How to Make Healthy Oatmeal Cookies

These healthy oatmeal cookies taste so delicious, it's hard to believe they pack a three-in-one punch of fiber, omega-3s, and protein. Fluffy and chewy, this recipe a hit with everyone and make a great healthy snack for kids!

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Oatmeal cookie mix with a high flour to oatmeal ratio
• 3/4 cup soaked old fashioned oatmeal or 3/4 cup instant oatmeal
• 1 egg (or number called for by package)
• 1/3 cup (or amount called for) softened Smart Balance or other healthy butter substitute
• 3-4 tbsp flaxseed meal or whole flaxseed
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 2 ungreased cookie sheets
• mixing bowl
• fork/whisk/mixer

1. Start your healthy oatmeal cookies by preheating the oven to 350F.

2. Crush the flaxseed with a mortar and pestle or put the flaxseed in doubled zipplock bags and crush with a hammer. This releases the nutrients. You can use flaxseed meal instead, but the whole crushed flaxseeds lend themselves well to the texture of the cookies.

3. Beat the egg with a fork and cream in the softened smart balance with a mixer or whisk.

4. Add the crushed flaxseed into the egg/smart balance mixture and mix well. Then, stir in most of the oatmeal and baking powder.

5. Pour the oatmeal cookie mix into the bowl and mix until everything is blended. Add as much of the rest of the oatmeal the batter can absorb.

6. Drop tablespoon sized balls onto the cookie sheets about 2" apart. Flatten them slightly with your hand or the back of a spoon.

7. Bake in the oven for 9-10 minutes. Remove the oatmeal cookies from the oven and let cool for a minute or two before removing them from the cookie sheets with a spatula.

8. Eat and enjoy your healthy oatmeal cookies!

Tips & Warnings

• The extra baking powder helps compensate for the heaviness of all the flaxseed and oatmeal, but you might have to experiment as different cookie mixes contain different amounts of leavening
• Use an oatmeal cookie mix because they contain a high ratio of flour to oatmeal. Add extra oatmeal as desired
• Don't take the oatmeal cookies off of the cookie sheet until they have cooled for a few minutes or they will fall apart.

[mvalora]

on 8/21/2009 These oatmeal cookies sound great!

[MeganK]

on 11/18/2008 Great minds think alike! I just made oatmeal cookies today and threw in some flaxseed. Another healthy alternative is to use applesauce in place of any oil your recipe calls for.

[MI-Sandi]

on 11/13/2008 Sounds like a great sweet tooth alternative. 5*

[kaseysviewblog]

on 10/24/2008 Sounds delicious and very healthy.

[thesquirrelymom]

on 10/21/2008 I love oatmeal cookies, and this recipe sounds like a winner, thanks!