I love these “better for you” Healthier Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies.
What makes them better for you? They do have plenty of carbs, with oats + a little bit of white flour and whole wheat flour. So, if you’re counting carbs, then these cookies are not for you. But there is much less butter in this recipe compared to a typical chocolate chip cookie recipe, and just 3/4 cup sugar for 30 cookies.
Ingredients needed:
- unsalted butter
- light brown sugar
- old fashioned oatmeal
- all purpose flour
- whole wheat flour
- baking soda and salt
- dried dates
- egg
- vanilla extract
- dark chocolate
How to make Healthier Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies:
The complete, printable recipe is included at the end of this post.
Melt the butter in the microwave. Add brown sugar, and stir to combine. Mix the dry ingredients in another bowl, and then add to the butter and sugar. Stir in the rest of the ingredients.
Drop spoonfuls of dough onto a baking sheet. Bake for 12 minutes.
What makes these cookies a bit healthier?
Why deny yourself sweet treats when you can have a cookie as good as this with a little less guilt? The addition of dried dates adds a little more sweetness. If you’re weirded out by the addition of dates, don’t be. I don’t care for dates at all, and I love these cookies. If the dates are chopped finely, you really can’t detect them in the cookies at all. You’ll sometimes find them in containers in the produce section but they’re also available in the dried fruits section and are packaged just like dried cranberries.
And of course a small amount of chopped chocolate mixed in makes them perfect. Enjoy!
Here are a few more chocolate chip cookie recipes you might enjoy:
- New York Times Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Bakery Style Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Secret Ingredient Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Perfect Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Paleo Chocolate Chip Cookies
If you happen to be following the Weight Watchers WW plan, you will find a link to the WW Points on the recipe card below.
Healthier Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies
Ingredients
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter
- ¾ cup packed light brown sugar
- 1½ cups old fashioned oatmeal
- ⅓ cup all-purpose flour
- ⅓ cup whole wheat flour
- ¾ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup finely chopped, pitted dried dates
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3 ounces dark chocolate, chopped
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350℉. Lightly spray baking sheets with nonstick spray (or line with parchment or silpat mats).
- Place the butter in a medium, microwave-safe bowl. Heat in the microwave, just until completely melted. Remove from the microwave and add the brown sugar. Stir until smooth.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the oats, flours, baking soda and salt. Stir into the butter sugar mixture along with dates, egg and vanilla. Fold in the chopped chocolate and mix well.
- Drop tablespoonfuls of the cookie dough onto the prepared baking sheets. Bake for about 12 minutes, or until they appear to be set and not gooey in the middles.
Notes
- FYI- I *hate* dates, and I loved these cookies. If the dates are chopped finely, you really can't detect them in the cookies at all. You'll sometimes find them in containers in the produce section but they're also available in the dried fruits section and are packaged just like dried cranberries.
- There's a good reason for using chopped chocolate over chocolate chips in this recipe. If you use chopped chocolate, the little shards of chocolate get more spread out in the cookies and therefore get more of a chocolate flavor in each cookie. You can certainly sub chocolate chips, but I'd recommend using the mini chocolate chips to get the same spread-out chocolate effect.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
To say these cookies are good is an understatement!!! They are the most amazing cookies I’ve ever made. I totally do not like dates, I would eat around them in Muselix, but man these are seriously the best cookies!
@Kristin Sollars, I’m so glad you liked these! I’m with you- hate dates in most things for sure.
I love dates. I can only imagine how delicious they would make a cookie. Definitely making this soon.
I LOVE the idea of the dates in these! What a great way to cut down on processed sugars and boost moisture! Look forward to making them! 🙂
This sounds like something I could devour for breakfast about now. When will I ever learn not to come over here while hungry!
i have to try these-yum!
I did a similar version last week, but with cranberries. I didn’t add the ww flour either, but great idea!! They look great!!
Thanks for the great recipe Lori 🙂
what an interesting recipe 🙂
These sound amazing – especially the part where they’re 99 calories!
Are the pitted dates dried? Where do you find them in the supermarket? I’ve never used them and I wonder if you could sub something else for dates…I don’t know what but it might be time to get creative. 🙂
Maris- yes, the dates are dried.l You’ll sometimes find them in containers in the produce section but they’re also available in the dried fruits section and are packaged just like dried cranberries. “Sunsweet” brand California Dried Pitted Dates are what I used.
@Maris,
MARIS,
Dates are usually where the dried fruit section is. A famous brand is Dromedary. They come whole, pitted, and chopped. The chopped have the least flavor and texture and are sometimes dried out but you might want them for convenience. Dried dates are sticky to chop.
I actually made this recipe a couple of years ago and it is my favorite CC cookie. Love it.
Glad that you found it and enjoyed it too! They look great