For those embracing a low-carb lifestyle, traditional oatmeal cookies, laden with oats and sugar, are typically off-limits. Fortunately, there's a way to enjoy the comforting flavors and textures of this classic cookie without derailing your ketogenic diet. These keto oatmeal chocolate chip cookies deliver the familiar taste and chewy texture you crave, all while keeping carbs and sugar to a minimum.
Why Keto Oatmeal Cookies?
Oatmeal cookies are frequently overlooked, yet they offer a delightful combination of flavors and textures. The traditional recipe features juicy raisins, coconut, and cinnamon, creating a satisfying snack or a perfect accompaniment to a cup of coffee. However, the high oat and sugar content makes them unsuitable for a low-carb diet. This keto-friendly version captures the essence of the original while adhering to ketogenic principles, boasting just 3 grams of net carbs per cookie.
Key Benefits
- Identical Texture and Flavor: This recipe closely mimics the texture and flavor of traditional oatmeal cookies.
- Simple Ingredients: The recipe utilizes common keto baking staples, avoiding obscure or hard-to-find ingredients.
- Make-Ahead Convenience: The cookie dough can be easily frozen, allowing you to bake fresh cookies whenever a craving strikes.
- Low Carb: With only 3 grams of net carbs per cookie, these are a guilt-free treat.
Ingredients
These cookies rely on standard low-carb ingredients:
- Almond Flour: Use either blanched or traditional almond flour. Blanched almond flour yields a lighter cookie.
- Coconut Flour.
- Shredded Coconut Flakes: These replace the oats and provide a similar texture.
- Ground Flaxseed.
- Baking Soda.
- Cinnamon.
- Coconut Oil: The coconut oil should have the consistency of softened butter. Butter can also be used as an alternative.
- Allulose: This low-carb sweetener dissolves like regular sugar.
- Almond Butter: Smooth and creamy almond butter is ideal.
- Eggs: Two eggs are needed to bind the ingredients. Chia eggs can also be used as a substitute.
- Raisins.
- Sugar-Free Chocolate Chips (Optional): These enhance the cookies. Lily's sugar-free chocolate chips are a popular choice.
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Make the Cookie Dough: In a large mixing bowl, combine almond flour, coconut flour, shredded coconut, ground flaxseed, spices, and baking soda. In a separate bowl, mix allulose, coconut oil, almond butter, almond extract, and eggs until fully incorporated. Combine the wet and dry ingredients, then fold in the raisins and optional chocolate chips.
- Chill the Dough: Cover the bowl and refrigerate the dough for about an hour to chill.
- Shape: Preheat the oven to 180°C/350°F and line a baking tray with parchment paper. Form 16-20 balls of dough and place them on the lined tray. Press each ball into a cookie shape.
- Bake: Bake the cookies for 15-18 minutes, or until just cooked in the center.
- Cool: Allow the cookies to cool completely on the pan. They will continue to cook as they cool.
Tips and Considerations
- Mix-Ins: Feel free to add other keto-friendly mix-ins, but adjust the liquid content if needed.
- Don't Overbake: The cookies should be slightly undercooked in the middle when removed from the oven.
- Sweetener: Lakanto Monk Fruit is a good option because of its texture and minimal aftertaste. Surkin gold can also be used.
Storage Instructions
- Room Temperature: Store the cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.
- Refrigeration: For longer storage, keep the cookies in the fridge.
- Freezing: Wrap each cookie in parchment paper and place them in a ziplock bag for freezing.
The Science Behind the Recipe
This recipe cleverly replaces traditional oats with a combination of shredded coconut flakes and sliced almonds, processed to achieve an oatmeal-like consistency. This grain-free alternative provides a similar texture without the high carbohydrate content of oats.
The use of almond flour and coconut flour further contributes to the low-carb nature of these cookies. Almond flour, made from ground almonds, is a good source of healthy fats and fiber. Coconut flour is another low-carb alternative that adds a subtle sweetness and unique texture.
Read also: Easy Low-Carb Cheese Crackers
Allulose, a rare sugar found in certain fruits, is used as a sweetener in this recipe. Unlike other keto-friendly sweeteners, allulose dissolves like regular sugar, resulting in a more traditional cookie texture.
Variations and Additions
While the base recipe is delicious, there are many ways to customize these keto oatmeal cookies to your liking.
- Nuts: Add chopped walnuts, pecans, or macadamia nuts for extra crunch and flavor.
- Spices: Experiment with different spices, such as nutmeg, ginger, or cardamom, to create unique flavor profiles.
- Extracts: Enhance the flavor with a few drops of vanilla extract, almond extract, or maple extract.
- Seeds: Add sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, or chia seeds for added nutrients and texture.
- Dried Fruit: While traditional raisins are high in carbs, you can use a small amount of sugar-free dried cranberries for a similar chewy texture.
A Healthier Twist on a Classic
This recipe offers a healthier alternative to traditional cookies by using almond flour and coconut flour instead of all-purpose flour. It also utilizes honey as a natural sweetener, which contains antioxidants and some nutrients. However, it's important to remember that even with healthy ingredients, moderation is key.
Coconut Oil Considerations
The recipe calls for coconut oil, which can be either extra virgin or refined. Extra virgin coconut oil is made from fresh, raw coconut flesh and retains a distinct coconut flavor and aroma. Refined coconut oil is bleached and deodorized, resulting in a neutral flavor and aroma. The choice depends on your preference.
The Role of Artificial Intelligence
Interestingly, this recipe was inspired by a recipe generated by ChatGPT (artificial intelligence). While the initial recipe required some adjustments, such as the addition of an egg and modifications to the directions, it demonstrates the potential of AI in creating innovative and healthy recipes.
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