Friday, October 19, 2012

Oatmeal Everything Cookies - My Fave Vegan Oatmeal Cookies!

Oatmeal Everything Cookies - My Fave Vegan Oatmeal Cookies!

These delicious vegan oatmeal cookies are packed with nourishing ingredients like whole oats, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds and flax. 

I don’t know about you other parents, but I like to send my kids out for their Halloween hunt with a full stomach. Although Halloween often falls on a busy weeknight, I attempt to ensure that they eat a healthy dinner that covers at least three of the major food groups. It might seem counter-intuitive, but how about offering some dessert?

Most kids aren’t going to turn down dessert, and if it’s a homemade dessert filled with some nutritious ingredients, they will have less room to fill up on all the Halloween goodies. (That is, unless your child is like my dog and will eat until they can literally eat no more. But that's unlikely.) That's where this recipe for vegan oatmeal cookies with "everything" in them comes in handy.


Oatmeal Everything Cookies - My Fave Vegan Oatmeal Cookies!

I’m not a big believer in sneaking items into children’s food. While this method definitely has its benefits, I would prefer that I expose them to various veggies and other whole foods until they eventually catch on (I hope). But these delicious Oatmeal Everything Cookies are sure to be appreciated by adults and children alike, even if they do recognize the seeds lurking in the ingredients.

When you can add a few nutritious goodies to a homemade dessert like vegan oatmeal cookies, I say, “Why not?” So, I pumped up the nutritional value (and fibre content) in these oatmeal cookies by adding ground flaxseed, sunflower seeds, sesame seeds and dried cranberries. Of course, the cookies also have a good portion of healthy oats. I admit I also added chocolate chips, because I just do that whenever I can. It’s a loose policy of mine. So, to be fair, these are actually oatmeal chocolate chip cookies, but the term "everything" has all of the additional ingredients covered.

Oatmeal Everything Cookies - My Fave Vegan Oatmeal Cookies!

My daughter loves these vegan oatmeal cookies, and I think my son likes them, although he rarely admits to liking anything (besides sushi). My sister-in-law, on the other hand, gave them a solid two thumbs up. I think she ate four in one sitting. I threatened to put a little head shot of her on this post giving two thumbs up, but I don’t have the time to Photoshop in the thumbs, so she’s safe for now.
Oatmeal Everything Cookies - My Fave Vegan Oatmeal Cookies!

I am down with pretty much all varieties of vegan cookies, from peanut butter to carrot cake oatmeal cookies to double chocolate to molasses cookies to gluten-free peanut butter and jam cookies, but oatmeal cookies top the list for me, whether they are oatmeal chocolate chip or oatmeal raisin cookies.

These particular vegan oatmeal cookies are best eaten a few minutes out of the oven, with a nice cup of tea, chocolate smearing on your fingers! They taste buttery (despite being dairy-free) and delicious, with a note of welcome wholesomeness.

Recipe Notes for These Oatmeal Everything Cookies


I have made these vegan oatmeal cookies many times and the recipe is very forgiving, so feel free to experiment. Last time I baked the cookies, I left out cane sugar in favour of a more natural coconut sugar/maple syrup mix. They worked out beautifully. You can use light spelt flour or all-purpose white flour. Whole spelt flour would likely work too. Mix large flake oats with quick oats if you prefer. Replace the dried cranberries with raisins. Leave out the chocolate chips (what?). Add hemp seeds in addition to or in place of sunflower seeds and sesame seeds. Add some chopped nuts. The sky's the limit!

Questions for you

What would you put in your oatmeal everything cookies? What is your favourite kind of vegan oatmeal cookies? Are you a fan of vegan oatmeal chocolate chip cookies?

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Oatmeal Everything Cookies - My Fave Vegan Oatmeal Cookies!



Oatmeal Everything Cookies - My Fave Vegan Oatmeal Cookies!




Oatmeal Everything Cookies


by Joann MacDonald
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Keywords: bake dessert snack vegan vegetarian oats chocolate chips cookie





Ingredients (24 large cookies)
  • 2/3 cup vegan margarine (healthier version like Earth Balance), at room temperature
  • 1/3 cup brown sugar or coconut sugar
  • 1/3 cup cane sugar or maple syrup
  • Egg replacer to equal 2 eggs (2 teaspoons powdered egg replacer mixed with 4 tablespoons water or 2 tablespoons ground flax mixed with 6 tablespoons warm water)
  • 1 ½ cups large flake oats
  • 1 ½ cups flour (light spelt or all-purpose)
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 2 tablespoons ground flaxseed (omit if using flax "eggs" above)
  • 2 tablespoons sunflower seeds
  • 1 tablespoon sesame seeds and/or hemp seeds
  • 1/3 cup dried cranberries or raisins
  • 1/3 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
Instructions

Preheat oven to 375°F.

In a large bowl, using an electric mixer, beat the margarine and the sugars until well mixed. Add "eggs" and blend for another minute.

In a separate large bowl, combine oats, flour, baking soda and salt. Stir in ground flaxseed (if using), sunflower seeds and sesame seeds.

Add dry mixture to margarine mixture. Stir until well combined. Stir in dried cranberries and chocolate chips.

Drop by rounded tablespoons onto ungreased cookie sheets.

Bake for 10 minutes or until oatmeal cookies are golden on the edges.


22 comments:

  1. The picture of the cookies looked so good your father said "it looks like you could eat them". I printed the recipe and will try to make them (unless you bring a CARE package.

    love
    Mom

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  2. Oatmeal cookies just might be my favorite- these look delicious and far better than Halloween candy!

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  3. You should do a cookbook-- seriously!

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  4. Wow they look amazing! I love oatmeal cookies! :)

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  5. Oatmeal cookies are my FAVORITE! I never tried them with cranberries, I definitely have to give it a shot!

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    1. Oatmeal cookies with raisins are my favourite, Sherry. But the dried cranberries are good too.

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  6. Ooooo.... these biscuits look gorgeous! It's a win: win I think to give them something they 'want' and somthing that's healthy!! I'll try this recipe - thanks!! J9 x

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    1. You are right! And something that mommy likes too. ;)

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  7. oh my goodness how good do these look?!

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  8. I LOVE oatmeal cookies and this looks delicious. I don't consume margarine though so I will have to think of an alternative to that because I do want to make these cookies.

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    1. Do you consume shortening? Or, are you trying for healthier things. I wonder if coconut oil would work...I might try that next time.

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  9. I'm with you, I don't like sneaking veggies into my kids food. These cookies look amazing! Thanks for sharing them on the Fall Food Link Party!

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  10. i love your policy of adding chocolate chips :) oatmeal cookies are my favorite and those cookies are making me hungry :P will steal ur recipe jo! thanks! xx

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  11. Oh they look so amazingly delicious!
    I would love to have you share this or any other of your recipes at Wednesday Extravaganza - my Foodie Link Party! Here is the link:
    http://www.hungrylittlegirl.com/1/post/2012/10/wednesday-extravaganza.html

    Can't wait to see you there!

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