Oatmeal Cookies

My son started middle school this week, and I made these cookies for his lunch or after school snack. I was always super hungry after school as a kid, and he is no different. I used whole grains to make these a bit healthier, as well as natural sugars, so if he eats a few he will at least get some fiber out of the deal.

The smell of cinnamon while these were baking was the perfect fall scent. It is still warm here in Colorado, but there are signs that the season is changing over soon. I love fall. Watching for the first leaf to change and the air to have that chill in the evenings makes me happy.

Oatmeal Cookies

Ingredients:

1 cup whole wheat flour
1 cup oats
1/2 cup natural sugar
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 tbsp ground flax seeds
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp allspice
1/4 cup oil
1/4 cup soy milk
1/3 cup maple syrup
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp molasses
1/3 cup raisins (optional)

Directions:

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.  Spray a cookie sheet with cooking spray.

Combine all of the dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl. This is the flour, oats, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, ground flax, cinnamon, and allspice. Mix well and be sure to break up any small clumps of baking soda. I often pour the baking soda directly onto my wooden mixing spoon and use the back of the measuring spoon to press the baking soda into the wooden spoon to crush those little clumps. It is so disappointing to get that weird bite of baking soda when there is clumps in your baked goods.

In a measuring cup, combine all of the wet ingredients and mix well. This is the oil, soy milk, maple syrup, vanilla, and molasses.

Pour the wet ingredients into the dry and mix to combine. Fold in the raisins and drop by spoonfuls onto your cookie sheet and bake for 7-10 minutes. Start checking them at 7 minutes. You want them golden brown and cooked through in the middle.

For 18 cookies. Nutritional information from caloriecount.about.com

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size 34 g

Amount Per Serving

Calories  119 Calories from Fat  32

% Daily Value*

Total Fat  3.6g 6%

Trans Fat  0.0g

Cholesterol  0mg 0%

Sodium  141mg 6%

Potassium  127mg 4%

Total Carbohydrates  20.8g 7%

Dietary Fiber  1.0g 4%

Sugars  10.8g

Protein  1.6g

Vitamin A 0% • Vitamin C 0% Calcium 4% • Iron 5%

Nutrition Grade C+

* Based on a 2000 calorie diet