Healthy oatmeal cookies (gluten and refined sugar free)

They’re healthy – refined sugar free, gluten free, and will keep you full for long imet. (Gluten free option – ensure the oats are gluten free)

Rolled oats have a low GI so they keep your fuller for longer, the nuts provide protein and the dried fruit provides fibre and natural sweetness. What a way to start the day!

Quick and easy, these breakfast cookies are so simple – you can make them today for a grab ‘n run breakfast tomorrow. Soak prunes, mash, mix with remaining ingredients, form cookies and bake. No food processor, no beater – terrifically simple.

In the recipe we use soaked prunes. This is the secret to sweetness, moisture, colo

r and terrific texture for healthy sugar-free cookies!!!

Customize:

Sweetness: Use dates instead of prunes.

Flavorings: We’ve used cinnamon and vanilla. Try: orange blossom, almond essence, all spice, cloves – whatever takes your fancy!

Add Ins: W’ve used coconut, almonds and raisins. Use any combination of coconut, nuts and dried fruit that you want… or chocolate chips!!!

Sweet: Honey. Agave or any other liquid form of sweetness should work fine. Sweetness can also be controlled – from a range of 1 to 4 tablespoons;

Almond Meal: Can be substituted with hazelnut flour. Do not sub with normal flour – it makes the cookies dry.

Size: We don’t recommend making them normal cookie size-thickness. They are soft-chewy and lack the crispy edges you find in classic Oatmeal Raisin Cookies. You will like the texture – chunky and “meaty” – appropriate for breakfast!

Notes

Add Ins: Use 1 1/4 cups in total of your choice of flaked or chopped nuts, desiccated coconut and chopped dried fruit (or small fruit like raisins, cranberries, blueberries) – or chocolate chips!! If you skip the coconut, use at least 1/4 of fairly finely chopped nuts (to ensure cookie holds together properly).

Storage: Good for 5 days in a super airtight container, though the outside of the cookies do soften, like any homemade cookie. Haven’t tried freezing yet – would love to know if anyone does!