Aamazing Steel-Cut Oatmeal Cookies

My little love bug (our 3 yr. old) is under the weather. Her allergies are flaring up and her body is trying to fight off a bug.  She had to stay home and didn’t get to see her school friends this week. We also had to change our weekend plans so now she will not be seeing a beautiful bride, she is way bummed!  So, in an effort to turn that frown upside down I decided to bake some cookies!

But not any ordinary cookies, I like to get more ‘bang for my buck’ so to speak. So, these cookies though delicious, have a little secret; they are full of healthy antioxidants, omega-3 fatty acids, fiber, and could possibly lower bad cholesterol while increasing good, (and the steel-cut oats are lower on the glycemic index…but the frosting kind of negates this point, lol!) What I really like is the fact that they help satiate the children’s appetites so they are not asking for a snack every 15 minutes.  What they like is the yummy pumpkin cinnamon and vanilla frosting that satisfies their sweet tooth.  But the best part, they don’t taste like a healthy cookie. They are moist, not dry! Try them for yourself and let me know what you think….they are the perfect afterschool snack and/or breakfast on the go!

In case you aren’t familiar with flaxseed and chia seeds I have included a few great links to help better explain the health benefits of each.

Top 10 Health Benefits of Chia Seeds

The Benefits of Flaxseed

Made with love…..

What make these cookies extra special, they were made with love.  Instead of mommy baking by her lonesome it became a shared experience, one that touched all five senses and will be treasured for always…the aroma, laughter,  the touch of their soft delicate hands as I  guided them while measuring ingredients, and the children’s smiling eyes as they tasted the warm chewy cookies fresh out of the oven.

Ingredients:

2  cups  coach’s ‘steel-cut’ oats  

2 Tablespoons Flaxseed

2Tablespoons Chia Seeds

3/4 cup butter  

1  ½ cup brown sugar  

1  teaspoon baking powder  

1/4 teaspoon baking soda  

1 3/4 cups whole wheat flour  

2   eggs  

2  teaspoons vanilla extract  

2  teaspoons cinnamon  

1 cup, sliced dates (or raisins, cranberries, dried fruit)

Directions:

(Preheat oven to 375)

1 Place steel-cut oats, flax seeds, and chia seeds in bowl and mix together then pour water over… just enough water to cover all ingredients. Set aside (water soaks up quickly)

2  Cream butter in mixer.

3 Add sugar, baking powder, baking soda, eggs, vanilla, and cinnamon and mix

4 Slowly mix in the flour

5 Add steel-cut oats, flaxseed, chia seed mixture and dates (or other dried fruit)

6 Place by spoonful onto an ungreased cookie sheet.

7 Bake for 10 minutes or until edges are golden brown. Then place on cooling rack.

Frosting

Ingredients:

¼ cup butter

½ cup pumpkin

3 ½ cups powdered sugar

2 Tablespoons vanilla

2 Tablespoons cinnamon

3-7 Tablespoons Milk

Directions:

1 Mix butter, pumpkin, sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, and 3 tablespoons milk

2 Slowly add remaining milk till frosting is the right consistency.

Do you enjoy baking with your children? Do you have a favorite baked good or recipe you make when your kiddos are feeling blue? Please share.