2 Shares

These Healthy Carrot Cake Oatmeal Cookies offer a delicious twist on the classic carrot cake! Packed with sweet carrots, warm cinnamon, and oats, these soft and chewy cookies taste just like carrot cake but are quicker and easier to make. With only 96 calories per cookie, they are the perfect guilt-free treat that’s sure to disappear in a day.

Full Recipe:

Ingredients

1 cup (100g) instant oats
¾ cup (90g) whole wheat flour (or gluten-free flour)
1 ½ tsp baking powder
1 ½ tsp ground cinnamon
⅛ tsp salt
2 tbsp (28g) coconut oil or unsalted butter, melted
1 large egg
1 tsp vanilla extract
½ cup (120mL) pure maple syrup
¾ cup (68g) freshly grated carrots (about 1 medium carrot)

Directions

In a medium bowl, whisk together the oats, flour, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt.
In a separate bowl, whisk together the coconut oil (or butter), egg, and vanilla.
Stir in the maple syrup until fully combined.
Add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients and stir just until combined.
Gently fold in the grated carrots.
Chill the cookie dough for 30 minutes.
Preheat the oven to 325°F (163°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone mat.
Using a spoon and spatula, drop the cookie dough in 14 rounded scoops onto the baking sheet, flattening them slightly with the spatula.
Bake for 12-15 minutes, or until the cookies are lightly golden around the edges.
Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for at least 15 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack.

Nutrients

Calories: 96 per cookie
Carbohydrates: 14g
Protein: 2g
Fat: 4g
Saturated Fat: 2g
Cholesterol: 16mg
Sodium: 80mg
Potassium: 80mg
Fiber: 2g
Sugar: 6g
Vitamin A: 2000 IU
Calcium: 18mg
Iron: 0.5mg

Why You’ll Love These Carrot Cake Oatmeal Cookies

There are many reasons to love these carrot cake oatmeal cookies. First, they provide a delicious alternative to traditional carrot cake, delivering all the flavors of the classic dessert in a much quicker and simpler form. No need to bake a whole cake and spend hours in the kitchen—these cookies can be whipped up in about 30 minutes, making them the perfect option when you’re short on time but still want something indulgent.

What makes these cookies even better is that they are packed with healthy ingredients. Carrots are a great source of beta-carotene, fiber, and vitamin A, contributing to good eye health and boosting your immune system. The addition of oats provides a filling source of fiber that helps to keep you satisfied for longer. The whole wheat flour offers additional fiber and nutrients compared to refined white flour, making these cookies a healthier choice overall.

In addition, the cookies are sweetened with pure maple syrup, a natural sweetener that is lower on the glycemic index compared to refined sugars. This helps prevent blood sugar spikes, making these cookies a better option for those mindful of their sugar intake. The inclusion of coconut oil or butter adds a bit of healthy fat, keeping the cookies rich and satisfying without compromising the overall nutrition.

The Nutritional Benefits of Healthy Carrot Cake Oatmeal Cookies

These cookies are not just a tasty treat, but they also provide a variety of important nutrients. Each cookie contains only 96 calories, making it a light and satisfying snack. The cookies offer 14 grams of carbohydrates, 2 grams of protein, and 4 grams of fat. The healthy fats come from the coconut oil or butter, which contribute to the cookies’ moist and chewy texture while providing essential fatty acids.

With 2 grams of fiber per cookie, these treats are a great way to boost your daily fiber intake. Fiber is essential for digestive health, helping to keep you full and promoting regular bowel movements. These cookies are also a good source of vitamin A, with each cookie providing 2000 IU, thanks to the freshly grated carrots. Vitamin A is crucial for eye health, skin health, and overall immune function.

In addition to their fiber and vitamin A content, these cookies offer small amounts of calcium and iron, contributing to bone health and red blood cell production. With only 6 grams of sugar per cookie, the cookies are a lower-sugar option compared to traditional baked goods, making them a great choice for anyone looking to cut down on refined sugars.

How to Make Healthy Carrot Cake Oatmeal Cookies

The process for making these healthy carrot cake oatmeal cookies is incredibly simple. First, whisk together the dry ingredients in a medium bowl. Combine the oats, whole wheat flour, baking powder, ground cinnamon, and salt, and set aside. In a separate bowl, whisk together the wet ingredients, including the coconut oil (or butter), egg, vanilla extract, and maple syrup. Stir the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients until just combined, then gently fold in the grated carrots.

Chill the cookie dough for about 30 minutes to help the flavors meld together and ensure the cookies maintain their shape when baking. Once the dough has chilled, preheat your oven to 325°F (163°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone mat. Drop rounded scoops of dough onto the baking sheet, flattening them slightly with a spatula. Bake the cookies for 12-15 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden. Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.

Customizing Your Carrot Cake Oatmeal Cookies

One of the great things about these cookies is that they are highly customizable. If you’re looking to switch things up, you can add other ingredients to enhance the flavor. For example, adding a handful of raisins or chopped nuts such as walnuts or pecans can give the cookies extra texture and flavor. You could also add a pinch of ground ginger or nutmeg for a deeper, spicier flavor profile.

If you’re a fan of cream cheese frosting, you could even drizzle a light frosting on top of the cookies to mimic the traditional carrot cake topping. A simple mixture of cream cheese and a bit of maple syrup or honey can create a healthier frosting option without overloading the cookies with sugar.

For those with dietary restrictions, these cookies are also quite adaptable. You can easily make them gluten-free by using a gluten-free flour blend instead of whole wheat flour. If you need to make the recipe dairy-free, simply swap the butter for coconut oil, which is already called for in the recipe.

Perfect for Any Occasion

These Healthy Carrot Cake Oatmeal Cookies are perfect for any occasion, whether it’s a snack, dessert, or a treat to share with friends and family. They are great for spring celebrations, such as Easter or a birthday party, but they are delicious enough to enjoy year-round. These cookies are especially wonderful when you’re craving something sweet but want to keep things healthy.

They also make a great addition to school lunches, as they are small, portable, and easy for kids to grab and eat. You can even prepare them in advance and freeze them for later use. This makes them an excellent option for meal prepping, allowing you to have a healthy, homemade snack on hand whenever you need it.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Healthy Carrot Cake Oatmeal Cookies are a fantastic alternative to traditional carrot cake, offering all the delicious flavors in a lighter, healthier form. With simple ingredients like oats, whole wheat flour, maple syrup, and freshly grated carrots, these cookies are not only nutritious but also incredibly tasty. At just 96 calories per cookie, they make a perfect guilt-free snack or dessert that you can enjoy without any of the usual indulgence. Whether you’re craving something sweet or looking for a healthier option to satisfy your snack attack, these cookies are a must-try!

By customizing the recipe to fit your tastes and dietary preferences, these cookies can become a staple in your baking repertoire. So the next time you’re in the mood for something delicious and nutritious, bake a batch of these Healthy Carrot Cake Oatmeal Cookies—they’re sure to disappear quickly!

Pin2