Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

I've been playing around with a recipe for oatmeal raisin cookies for a while. Michael declared that this version was "perfect," so I decided to stop playing and to post the recipe before I lose track of what I did. I like oatmeal raisin cookies because I can tell myself that I'm eating a dessert that's good for me. It's mostly oats and raisins, right? I also like the fact that the recipe comes together quickly. So when I'm in a cookie mood, I only have to wait about half an hour because I can bite into one. Or maybe two.

These oatmeal cookies are crispy on the outside and slightly chewy on the inside. If you prefer chewier cookies, use just 2 tablespoons of canola oil and add 1 tablespoon of maple syrup. I adapted this recipe for chewy vegan oatmeal raisin cookies.

Oatmeal Raisin Cookies
makes about 12 cookies

Ingredients:

• 3/4 cup Bob's Red Mill Gluten-free rolled oats
• 1/4 cup and 2 Tbsp. Bob's Red Mill Gluten-free flour
• 1/4 tsp. baking soda
• 1/8 tsp. sea salt
• 1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon
• 1/4 cup brown sugar, packed
• 2 Tbsp. granulated white sugar
• 2 Tbsp. applesauce
• 1/2 Tbsp. (which is 1 and 1/2 tsp.) ground flax seed meal. I use Bob's Red Mill brand.
• 3 Tbsp. canola oil
• 1/4 cup raisins

Instructions:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.

Pour 1/4 cup of the oats into a medium bowl. Take the other 1/2 cup of oats and chop them briefly in a food chopper. Pour the chopped oats into the bowl. Add the flour, baking soda, sea salt, and cinnamon. Stir and set aside.

In a small bowl stir together the brown sugar, white sugar, applesauce, flax seed meal, and canola oil. Then pour the wet ingredients into the medium bowl with the dry ingredients. Stir just until incorporated. Then stir in the raisins.

Place tablespoonfuls of the dough onto the parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 12 minutes, or until the cookies are golden brown. Let the cookies cool for about 5 minutes on the cookie sheet. Then transfer them to a cooling rack.