Easy Oatmeal Cookies for Cookie Swaps

These Easy Oatmeal Cookies are ideal for Christmas cookie swaps. Since the holidays are a busy time, I’ve created a basic easy oatmeal cookies recipe that can be made different by changing one or two ingredients.

That way, you can bring oatmeal raisin cranberry cookies to one cookie exchange. Raisin oatmeal cookies to another. Chocolate chip oatmeal cookies to a third, and so on just be changing the “mix ins” as I call them.

Get creative with your Easy Oatmeal Cookies baking

Not only are easy oatmeal cookies convenient to make, you can do flavor combinations making these cookies truly unique.

If you have leftover raisins and chocolate chips, do a half and half mixture! Or combine cranberries, raisins, and chocolate.

Try some unique mix ins like sugar free candied ginger, sugar free candied pecans, or unsweetened shredded coconut. For those of you who are nut free but like a crunch, try seeds like sunflower, pumpkin or pine nuts.

You can also bake up a mixed batch of Easy Oatmeal Cookies by dividing the dough in half and mix 1/2 cup of this type of mix in and 1/2 cup of another type of mix in.

This Mama’s tips for making Easy Oatmeal Cookies

To make this oatmeal cookie recipe as guilt free as possible, I’ve substituted monk fruit power for sugar and a buttery spread for butter. Since I try to make my recipes gluten free, I’ve used an all-purpose gluten free flour. I recommend Bob's Red Mill Gluten Free 1 to 1 Baking Flour for cookie baking.

While oats are naturally gluten free, you want to use a brand like Bob's Red Mill Gluten Free Old Fashioned Rolled Oats that is certified to be gluten free.

You should make sure all mix ins are gluten free. For chocolate chips, I like using Enjoy Life Foods Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips. They’re also dairy free.

If you want the oatmeal cookies to be dairy free, use a vegan buttery spread.

Easy Oatmeal Cookies make a great gift, too!

For a gift exchange, you can put the dry ingredients for the oatmeal cookies plus one “mix in” (or a combination) in a Mason jar. Layer them to make a cook effect! (For tips on how to do this, check out Must Have Mom’s Reindeer Cookie’s In a Jar Recipe. Having a wide mouthed funnel is a must!)

Then tie a pretty ribbon around the jar, and print out the directions straight from this blog post. (Just click on the Print Recipe button.) Fold up the instructions and put them in an envelope with your holiday card. You may also want to include a label on the jar.

Try these other gluten free cookies for your Christmas cookie exchange!

Easy Oatmeal Cookies

The best oatmeal cookie ever for cookie and gift exchanges!

Print
Recipe

Ingredients

• 1 cup buttery spread
• 1 1/2 cups monk fruit (or other sugar substitute)
• 1 tablespoon molasses
• 2 large eggs
• 2 teaspoons gluten free vanilla
• 1 3/4 cups Bob's Red Mill Gluten Free 1 to 1 Baking Flour
• 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 3/4 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 3 1/2 cups Bob's Red Mill Gluten Free Old Fashioned Rolled Oats
• 1 cup “mix in” of your choice or a combination (raisins, dried cranberries, nuts, dark chocolate chips, shredded coconut, seeds, etc.)

Directions

1. Place butter spread, monk fruit, molasses, eggs, and vanilla in a bowl and beat on medium speed until well blended. (You can do this in a stand mixer or with a hand mixer.)
2. In another bowl, combine gluten free flour mix, baking soda, baking powder, soda, sea salt, and cinnamon. Stir until well blended.
3. Pour the flour mixture into the butter mixture. Stir until well blended and smooth.
4. Add in the oats and “mix in” of your choice. (I chose 1/2 cup dairy free mini-chocolate chips and 1/2 cup dried cranberries.) Stir until thoroughly combined. Refrigerate dough for 30 minutes.
5. Position a rack in the upper third of your oven. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease cookie sheets with cooking spray or use a silicon baking mat.
6. Drop the dough by tablespoon onto a cookie sheet. With your hand, lightly press the cookie down to form a 1/2 inch thick cookie.
7. One sheet at a time, bake 8-9 minutes. Prepare next baking sheet as the previous one bakes. The cookies are done when firm to the touch when gently pressed in the middle.
8. Remove baking sheet from oven and let cool for 2 minutes. Then transfer the cookies to a cooling rack.

Prep Time: 25 Minutes

Cook Time: 50 Minutes

Total Time: 1 Hour 15 Minutes

Servings: Makes approximately 66 cookies (2” wide)

• Serving size: varies

Originally published on December 12, 2014. Updated with new pictures and information.