Heart Smart Oatmeal Date Chocolate Cookies Recipes

HEALTHY OATMEAL, DATE AND CHOCOLATE CHUNK COOKIES

Steps:

• Position racks in the upper and lower thirds of the oven and preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Spread the oats out on a baking sheet and bake until light golden brown, 10 to 12 minutes. Reserve 1/4 cup of the oats for sprinkling and transfer the remaining oats to a medium mixing bowl to cool. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
• In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the sugar and butter on medium-high speed until lighter in color and slightly fluffy, about 5 minutes, scraping down the sides of the bowl several times. Beat in the egg and vanilla until very fluffy, 2 to 3 minutes more.
• In the mixing bowl with the cooled oats, add the flour, cinnamon, baking powder and salt, and mix to combine. Reduce the mixer speed to low, then add the flour mixture to the butter and beat until just combined. Stir in the dates and chocolate by hand.
• Drop level tablespoons of the dough on the baking sheets, leaving at least 1-inch of space around each cookie, about 30 cookies total. Sprinkle the cookies with the reserved toasted oats. Bake until the cookies are lightly golden, 12 to 15 minutes. Cool the cookies for 5 minutes on the baking sheets, then transfer to cooling racks to cool completely.

OATMEAL COOKIES WITH DATES AND BITTERSWEET CHOCOLATE

Steps:

• Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
• Beat the butter, brown sugar and granulated sugar with an electric mixer in a large bowl until fluffy. Add the vanilla and egg and beat to combine.
• Whisk together the flour, oats, baking soda, cinnamon and salt in a medium bowl. Add the flour mixture to the butter mixture and beat until just combined. Stir in the bittersweet chocolate chips and dates.
• Scoop slightly mounded tablespoons of the dough and roll into balls. Arrange about 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheets and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, position oven racks in the top and bottom thirds of the oven and preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Bake until the cookies are set and golden on the bottom, 12 to 15 minutes. Let cool on the baking sheets for 10 minutes, then transfer to wire racks to cool completely.

DATE OATMEAL COOKIES WITH MILK CHOCOLATE CHIPS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Cream the shortening, butter and sugar together. Add the eggs and vanilla. Mix together well.
• Add flour, baking soda, spices and oatmeal. Mix in dates and chocolate chips.
• Scoop out a tbsp of dough onto a parchement paper lined cookie sheet. Get 2 plates one with a bit of water on it and one with sugar in the raw. Dip the bottom of a glass in the water then in the sugar in the raw. Press this on top of the cookie just to flatten, repeat with each cookie.
• Bake for 8-10 minutes.
• Option: Instead of using milk chocolate chips get a chocolate bar break along the individual lines and lay on a cookie as it comes out of the oven. Top with another hot cookie and move to rack to cool.