Yesterday was a perfect day to bake cookies. The weather was rainy and drizzly. Can you believe it was raining in Texas in August? Crazy weather, but I really enjoyed it. And, it gave me an excuse to try out a new cookie recipe. These Oatmeal Raisin Cookies Made with Heart Healthy Walnut Butter are scrumptious and good for you, too.
Including walnuts in your diet will help protect your heart and mind. Eating a handful of walnuts can lower your LDL (bad) cholesterol and improve your blood vessel function. They contain a plant form of omega-3 (alpha-linolenic acid) that is associated with enhanced brain function and better moods. Research indicates that people who regularly eat walnuts don’t gain weight even though they are high in fat and calories. So remember to eat them in moderation. Substituting walnut butter for butter and eggs yields a healthier Oatmeal Raisin Cookie.
I based my cookie recipe on Home Run Oatmeal Cookies, a recipe I found in one of my vegan cookbooks, Virgin Vegan Everyday Recipes: For Satisfying Your Appetite. The cookbook presents lots of great vegan recipes that are easy and delicious to make. It also includes Tips, Tricks, and Techniques for anyone new to vegan cooking.
I use organic ingredients whenever possible.
After you make the walnut butter and bring the sugar and water to a boil, whisk the wet ingredients together.
Stir together all of the dry ingredients except the oatmeal and raisins. I used Einkorn all-purpose flour. The Virgin Vegan recipe calls for oat flour which you can substitute if you want gluten free cookies.
Mix the wet and dry ingredients together until just combined.
Add the oatmeal and raisins. Refrigerate the cookie dough for 30 minutes.
Scoop dough into balls (about 1 ½ tbs) and drop onto a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. Slightly flatten the cookie dough ball.
Bake for 10 – 12 minutes until lightly browned.
These are the best Oatmeal Raisin Cookies I’ve ever tasted, and I’ve sampled many.
Enjoy these delicious Oatmeal Raisin Cookies Made with Heart Healthy Walnut Butter.
Oatmeal Raisin Cookies Made with Heart Healthy Walnut Butter
Ingredients
- 8 ounces walnuts (1 ½ cups chopped)
- 4 tbs coconut oil
- 1 cup light brown sugar
- ½ cup water
- 2 tsp vanilla
- 2 cups Einkorn all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp sea salt
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 2 cups old fashioned oats
- ⅔ cup raisins
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375° F. Line cookie sheet with parchment paper.
- Using a blender or food processor, blend the walnuts and coconut oil till creamy butter consistency.
- In a saucepan, bring brown sugar and water to boil. Remove from heat.
- Whisk in vanilla and walnut butter until well blended.
- In a separate bowl, stir together flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon.
- Mix wet and dry ingredients together until just combined. Don't over mix.
- Add in oatmeal and raisins.
- Refrigerate cookie dough for 30 minutes.
- Scoop dough into balls (about 1 ½ tbs) and drop onto cookie sheet. Press ball till slightly flattened.
- Bake for 10 - 12 minutes until lightly browned. Cool on rack.
