My Amazing “I can’t believe it’s low carb” Oatmeal Cookie Recipe

My husband was diagnosed with diabetes last summer, and we have been on a journey of discovery in the kitchen.  Learning to cook low carb has been a fun challenge, and he has lost over 50# since we started.

He has never been big on sweets, so that part has been easier than it would be for me. Still, he occasionally does want a cookie, and his favorites are oatmeal craisin.  I have been playing with a few recipes I found online and have finally got it to what I consider the perfect cookie.

Here it is.  Don’t say I never gave ya anything.

WHAT I USED:

1/2 cups whole wheat flour

1/2 cups almond flour

1/2 cup coconut flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon allspice

1/2 teaspoon nutmeg

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1 cup butter, softened

1 cup SPLENDA® Sugar Blend

2 large eggs

1 tablespoon molasses

1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

3 cups steel cut oats, uncooked

1 cup craisins

1 cup chopped walnuts

 HOW I DID IT

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Stir together flours, soda, and spices in a separate bowl for later.

Beat butter and SPLENDA® Sugar Blend at medium speed in the Bosch Universal (using whisk attachment) until fluffy. Add eggs, molasses and vanilla, beating until blended. Gradually add flour mixture, beating at low speed until blended.

Change to cookie paddles, as this gets very thick and will bend your wire whips.

Stir in oats and craisins.

Drop dough by rounded tablespoons onto lightly greased baking sheets.  

Bake 10 to 12 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool slightly on baking sheets. Remove to wire racks; cool completely.  The consistency of these cookies is very dense, so I like to kind of smoosh them flat after putting them on the cookie sheet, otherwise they cook in the rounded shape, and get too done on the outside and not enough on the inside.  Smooshing seems to do the trick 😉

I make a double recipe of this, unless we are having a crowd over, then I triple it.  While the first batch is baking, I drop dough as above onto a parchment lined cookie sheet (as many as will fit on that sheet, barely touching) and place in the freezer for later.  When they are frozen, I collect them all into a large ziplock baggie and keep on hand for a rainy day.  These last about forever for just the two of us, but they are nice to have on hand when the grands come over and help us eat them.

These make GREAT breakfast cookies, they are so filling and satisfying.  In the future, I may add sugar free chocolate chips to the mix, just for grins and giggles.

Training

Scene playing at my daughter’s house tonight:  Worn out child #2 in room, tired but fighting the rest she so desperately needs. It’s been a long day, full of laughter, good food, a movie, and game time with Momma and Grammie.  Now it’s past her bedtime, and even after the normal bedtime ritual of a story and song with cuddles, she is overstimulated and cranky.  Momma has taken to the sofa, silent to the little girl’s pleas for her to hear and come placate her.  Wise Momma waits patiently, ever aware of angelface’s cries, but in the work of training this child, allows her to shout out in angst, shed tears, and vent her frustrations.

I hear the wisdom of my Heavenly Father roll off her tongue, as she reassures her.  “I love you.  It’s time to rest.  Lie down and go to sleep.”  Then, she is quiet, and she waits for daughter to wear herself out with groaning.  The cries grow louder and more insistent, and she resists the urge to run to her and coddle her.  Patiently she endures the wailing, knowing this time of training, hard as it is, will make the next one a little easier.  The goal is to teach this child to discipline herself.  One day, she will be equipped with the coping skills she needs to remind herself of the things she knows.  Mom loves me, it’s been a long day, it’s time to rest…and she will fall asleep without the fight.

And as my own Father waits patiently for my cries to subside, his words echo in my mind, I love you.  Trust Me.  Rest; And I am reassured that He is not absent, or deaf to my cries.  He is just quiet while He patiently waits for me to quit fighting and obey.

Treasures in God’s hand

I’m watching grandbabies today, and as has become the case quite often, I often hear God’s voice speaking to my spirit as I speak words of love and instruction to them.  Today’s case in point:

We have a certain structure of our days here, and simple rules to keep some sort of order or routine.  We use our big girl/boy words to communicate, not our attitude or body language, or crying; we get treats IF we finish our food, and if we choose not to finish our food, we don’t get treats by crying about it.   Often, how happy we are is completely dependent on our obedience and our ability to wait.

Today, the youngest did finish his lunch, and was eagerly pursuing Grammie’s attention for gaining access to the treat jar. Reminders to be patient fell on completely deaf ears, as clearly, there was only one goal here, getting that candy.  Once he got it, away he ran to consume it.  Since it was wrapped, and he is not quite 2yo yet, I offered to help.  His answer (in his growing collection of big boy words, of course):  “No.  Don’t help.  Grammie.”  And he was able to get it unwrapped.  His second piece (Grammie’s a pushover, lol) was not so easy to do all by himself, so again, I offered, and again, his reply was the same, in not so many words, No thanks, Grammie, I can handle this on my own, don’tcha know?  His frustration mounted at his unsuccessful efforts, and the attitude appeared, but he continued to stubbornly refuse help.  “No, Grammie”.  Now, Grammie’s patience is not what it should be, so at some point,,,I imposed help, much to the little guys annoyance.  I quickly had it unwrapped, and interrupted his protests with a sweet treasure, ready for him to devour.

We are told that God’s ways are not our ways. God has His own structure, and sense of order and routine.  He has his own agenda for what His children need in order to best serve Him and to grow in grace, and He is always on time with His gifts and callings.  Aren’t we like toddlers sometimes with God and His ways?  We are anxious to receive the treasures from God’s hand, and try to unwrap them in our own strength and time.  When God asks “can I help you with that?” we stubbornly continue in our own wisdom and strength, and cry out in impatience when we fail.  It’s as true for us as it is for children that how content and happy we are in this life largely depends on our own ability to depend and wait on the Lord.