A funny thing happens when people start cooking healthful food for family and friends. Â They feel the need to announce that fact to everyone before serving it. Â “Ok, guys. Â Wait until you try this muffin! Â It’s made with flaxseeds and almond meal and it has no sugar! Â It’s unbelievable!” Â Of course everyone else is thinking it’s probably unbelievably bad and unbelievably tasteless. Â Or students will come to my class and go home very motivated (a good thing) to overhaul the pantry, the refrigerator and the family diet. Â And even though I urge them not to, they feel compelled to sit the family down and tell them how “things are going to change around here! Â There will be no more sugar! Â Or processed snacks! Â Suzy, spit out that gum. Â Don’t you know aspartame is the number one food-related complaint to the FDA?” Â Unfortunately, despite our well-meaning intentions, this strategy rarely elicits a positive response.
On the other hand, I love being able to share recipes that are delicious, easy, and just so happen to be good for you. Â Take these chocolate chip oatmeal cookies, for example. Â Using a base of walnuts, maple syrup and a touch of coconut oil in place of butter and eggs, these are just darn tasty and not-so-shabby, nutritionally-speaking.
Valentine’s Day is right around the corner and if your school or office allows treats to be brought in, why not make a batch of these? Â Like many cookie recipes, you can make the dough several days in advance and keep it covered in the refrigerator. Â Take it out when you’re ready to bake and scoop it onto your cookie sheets. Â You can even freeze the cookies unbaked. Â Arrange them in a single layer on the baking sheet and place the pan in the freezer. Â Once the cookies are frozen solid, transfer them to an airtight container and keep them frozen until you’re ready to bake. Â Then just place them on a prepared baking sheet directly from the freezer and add another minute or two to the baking time.
Yes, I know it is so very exciting that they are full of fiber and contain no refined sugar. Â No animal products either, if that’s important to you. Â You can even make them gluten-free by using gluten-free oats. Â But no need to go around saying, “OMG! Â Try these cookies! Â They’re gluten-free and they’re VEEE-GAN!” Â Unless your motivation is to discourage any takers and to keep them all for yourself. Hmmmmm……
Updated June 4, 2024
- 1 ½ cups oat flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon fine grain sea salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 2 cups raw walnuts or walnut meal (or cashews/cashew meal or pecan/pecan meal)
- 3 Tablespoons melted coconut oil or olive oil or avocado oil
- 1 cup 100% pure maple syrup
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 cups rolled oats
- 12 ounces or 1 ½ cups chocolate chips
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
- *If you need to make oat flour, place 1 ¾ cups rolled oats in a food processor and process until powdery.
- Place oat flour, baking soda, salt and cinnamon in a mixing bowl and whisk together.
- Place walnuts in a food processor and blend into a fine meal. Add oil, maple syrup and vanilla and process until mixture has the consistency of natural nut butter.
- Stir walnut mixture into flour mixture. Fold in 2 cups rolled oats and chocolate chips.
- Use a 1 ¾ -inch ice cream scooper to form dough into balls, and place on baking sheets. You can fit 12 on a sheet. Flatten cookies slightly with a damp hand. Bake 13-15 minutes or until cookies begin to brown and tops look dry.
- Cool a few minutes and then transfer to wire rack to cool completely.