A healthy spin on oatmeal raisin cookies

by Jacki Donaldson (Subscribe to Jacki Donaldson's posts)
Jan 12th 2008 9:00AM

Categories: Healthy Recipes, Diet & Weight Loss, Nutrition & Supplements

Pamela M. Peeke remembers racing home from grammar school hoping to find her mother's homemade oatmeal raisin cookies waiting for her. Rolled oats and raisins fueled her play on many occasions and because she didn't want to let go of this childhood comfort food, Peeke, now a nutrition and fitness expert, updated her mom's original recipe to include healthier ingredients. It's funny, says this woman whose titles include MD, MPH, FACP, and keynote speaker at Speaking of Women's Health 2007, how life can be just as tasty with less sugar and butter.

Peeke's recipe, featured in the book Love Notes to Our Moms and Other Women of Influence, goes as follows and makes a batch of 38 cookies, each with 75 calories, 2 grams of fat, 13 grams of carbohydrates, 1 gram of protein, and even a gram of fiber.

Ingredients

1/4 cup butter
1/3 cup low-fat cream cheese
1 cup brown sugar
1 egg yolk
3/4 tsp. pure vanilla extract
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1-1/2 cups rolled oats
3/4 tsp. baking powder
3/4 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 cup raisins

Preparation

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Lightly coat baking sheet with canola oil.
In a large bowl, combine butter, cream cheese, and brown sugar. Add egg yolk and vanilla extract. Mix briefly.
Combine remaining ingredients in a large bowl. Add to creamed mixture and mix until all dry ingredients are moistened.
Portion heaping spoonfuls of dough, about 3/4 oz. onto baking sheet about 1-1/2 inches apart. Bake for seven minutes. Lightly flatten with finger. Rotate baking sheet and continue baking for four minutes.

Source

Comments (10)

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Laura 1-13-2008 @ 8:06AM

Here's another healthy take on a classic cookie. I haven't tried the below recipe - but my aunt sent it to me earlier this year...

Catherine's Chocolate Chip Cookies
"Just Don't Tell Anyone They're Healthy"

Try out these amazing cookies of Catherine's. Whole wheat pastry flour adds whole-grain goodness and fiber; dark chocolate chips add antioxidants; and there is a lot less sugar and salt than in your traditional tollhouse cookies. And they are...fabulous! I'll take these over leftover Halloween candy any day. This is a prime example of food you can love, that loves you back! Enjoy.

1 cup canola oil
1 cup brown sugar
2 eggs (Omega-3)
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup oat bran flour brand*
1 ¼ cup rolled oats
½ cup chopped walnuts
2 cups bittersweet chocolate chips

1. Place the first four ingredients in a bowl and beat until creamy.
2. Add the oat bran flour and rolled oats and mix again.
3. Add the walnuts and chocolate chips to the mix.
4. Drop rounded tablespoons of the cookie dough onto un-greased baking sheets.
5. Finally, bake in a pre-heated 375 degree F oven for 9 to 11 minutes or until golden brown (they should still be soft).

Sarah 1-15-2008 @ 2:55PM

I made these cookies last night and took them to a party and they were super popular! So yummy!!!

Jacki 1-15-2008 @ 2:56PM

Glad to hear the were yummy! Think I'll make them myself!

Jacki

Cathy Rosenberg 1-15-2008 @ 6:12PM

I make the most scrumptious HEALTHY chocolate chip cookies without white sugar, butter or eggs.

Cathy's Chocolate Chips

1 c. Arrowhead Mills organic pastry flour
1/2 c. Publix peanut oil
1/2 c. good maple syrup
1 t. vanilla
1 t. salt
1/4 c. walnuts
1/4 c. pecans or cashews roasted
I mix the qty. and type of nuts up for fun!
Bake at 400 til golden.
You will think you died and went to heaven!!!

val 1-15-2008 @ 6:10PM

Are there any chocolate chips in these cookies? Thanks,
Val

Cathy Rosenberg 1-15-2008 @ 6:11PM

I have always heard that canola oil is the most overprocessed oil and it should be avoided. That is why I use peanut oil in my cookies. Try it!

Jacki 1-15-2008 @ 6:12PM

No chocolate chips in these cookies, Val.

Cathy Rosenberg 1-15-2008 @ 7:42PM

OOPS!!! I guess chocolate chips would help. I use the dark chocolate Tropical source chips from Whole Foods.
Sorry.

provitall 1-16-2008 @ 9:56AM

The Appetizer Diet Cookie is the healthiest Oatmeal Raisin cookie you or your kids can eat. Here's where I buy them online.
http://www.4yourbesthealth.easydietcookie.com/

Q: What IS in the Appetizer Diet Cookie®?

Fiber! 8 grams of high-quality fiber
Protein! 5 grams of top-quality whey protein & soy protein isolate!
Low carb! Only 11 net carbohydrates! [ learn more ]
Whopping 14 vitamins/minerals at 35% Daily Value (How much the FDA says you need!)
Vitamins! (Vitamin A, C, D, E, H, B6, B12, Thiamin, Riboflavin, Niacin, Biotin, Pantothenic Acid)
Essential Minerals! (Iron, Zinc, Copper)
High-Quality, Organic and Non-GMO, Natural, Pure, Chemical Free Sugars
Amazing Sugar-Alcohols! [ learn more ]
All-Natural Good-For-You Ingredients: Honey, Raisins, Cinnamon, Vanilla, etc.

Q: What's NOT in the Appetizer Diet Cookie?

NO STIMULANTS
NO GLUTEN (100% GLUTEN-FREE)
NO WHEAT
NO ARTIFICIAL FLAVORS
NO ARTIFICIAL SWEETENERS
NO ARTIFICIAL COLORS
NO PRESERVATIVES
NO EPHEDRA
NO MA-HUANG
NO PHENFEN
NO CAFFEINE
NO ALUMINUM (No aluminum in the Baking Powder)
NO DENATURED OR BLEACHED PROTEIN SOURCES
98% LACTOSE FREE PROTEIN (Designer Whey Protein with less than 10% lactose!)
http://4yourbesthealth.freedietcookie.com/ingredients.html

they even will send out a free samplehttp://4yourbesthealth.freedietcookie.com