Name: Healthy Oatmeal Raisin Cookies
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 18 min
Total time: 33 min
Ingredients: 2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats; 1 cup oat flour; ½ cup ground flax seeds; 2 tablespoons chia seeds; 1 teaspoon baking powder; 1 ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon; ½ teaspoon salt; 2 medium sized ripe bananas (mashed (approximately 1 cup)); 1/3 cup coconut (or avocado oil, melted and cooled); ⅓ cup maple syrup; ¼ cup unsweetened almond milk; 1 cup walnuts (roughly chopped); 2/3 cup golden raisins

This post has been sponsored by American Greetings, but all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Two years ago my husband and I decided to no longer buy each other material gifts for Christmas. Instead, we wanted to create experiences that we can enjoy together. Something like putting aside some money for our summer vacation or a quick getaway to one of the close by Vermont towns for a weekend.

a woman is grabbing one of the Healthy Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

However, me being the romantic in the relationship, I still wanted to give him something on Christmas morning. After going back and forth for quite a bit, we finally decided to gift each other with a personally written love letter on that special day. This way, we could not only renew our love for each other with words of confirmation but also have something special to look back as we grow old as a married couple.

This year, in addition to my love letter, I plan on gifting him with these healthy oatmeal raisin cookies. Because, like most men, the road to my husband’s heart goes through his stomach. And what is better than a box full of cookies attached with a love letter for Christmas?

Healthy Oatmeal Cookies placed on a plate with tea in the background

Until last week I planned on writing my love letter on a piece of paper like I did last year. But then as I was shopping in Target, my eyes went to the greeting cards section and I couldn’t help myself but browse the beautifully displayed holiday cards by American Greetings.

And when I saw these ones that were tailored for a husband, I decided to pick one and make it the vessel for this year’s Christmas love letter. They were just so tasteful with a thoughtful message that was exactly what I wanted to say to him.

Now, onto the recipe…

About These Healthy Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

I don’t know about you but during the holidays I make sure that my cookie jar is full of cookies at all times. However, I also want to make sure that we are not filling ourselves with overly sweet and fatty cookies that are really not that good for you.

So I have been on the lookout for a cookie recipe that I can enjoy without any guilt attached to it. And I am happy to tell you that I finally found it.

a woman is grabbing a cup of tea with low fat oatmeal cookies

greeting cards to gift with these low sugar oatmeal raisin cookies

Because this healthy oatmeal raisin cookie recipe is:

Vegan: Uses ground flax seeds and chia seeds instead of eggs.
Gluten-Free & Made without flour: Made with a combination of ground oats and oat flour (that you can grind in your food processor)
Made without brown sugar: Most healthy oatmeal cookies are made with brown sugar. However, these ones are made without brown sugar. Instead, they are naturally sweetened with maple syrup, ripened bananas, and raisins.
Made without butter: Instead of butter, I used avocado oil. However, you can also use coconut or walnut oil as well.
Made without baking soda: This recipe uses no baking soda.
Easy to make: The whole process of preparing the batter takes no more than 15 minutes and requires no special equipment (like mixer or food processor). And it bakes in 18 minutes.

How To Make Healthy Oatmeal Cookies

The process of making this low-fat oatmeal raisin cookies recipe is no different than any other cookie recipe.

ingredients for oatmeal raisin cookies with flaxseed are laid out

how to make oatmeal raisin cookies - the dry ingredients in a bowl

First, you prep the dry ingredients: In this case, we mix together ground oats (I used gluten-free certified ground outs), oat flour (that I ground in my food processor), ground flax seeds, chia seeds, baking powder, and cinnamon.

wet ingredient for low sugar oatmeal cookies are laid out

a woman is mixing the batter for easy healthy oatmeal cookies

Second, you prep the wet ingredients: To do so, simply mash some ripened bananas and mix them with avocado oil ( or coconut oil would also work), maple syrup, and almond milk.

Finally, you mix them together, scoop them (with an ice cream scoop) out onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, and bake them for 18 minutes in a 325 F degree preheated oven.

greeting cards to gift with sugar free oatmeal cookies

a woman is scooping out the batter for paleo oatmeal raisin cookies

At the end of 18 minutes, depending on the size of your ice cream scoop (mine was 3-inch in diameter), you will end up with 12-13 deliciously chewy and low sugar oatmeal cookies.

my healthy oatmeal raisin cookie recipe and a cup of tea while writing greeting cards

Expert Tips

Can I freeze these cookies? Yes, you sure can. To do so, simply place them in an airtight container (or in a ziploc bag) and keep in your freezer up to a month. When ready to serve, take them out of the freezer and let them sit on the kitchen counter for 10 minutes and serve. No need to wait longer for them to thaw. Alternatively, you can place it in a preheated 250 degree oven for 10 minutes or so to warm it up.
Are oatmeal raisin cookies healthy? I believe the definition of healthy changes from person to person (diet to diet). However, as my version here is made with ingredients that are considered as superfoods (like flaxseeds, ground oats, chia seeds) and sweetened with natural sweeteners like bananas, maple syrup, and raisins, I think they can be considered healthy. With that being said, I recommend consuming them in moderation. I usually serve one with a cup of coffee in the morning or with my green tea in the afternoon.
Healthy Oatmeal Cookie Calories: I am no nutritionist, but thinking that you might want to know the comparison in calories between my version of oatmeal raisin cookies with flaxseeds, avocado oil, and maple syrup and other oatmeal raisin cookies made with all-purpose flour, sugar, and butter. Using my nutrition label generator software, I compared my recipe with the very first recipe that came up for oatmeal raisin cookies in Google and found out that my version is 315 (per serving) while the other version was 451 calories. If you want to cut down on calories, you can use a smaller scoop and make smaller cookies as well.
SUBSTITUTIONS: If you are not a fan of walnuts or raisins or just want to switch things up, you can use use any of your favorite nuts (i.e. pecans, pumpkin seeds, almonds, etc.) and dried fruits (i.e. dried cranberries, figs, apricots, etc.). Alternatively, you can use ¼ cup of dried fruit and add in ½ cup chocolate chips into the batter (if you want some chocolate-y goodness).

If You Liked This Healthy Oatmeal Cookies without Sugar, You Might Also Like These Naturally Sweetened Cookies

This recipe has been adapted with minor changes from this Superfood Breakfast Cookies recipe by Wife Mama Foodie.

Healthy Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

About These Healthy Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

How To Make Healthy Oatmeal Cookies

Expert Tips

If You Liked This Healthy Oatmeal Cookies without Sugar, You Might Also Like These Naturally Sweetened Cookies