2 Recipes: Healthy Oatmeal Cookies

I'm sorry it's been so long since I've posted on here... seems like it always gets crowded out somehow.  Anyway, here is a recipe which Mama found in a raw desert cookbook-  Raw Oatmeal Cookies.  When LilyAnn excitedly told me that:  "Mama's making oatmeal cookies- and they're raw!", my initial reaction was something along the lines of "What?!  Raw oatmeal cookies!  Yuck!".  But that lasted for about 1 minute- exactly how long it took for me to wash up from being outside, walk into the kitchen, and spot the little cookies, appealingly dressed in their pretty pink paper mini cupcake holders, dusted in cinnamon or cocoa, and with an almond perched on top.  Mama promptly offered me one, and the last trace of disgust vanished immediately afterwards.  (Daddy's reaction, I may add, was similar to my own.)  So, without further ado, allow me to introduce you to the healthiest, quickest, easiest, oatmeal cookies ever- which also happen to be remarkably tasty.

Raw Oatmeal Cookies

1/2 cup coconut oil

1/2 cup honey

1 cup almonds or peanuts (we used almonds)

1 t. vanilla

dash of salt

Blend together all of the above until smooth.

2 cups oats, divided

Nuts, raisins, cocoa, cinnamon for garnishing.

Blend 1 cup oatmeal until it becomes fine flour.  Mix it and the other 1 cup of oatmeal with the rest of the ingredients.  Shape into balls and garnish by dusting with cinnamon or cocoa, and placing an almond or raisin on top.

     Here's another recipe we discovered recently- this one in an email and not quite so "radical" sounding since it is baked.  We love these cookies!  They are really good.

Healthy Oatmeal Cookies (with Honey)

Ingredients:

Dry ingredients

· 1 cup whole wheat flour (a pinch more depending on the moisture of the mix)

· 1 1/2 cups of Large Flake Rolled Oats (smaller flake is ok too)

· 1/2 tsp baking soda

· 1/2 tsp baking powder

· 1/2 tsp salt

· 1 Tbsp Cinnamon

· 1/2 tsp Nutmeg (optional)

Wet ingredients

· 1/2 cup honey

· 1/2 cup oil (corn, grapeseed, coconut or olive) * you can also use some applesauce to replace some of the oil if you wish*

· 1 Tablespoon Molasses

· 1 egg (beat with 1 Tbsp Water)

· 1 tsp Vanilla

Yummy ingredients

· 1/2 cup raisins

· 1/2 cup walnuts

Preparation:

1.    In a large bowl, mix all the dry ingredients together.

2.    In a medium bowl, mix all the wet ingredients together. Hint: when measuring out the honey, spray the measuring cup with oil or baking spray--your honey won't stick).

3.    Mix the wet stuff with the dry stuff. Add the raisins and walnuts and mix. If the mixture seems too wet, add a bit of flour. If it isn't binding together very well, you may wish to add an egg white.

4.    COOL the mix for 20 minutes in the fridge.

5.    Preheat the oven to 335 degrees (lower temperature due to the honey in the recipe which will burn more easily).

6.    Drop by teaspoonfuls onto your baking sheet. Press down with a fork to ensure even cooking.

7.    Bake for about 15 - 20 minutes or until golden on the bottom of the cookie. The cookies freeze very well and make a great snack! Enjoy.