Healthy Oatmeal Cookies
Depending on just how long you bake them, they can be slightly crispy around the outside and soft and chewy in the center. Take them out of the oven when they are just beginning to turn golden brown (when they still seem undone) to keep them soft inside. They're easy to make on short notice and they are sure to please every time! There is a reference at the bottom of this page about choosing healthy versions of these ingredients. For example, the recipe calls for white sugar. I’m not referring to the cheap, chemically-bleached white sugar, but rather an unrefined white sugar. I use the basic names of ingredients for this healthy oatmeal cookies recipe, but keep it healthy by using natural versions of these ingredients. Organic ingredients are best so use them as much as possible. These homemade oatmeal cookies are obviously not sugar-free, but they are a healthy alternative to store-bought desserts that is good for a generally healthy person. I don't like artificial sweeteners (or anything fake and unnatural) for regular and long-term use. I try to stay healthy so I will not get to the point of having to cut out natural, God-given sweets from my diet. In general, I've learned it's better to eat sweets close to a meal or healthy snack or at one time as opposed to an all day sugar assault on your body. Makes about 3 dozen small, healthy oatmeal cookies Preheat oven to 350 degrees Cream: 1/2 Cup .....................Butter Add & cream well: 1/3 Cup .....................Brown sugar 1/3 Cup .....................White sugar Combine & beat in until smooth: 1 .............................................Egg 1 tsp .......................................Vanilla 1 Tbsp .....................................Milk Sift & add to the above ingredients: 1/2 Cup ....................................All purpose flour 1/2 Cup ....................................Whole wheat/White whole wheat flour 1/2 tsp ....................................Baking soda 1/2 tsp ....................................Double-acting baking powder 1/2 tsp ....................................Sea salt Beat smooth, then add: 1 Cup ......................................Uncooked, Old Fashioned, rolled oats (I used steel-cut oats, but feel free to experiment with alternatives to oats) -Expect the dough to be very sticky and moist (Trust the oatmeal cookies recipe and don't add flour or your cookies will be cakey.) Optional additions: Dark/semi-sweet chocolate chips, raisins, pecans, walnuts, unsweetened coconut flakes Baking: -Drop cookies 2 inches apart on a well-greased pan (or non-greased baking stone). -Bake for 10 to 12 minutes (longer for stoneware) Use the following guidelines to help you choose healthy ingredients for your healthy oatmeal cookies: •Flour: Unbleached, replace some of the all purpose flour for white whole wheat or regular whole wheat. (Whole wheat flour should not be enriched and should have more grams of fiber than all purpose.) •Salt: Sea salt or what's called "Real" salt (not table salt) •Sugar: Unrefined (such as Turbinado, Organic cane, add some Stevia etc.) You could skimp on the sugar (use only about 1/2 to 2/3 cup sugar total) and they will still taste great! •Baking Powder: Non-aluminum/Aluminum free •Egg: From free-range/cage-free chickens •Milk: Raw cow or goat milk is best, but you can substitute pasteurized/homogenized milk for organic almond milk. •Butter: Non-hyrdogenated if made from oil blends or real, unsalted "sweet cream" butter. You can substitute applesauce for some of the butter, but the more applesauce you use, the more cakey they will be and the less they will have that unique homemade oatmeal cookie taste and texture. I hope you enjoy these healthy oatmeal cookies as much as our family does! Return to Whole Food Diet from Healthy Oatmeal Cookies |
