated carrot, grated apple, seeds, chopped nuts, icing |
| Preparation | Mix wet and dry ingredients separately, then combine. Fold in oats, walnuts, and raisins. Let the dough rest for 20 minutes. Shape into balls and place on a baking sheet. Bake at 350°F for 10-11 minutes or until golden brown. Let cool for 5 minutes before transferring to wire racks. |
| Storage | Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3-5 days. Can be frozen for up to 3 months. |
| Dietary Options | Gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan, refined sugar-free, egg-free |
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What You'll Learn
Choosing the right oats
Types of Oats
There are various types of oats available, each with unique characteristics that will affect the texture and taste of your cookies. The most common types of oats used in cookie recipes are quick oats, rolled oats, and old-fashioned oats.
- Quick oats are a popular choice for oat cookies as they yield a more tender and delicate cookie. They are smaller pieces of oats that cook faster and result in a softer cookie.
- Rolled oats, also known as old-fashioned oats, are larger and take longer to cook. They will give your cookies a heartier and chewier texture. If you prefer a more uniform texture in your cookies, you can grind rolled oats finely in a blender or food processor before using them.
- Old-fashioned oats are also recommended for chewy cookies, as they provide a better chewy texture than quick oats.
Oat Flour
If you want to make your oat cookies gluten-free, you can experiment with oat flour. Substitute regular wheat flour with oat flour in a 1:1 ratio, or use a gluten-free baking blend. This will ensure your cookies are not only delicious but also suitable for those with gluten intolerance or celiac disease.
Health Benefits
When choosing oats, consider the health benefits associated with the different types. For example, whole grain, heart-healthy, and fiber-rich oats are excellent choices for baking as they add a nutritional boost to your cookies. They also act as a perfect backdrop for other flavours, soaking up flavours beautifully.
Additionally, if you're looking to add extra nutrition to your cookies, consider adding ground flaxseed to your recipe. Flaxseeds are a great source of Omega-3s and dietary fibre, enhancing the healthiness of your cookies.
In conclusion, the right oats for your diet oat cookies depend on your desired texture, taste, and dietary requirements. Quick oats are ideal for tender cookies, while rolled oats or old-fashioned oats create a chewier texture. Oat flour is perfect for gluten-free cookies, and adding flaxseeds boosts the nutritional value of your treats.
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Making them gluten-free
To make gluten-free diet oat cookies, you'll need to make sure all your ingredients are gluten-free. Oats are a healthy whole grain and are naturally gluten-free, but they can be cross-contaminated with wheat or other gluten products during growth or processing. Therefore, it is important to use certified gluten-free oats that are grown in dedicated fields and processed in separate facilities. Bob's Red Mill offers safe gluten-free oats, but be sure to buy the bag that says "gluten-free".
When it comes to flour, you can use a 1:1 gluten-free baking blend or gluten-free oat flour. Make sure to measure the gluten-free flour correctly using a measuring cup for dry ingredients and the spoon and level method. You can also add xanthan gum to your gluten-free flour to improve the texture of your cookies.
For the wet ingredients, you can use softened butter, coconut oil, or a vegan butter substitute. You can also add vanilla extract for depth of flavour and an egg to bind the cookies together. However, if you want to make vegan cookies, you can replace the egg with a flax egg. For sweetness, use brown sugar or maple syrup instead of honey.
Finally, decide on your mix-ins. You can use chocolate chips, raisins, walnuts, pecans, dried cranberries, or a combination of these ingredients. If you want to avoid nuts, you can replace them with whopped raw walnuts or use flattened rice instead of oats.
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Making them vegan
To make your oatmeal cookies vegan, there are a few substitutions you can make to the original recipe.
Firstly, for binding, you can use a flax egg instead of a regular egg. For sweetness, maple syrup, coconut sugar, or date powder can replace honey. To add moisture and richness, coconut oil or vegan butter can be used instead of regular butter. If you want to add milk, opt for plant-based milk such as almond or oat milk.
When making the dough, it is ideal to whisk the dry ingredients in a separate bowl before adding them to the wet ingredients. The dry ingredients include all-purpose flour, rolled oats, dessicated coconut, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon. For the wet ingredients, cream together the vegan butter and brown sugar, then add maple syrup and vanilla extract.
Once the dough is made, you can shape it into balls and place them on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake at 350°F (180°C) for 10 to 11 minutes or until golden brown. Let the cookies cool for 5 minutes on the baking sheet, then transfer them to wire racks to cool completely.
Your vegan oatmeal cookies are now ready to be enjoyed!
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Adding extra ingredients
There are many ways to add extra ingredients to your basic diet oat cookie recipe. For example, if you want to make oatmeal chocolate chip cookies, you can substitute chocolate chips for raisins or use a mix of both. White chocolate chips are also a fun option. You can also add dried fruit such as cranberries, cherries, or apricots, or nuts such as pecans, walnuts, or almonds.
Seeds are another great addition to oatmeal cookies. You can add sunflower seeds, hemp seeds, or even ground flaxseed, which is a heart-healthy, whole ingredient that gives the recipe a nice little boost of Omega-3s and dietary fiber. You can also add spices such as cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom, or ginger to the dough.
If you want to make your cookies extra buttery, you can replace the raisins with butterscotch chips. For a more natural sweetener, you can use bananas, or honey, or maple syrup.
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Storing your cookies
To freeze your diet oat cookies, first, let them cool completely. Then, place them in sealable plastic containers designed for the freezer. It is best to avoid themed tins, as these are not suitable for long-term storage. When stored correctly, your frozen cookies will stay fresh for up to a year, although it is recommended to use them within a few months for the best quality.
You can also freeze the cookie dough if you want to bake fresh cookies at a later date. To do this, shape the dough into individual cookies or leave it as a whole batch, then freeze it on a lined baking sheet for about an hour. Once frozen, transfer the dough to an airtight container and store it in the freezer. Frozen cookie dough will last for up to two months. When you're ready to bake, simply thaw the dough in the fridge for a few hours before shaping and baking your cookies.
If you want your diet oat cookies to have a crispy texture, you can try toasting the oats before baking, using a higher proportion of white sugar to brown sugar, adding a little extra baking soda, and slightly over-baking the cookies. Once baked, let them cool completely, then store them in an airtight container to keep them crisp.
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Frequently asked questions
The ingredients you will need include oats, coconut oil, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt, and a sweetener such as honey, maple syrup, or coconut sugar. You can also add ingredients like raisins, walnuts, or chocolate chips.
First, whisk together the wet ingredients in one bowl and the dry ingredients (including flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt) in another. Then, combine the wet and dry mixtures, and fold in the oats and any additional mix-ins. Let the dough rest for about 20 minutes before shaping and baking the cookies.
To make gluten-free cookies, use gluten-free flour or a 1:1 GF baking blend. For vegan cookies, use maple syrup or coconut oil instead of honey, and consider using a flax egg. You can also add grated apple or carrot for extra nutrition and sweetness. Finally, let the cookies cool completely for the best texture and flavour.
