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Hello! I’m Anjali. I’m a board certified health coach, author, wife, mom and food lover from the SF Bay area (now living in Seattle, WA!); with a passion for delicious food and a desire to make healthy eating easy, tasty and fun! Learn more about me here and stay for a while!

Anjali Shah

Healthy Oatmeal Raisin Cookies (Soft + Chewy!)

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These deliciously healthy oatmeal raisin cookies are perfectly chewy and soft! Made with coconut, dates, nut butter, and raisins, these gluten free cookies are also sugar free, vegan friendly, and kid-friendly too.

healthy oatmeal raisin cookies stacked on a white plate

Are you ever in the mood for something that’s chewy on the inside, but perfectly crispy on the outside? These healthy gluten free oatmeal cookies are perfect for anyone who wants to munch on something delicious, but are totally guilt-free!

Comforting vanilla, cinnamon, and raisins blend together to create delicious aromas that will just fill your kitchen when you’re baking these cookies.

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These chewy oatmeal raisin cookies are perfect for guilt-free snacking that you can honestly even have for breakfast. Wanting to take yourself or the family on an outing? Then you’ll really want to bring these cookies with you because they’re a great grab-and-go snack, especially for kids!

And if you like this recipe, be sure to also check out my vegan gluten free oatmeal cookies too!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

  • Full of whole grains
  • Easy to make with pantry staple ingredients
  • Meal prep friendly
  • Kid friendly

How to Make Healthy Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

Recipe Ingredients and Notes

One thing you’ll notice is that these chewy cookies are 100% sugar free: no white sugar, brown sugar, maple syrup, or even coconut sugar is needed in this recipe! That means they won’t be overly sweet, but thanks to the dried fruit and coconut, they still have a hint of sweetness that makes them super tasty for all the cookie lovers in your household.

ingredients for healthy oatmeal raisin cookies

Dry Ingredients

  • Oats: Rolled whole grain oats are used for this recipe instead of all purpose flour, for more fiber and heart healthy grains. We grind the oats into an oat flour consistency, to help make these cookies soft and chewy. If you don’t have oats and don’t need to make these oatmeal cookies gluten free, you can use whole wheat pastry flour as a substitute. See the FAQ section to learn about instant oats in this recipe.
  • Coconut: To keep this recipe refined sugar free, make sure to use unsweetened coconut.
  • Dried fruit: Dates and currants (or sweet raisins) help provide sweetness without needing a lot of added sugar.
  • Chia seeds: Chia seeds help bind these healthy oatmeal raisin cookies together and add a touch of protein to this recipe.
  • Cinnamon: What’s an oatmeal raisin cookie recipe without cinnamon? Make sure you have ground cinnamon! You can also try pumpkin pie spice or nutmeg.

Wet Ingredients

  • Almond butter: I used raw almond butter for this recipe, but any nut butter will do. I used 1/3 of a cup, but you can use as little as 1/4 cup to 1/2 cup.
  • Applesauce: Unsweetened applesauce to help bind things together and give these gluten free oatmeal raisin cookies a little extra moisture.
  • Vanilla: A little bit of real vanilla extract gives additional sweetness and depth of flavor without added sugar.
  • Coconut oil: A vegan friendly substitution for unsalted butter in these sugar free oatmeal cookies.

Tools and Equipment You’ll Need

Step by Step Instructions

Step 1: First, in a medium bowl, soak the chopped dates. Next, grind the oats and coconut into a fine flour using blender or grinder. After that, grind the chia seeds. Finally, in a large bowl, combine the dry ingredients and set aside.

raisins mixed into flour mixture

Step 2: Combine applesauce, the soaked dates (with water), almond butter, vanilla, and coconut oil in a food processor.

wet and dry ingredients in mixing bowls

Step 3: Mix the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients / flour mixture. You don’t need a stand mixer for this recipe – this cookie dough is easy to mix by hand.

wet and dry ingredients combined in a bowl

Step 4: Form cookies on prepared baking sheet. Using a tablespoon or a cookie scoop, place the batter of the cookie on the baking sheet and spread the cookie out. You’ll have enough cookie dough for a second batch. See the recipe card for full details.

cookies on a baking sheet

Step 5: Bake at 200° Fahrenheit for one and a half to two hours. When the cookies are done, they will be slightly browned and crispy on the outside. Let them cool on a wire rack before serving.

healthy oatmeal raisin cookies stacked on parchment paper

What Makes These Gluten-Free Oatmeal Raisin Cookies Healthy?

  • Low Calorie: Each cookie has just about 70 calories!! That means you can enjoy two, or even three, without breaking your diet!
  • Low Fat: Only 3 grams of fat are in each cookie!
  • No Sugar: With zero grams of added sugar, this is a healthy oatmeal cookie recipe you can feel great about making for you and your family.

What Do Sugar Free Oatmeal Cookies Taste Like?

These gluten free oatmeal cookies taste slightly sweet and tender, and they have natural sweetness from ingredients like cinnamon, vanilla, raisins, coconut, dates, and so much more. They won’t be super sweet the way traditional oatmeal cookies are, but have more of a calming sweetness (like a lara bar version of a bakery cookie).

Recipe FAQS

Can you substitute quick oats for rolled oats in these healthy oatmeal raisin cookies?

Sure! Just keep in mind that the quick oats may have a quicker bake time and the texture may be slightly different. For the perfect chewy texture, I recommend rolled oats if you have them!

How do you store healthy oatmeal raisin cookies?

You can store these cookies at either room temperature or in the refrigerator. Just make sure they’re stored in an airtight container or bag.

Can you freeze oatmeal cookies?

Of course. Simply transfer the oatmeal cookies to an airtight storage container and bag and freeze for up to six months. To defrost, let them thaw in the refrigerator overnight and then warm in the microwave.

Are oats gluten free?

While a lot of oats are processed in facilities with wheat, there are some gluten free oats out there! To ensure the oats you’re getting are truly gluten-free, look for a gluten free certified label on the packaging.

How bad are oatmeal raisin cookies for you?

Honestly, everything is moderation is key! Traditional oatmeal cookies are packed with sugar, butter, calories and fat – so they’re more of a once-in-a-while treat. But since these healthier oatmeal raisin cookies are naturally gluten and refined-sugar free, they’re not bad for you at all and you can enjoy them any time you like!

  • Be sure to soak the dates for at least one hour. Soaking the dates allows them release their sweet and ripened flavors!
  • Don’t discard the date water. You’ll want to use it when processing the mix!
  • Since these cookies do not contain flour, they won’t spread as they bake. Make sure to spread out into a cookie shape prior to baking — you can use a fork.
  • You can also shape these cookies into granola bars! The perfect mix between a cookie and granola bar.
  • To make this into a truly sweet treat, try adding 1/4 tsp monk fruit for extra sweetness without adding sugar or calories.
healthy oatmeal raisin cookies stacked on parchment paper

More Healthy and Easy Recipes

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🎥 Watch How to Make It

healthy oatmeal raisin cookies stacked on a white plate
Print Recipe
5 from 6 votes

Healthy Oatmeal Cookies

These deliciously healthy oatmeal raisin cookies are the perfect amount of chewy and totally delicious! Made with coconut, dates, nut butter, and raisins, these gluten free cookies are sugar free and perfect for those with a sweet tooth.
Prep Time1 hour
Cook Time1 hour 30 minutes
Total Time2 hours 30 minutes
Course: Baking, Breakfast, Dessert, Snack
Cuisine: American, Vegan
Servings: 30 cookies
Calories: 70kcal
Author: Anjali Shah

Ingredients

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Instructions

  • Soak the dates in 1/2 cup water for an hour or more.
  • Grind the oats and unsweetened coconut into a flour using a high powered blender.
  • Grind the chia seeds into a powder using a spice grinder.
  • Combine the dry ingredients in a bowl and set aside.
  • Place the almond butter, soaked dates (with their soak water), applesauce, vanilla and coconut oil in a food processor or high powered blender (like a Vitamix). Blend until smooth, then add to the dry ingredients and mix well.
  • Form cookies on a baking sheet lightly sprayed with oil or covered with parchment paper (I used parchment paper because the cleanup is way easier!). Use about 1 Tbsp of batter for each cookie, and spread the cookie out on the parchment. The cookies won’t spread as they bake so be sure to spread them out into a “cookie shape” using a fork or spoon.
  • Bake at very low heat: 200 degrees for 1.5 to 2 hours (mine took 1.5 hours in the oven, but it depends on how hot your oven is). When they’re done, they’ll be slightly browned and crispy on the outside.

Notes

Nutrition facts are for one cookie if you get 30. 

Nutrition

Calories: 70kcal | Carbohydrates: 10g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 1g | Sodium: 5mg | Potassium: 90mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 3g

36 responses to “Healthy Oatmeal Raisin Cookies (Soft + Chewy!)”

    • Totally!! I love giving these to my kids because they think they’re getting a treat and I can feel good about them eating it!

  1. These were exactly what I needed to cure my sweet tooth without the calories! Easily, a new favorite treat!5 stars

    • Hi Yas! Hmm honestly I’m not sure. 180C is about 350F — and this recipe calls for it to bake at only 200F. It doesn’t hurt to try though – if you do I’d recommend cutting the baking time in half and seeing how the cookies are when you pull them out of the oven. Let me know how it goes and good luck!

    • Awww haha thanks Layne! If I ever open up a little bakeshop I will let you know 🙂 In the meantime, these are super easy to make at home! You should try it – let me know how it turns out!

    • Hi Sarah, I haven’t heard anything about chia seeds being unsafe for toddlers since it’s not a known allergen or anything like that. But I’d recommending double checking with your pediatrician to make sure they’re ok with you giving your toddler chia seeds! If you do and your pediatrician gives you the green light, I would probably stick to ground up chia seeds (vs. whole chia seeds) just because it’s easier to eat and chew. Hope that helps!

    • Aww no problem at all!! Thanks so much for your kind words Carrie! 🙂 I’m sure you will love these cookies!

    • Hehe yay! I’m sure you will love these Sara 🙂 It’s pretty cool because you can’t even taste the chia seed flour in the cookie, but you get all the protein and yummy nutrients from the seeds!

  2. These look great! I love how healthy you made them, I love new recipes for my chia seeds! I am just starting a food blog myself (I am taking a social media class and never thought I would have a blog!) and tonight experimented with some healthy no bake cookies, with a lot of the same ingredients you have in this recipe (dates, oats, chia seeds, coconut)! I can wait to try them both and compare. I will be sure to mention your delicious blog on my site, as your blog is awesome! Keep up the good work and great recipes! ~Jamie

    • Aw thank you so much Jamie! Your no bake cookies sound delicious – I’ll have to try those soon. Hope you liked this version too! 🙂

  3. These look great! I just bought some chia seeds, but haven’t made anything with them…

    • Thanks!! This is a great recipe for using up your chia seeds – they blend in so well into these cookies, you barely even know they’re there! Can’t wait to hear how you like this recipe!

  4. I must try these! I have wanted a recipe using dates for a sweetener and I love cinnamon. Thanks for the recipe!

  5. Cute and yes I do wish I could take a bite…would you want to mail some to the East coast?

    A labor of love for you and your dad.

    • Hehe I would be open to that – they do travel well! It truly was a labor of love – couldn’t have said it better myself 🙂

5 from 6 votes

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