Oat and sultana cookies

Healthy cookies with oats and sultanas make a nutritious lunchbox or outing treat.

Preparation time: 15 minutes
Cooking time: 15 minutes
Difficulty rating: Easy
Age recommendation: Toddlers to adults. For babies cook Baby Oat Cookies instead.
Number of servings: 12 (depending on the size of your cookies)

Ingredients:

• 1 cup of wholemeal flour (plain)
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• ½ cup quick oats
• 1 large egg
• 80mL (4 Tbsp) vegetable oil (rice bran oil is a good choice as it has no flavour and there is evidence it lowers cholesterol levels)
• 1 teaspoon imitation vanilla (or half that for natural vanilla concentrate which gives a much better flavour)
• ½ cup sultanas
• ¼ cup raw sugar
• 4 tablespoons apple and pear juice (make it fresh in a juicer or store bought 100% fruit juice)

Method:

• Pre-heat oven to 180C.
• Line a baking tray with greaseproof paper- this saves using oil to grease tray and on cleaning up time.
• Place dry ingredients in a bowl and mix.
• In a separate bowl, mix the wet ingredients.
• Add wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and stir to combine.
• Roll the mixture into balls and flatten into round biscuit shapes on the baking tray.
• Bake for 12-15 mins depending on size, when slightly browning and your home fills with the sweet smell of cookies, they’re ready.
• The sultanas retain their heat more than the biscuit, so wait until they’re quite cool before giving to children.

Tips:

• Use whole rather than quick oats for a chewier texture. Young kids will find the quick oats easier to chew.
• The raw mixture has a sticky texture. Wet your hands after rolling a few biscuits to prevent the batter sticking to them.
• Swap sultanas for raisins, dried dates/apricots or your other favourite dried fruit. You could also add some seeds and chopped nuts to these healthy cookies.
• Oat and sultana cookies make a great healthy lunch box treat for school or outings.

Nutritional content:

References

1. AusNut. Nutrient Database. 2007. [cited 27 April 2012]. Available from: URL link
2. Queensland Health. Introduction to Solids. 2008. [cited 8 December]. Available from: URL link
3. Lai M, Chen Y, Chen Y, et al.  Effects of rice bran oil on the blood lipids profiles and insulin resistance in type 2 diabetes patients. J Clin Biochem Nutr. 2012; 51(1): 15–18. Full Text: URL link