Last updated on December 17th, 2021
My family tried them, and hated them. So, they are ‘The Best Worst Ever Healthy Oatmeal Raisin Cookies’. Since I gave up added processed sugar months ago, I decided I need some kind of treat for myself, came up with these and loved them. Fair warning, they’re not for the every day cookie consumer. If you need a natural alternative to the average packaged or processed cookie, this might be for you.
How I worked out the healthy oatmeal cookie recipe
This recipe is more a suggestion, less a strict set of instructions.
I started out the recipe based on: oatmeal, unsweetened raisins, bananas and unsweetened, unflavored applesauce. As you can imagine, that was hardly inspiring and less than fun, even for me. I started creating different batches and mixing in more spice, fruit and nut combinations, until I came up with flavor combinations that I enjoyed.
Here’s a few tips to get these cookies tasting just the way you like.:
Use RIPE bananas. Riper bananas equal sweeter bananas.
Add 1/4 cup of dried or fresh fruit – any fruit to the banana mixture. I have added Many combinations of apricots, dates, raisins, cherries – just to name a few.
Spice things up a little! Your healthy oatmeal raisin cookies don’t need to taste like cardboard. Add cinnamon, clove, allspice or any combination you like to enhance the fruit and nuttiness of the flavor profile you choose. For this recipe I chose chopped walnuts, raisins, apricots, cinnamon and ground cloves.
For the best texture, I always chop my fruit and nuts into smaller pieces. Feel free to add seeds or other grains for a heartier texture.
Other suggested mix-ins that have worked really well: natural almond butter, sugar free peanut butter, maple syrup (for those with a sweet tooth), flax seeds (your mileage may vary), chia seeds, tahini butter, dried cranberries.
When scooping the batter onto the cookie sheets, I find that a regular ice cream scoop is the perfect measurement.
Cooling on a wire rack is entirely optional, but it makes them cool off much quicker! 
Store these oatmeal cookies in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
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The Best Worst Ever Healthy Oatmeal Cookies
Ingredients
- 2 ripe bananas
- 1 1/2 cups gluten free rolled oats*
- 1 cup unflavored, unsweetened natural applesauce
- 1/2 tsp vanilla
Optional Ingredients
- 1/2 cup chopped nuts (your choice)
- 1/4 cup chopped raisins or other fruit
- 1/4 tsp cinnamon
- 1/16 tsp ground cloves
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- Line a baking sheet – any size – with parchment paper.
- Mash two ripe bananas in a medium size mixing bowl.
- Stir in applesauce, fruit, nuts, vanilla and spices until mixed.
- Stir in oats, mix until well combined.
- Drop by rounded spoonful (I used an ice cream scoop) onto parchment-lined baking sheet, any size. Flatten cookie with edge of spoon for a flatter shape as cookies will not rise or spread.
- Bake until edges turn a slight golden color, approximately 20 minutes.
- Remove baking sheet from oven and place cookies on wire cooling rack for 3 minutes with a spatula. They cool off quickly!
Notes
Nutrition
