Easy oat cookies that are perfect for a quick breakfast or a snack
This is my super easy vegan oat cookie recipe. I love making oat cookies, they're so quick and simple and really yummy. Being plant based and using whole oats and cinnamon the cookies add an extra dose of nutrients that you don't get with store bought cookies.
Your Cookies
This recipe uses raisins, chocolate chips or both if you want, but you can use chopped nuts, dried cranberries or sunflower seeds for extra flavour and added health benefits.
Ingredients:
120 g rolled oats
100 g plain flour
100 g brown sugar
60 ml olive oil (or any neutral vegetable oil)
60 ml maple syrup
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp salt
30 g raisins or chocolate chips (optional)
Instructions:
Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 180°C (350°F) and line a baking sheet with greaseproof paper.
Mix Dry Ingredients: In a large bowl, combine the rolled oats, plain flour, brown sugar, ground cinnamon, and salt. Mix well.
Mix Wet Ingredients: In another bowl, mix the olive oil, maple syrup, and vanilla extract until well combined.
Combine Ingredients: Pour the wet ingredients into the bowl with the dry ingredients and mix until a dough forms. If you're using raisins or chocolate chips, fold them into the dough.
Shape Cookies: Take about a tablespoon of dough and roll it into a ball. Place it on the prepared baking sheet and flatten it slightly. Repeat with the remaining dough, spacing the cookies about 5 cm apart.
Bake: Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are golden brown.
Cool: Remove the cookies from the oven and let them cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely as they will be soft when they come out of the oven.
Enjoy: Enjoy your delicious vegan oat cookies!
These cookies should still be chewy and slightly crispy on the edges. You can store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week or freeze them if you want to batch bake and keep some for later. They can be stored in the freezer for up to one year.
Cookies with Health Benefits
These cookies come with an extra serving of nutrition. Although some of the ingredients are processed, like the flour, they are minimally processed. The cookies are high in fibre and have a limited amount of sugar and fat. Here is a breakdown of the health advantages of the ingredients:
Rolled Oats (120 g):
Rich in Fibre: Oats are high in dietary fibre, particularly beta-glucan, which can help reduce cholesterol levels, improve heart health, and promote healthy digestion.
Nutrient-Dense: They provide essential vitamins and minerals, including manganese, phosphorus, magnesium, and B vitamins.
Sustained Energy: Oats have a low glycemic index, providing a slow release of energy and helping to maintain stable blood sugar levels.
Plain Flour (100 g):
Carbohydrates: Provides energy. However, using whole grain flour can increase the fibre and nutrient content.
Brown Sugar (100 g):
Mineral Content: Contains small amounts of minerals like calcium, potassium, iron, and magnesium due to its molasses content.
Olive Oil (60 ml):
Healthy Fats: Rich in monounsaturated fats, which are beneficial for heart health and can help reduce inflammation.
Antioxidants: Contains antioxidants like vitamin E, which help protect cells from damage.
Maple Syrup (60 ml):
Natural Sweetener: Provides a natural alternative to refined sugars with a lower glycemic index.
Antioxidants: Contains various antioxidants that can help protect cells from damage.
Minerals: Includes minerals like zinc and manganese which are important for immune function and metabolic processes.
Vanilla Extract (1 tsp):
Antioxidant Properties: Contains vanillin, which has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
Ground Cinnamon (1/2 tsp):
Anti-Inflammatory: Contains antioxidants with anti-inflammatory properties.
Blood Sugar Regulation: May help lower blood sugar levels and improve insulin sensitivity.
Salt (1/4 tsp):
Electrolyte Balance: Necessary for maintaining proper fluid balance and nerve function.
Raisins or Chocolate Chips (30 g, optional):
Raisins:
Natural Sweetness: Adds natural sugars for sweetness.
Fibre and Antioxidants: Provides fibre and antioxidants, which can promote digestive health and protect against oxidative stress.
Chocolate Chips:
Antioxidants: Dark chocolate chips, in particular, are rich in antioxidants.
Mood Enhancer: Contains compounds like serotonin and endorphins that can improve mood.
Overall Benefits:
Heart Health: The combination of oats, olive oil, and cinnamon is good for cardiovascular health.
Digestive Health: The fibre from oats and raisins helps with healthy digestion and regular bowel movements.
Stable Energy Levels: The mix of complex carbohydrates and healthy fats provides sustained energy release with none of the sugar spikes that you can get from store bought cookies.
Natural Sweeteners: Using maple syrup and optional raisins or dark chocolate reduces reliance on refined sugars.
Regulated Eating: Eating foods high in fibre with a low glycaemic index regulates your appetite and helps you to eat in a more controlled way with less snacking and a feeling of fullness that leaves you satisfied.
This recipe gives you a balance of nutrients while being super tasty. For even healthier cookies, you can substitute part or all of the plain flour with whole wheat or oat flour and reduce the sugar content by replacing some of the sugar with chopped dried fruits.
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