January 24, 2014

Coconut Oil Strawberry White Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies

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These cookies are sweet, chewy, soft, and bursting with strawberries and white chocolate chips.  Pretty to look at, delicious to eat, and healthy to boot!  Oh, and did I mention they are mixed in only one bowl?  And that you don't have to chill the dough before baking??

 
I'm finally getting around to Valentine's Day food!

Strawberries are red,
Oats add the chew,
White chocolate and coconut oil,
These cookies rule!
 
(pretty legit, no?) 
I'm taking the liberty of calling these holiday treats because there is red in these cookies! 
 
 
These cookies are incredible.  My family gave them 10 out of 10, which is pretty good considering these are not your average cookie.  Thanks to some easy substitutions, this cookie is good for you!
I now have coconut oil!  I just got my newest jar.  It was on my Christmas list, but my secret santa had it defer to an iTunes giftcard (which I have been loving!)  This is the first recipe I've made with it.  Coconut oil really has no coconut flavor at all and subs 1:1 for oils and butters.  Also with the coconut oil, I used applesauce.  Applesauce can leave baked goods dry or tough or sometimes even crumbly, because it is wet, but not oily.  But because these cookies use all brown sugar (the more brown sugar, the chewier the cookie) and oats, they don't fall apart like some other applesauce cookies I've tried (either from being too moist or too dry)  There is enough coconut oil in these to balance the applesauce and make them taste buttery without the extra fat and calories.

I think the strawberries and white chocolate are so pretty together.  Not only are they a colorful couple, they taste incredible together!  I didn't count on the strawberries adding as much moisture as they did, so I did have to tack on a couple more minutes of baking time, but they were worth it.  (If you are using frozen, I would encourage you to quickly scoop your first batch onto the cookie sheet and then refrigerate or freeze the remaining dough while the first batch is baking, so that the strawberries don't bleed into the dough.  I didn't use fresh, but I assume you would want to do the same with them.)  The strawberries retain their juicy sweetness in the cookie and pair with the creamy white chocolate chips.  Between the oats, the strawberries, and the white chocolate chips, we've got a party for the tastebuds right here.  And one for your diet, because these are pretty darn good for desserts!  (if you are pointing to the sugar and white chocolate chips, I'm covering my ears and pretending not to hear.  what is a dessert without sugar???)

Then we've got the aforementioned oats.  Oats are a great source of fiber and add heartiness to just about anything!  They give a ton of texture to this cookie, so even though it is "lighter," you can still get your daily chew out of it.  I love textured cookies!  For even more stick with ya goodness, there is whole wheat flour hiding behind the strawberries and white chocolate.  I used half whole wheat, half white, but you can use all white if that is what you have on hand.  You can try all whole wheat, I don't know how it would turn out, but if you do, let me know!

 
 
For the sake of cleaning the pan, I made sure the diced strawberries were never at the bottom of the cookies.  Also, I pressed a few reserved white chocolate chips on top of the cookies before baking.  It only takes about a minute extra and you get eye-catching cookies AND more white chocolate!
 
I know Valentine's Day desserts are more formal (and I have one coming) but for a lower key meal, these make a fabulous, family pleaser dessert! 

 
Coconut Oil Strawberry White Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies
Recipe Source: The Sweet {Tooth} Life
Yield: 18 cookies

1/4 cup coconut oil
1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
1 egg
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 cup all purpose flour
2/3 cup packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup oats
1/2 cup white chocolate chips
1/2 cup diced strawberries (frozen is best)
 
Preheat oven to 350.
Melt your coconut oil.
Whisk in the applesauce, egg, and vanilla.  Make sure the egg is beaten in well.
Add in salt, flours, sugar, and baking soda. 
Stir in oats.
Add white chocolate chips and strawberries.
Using a two tablespoon cookie scoop, place cookies on lightly greased cookie sheet.
Bake for 12-13 minutes.
Let cool for five minutes on cookie sheet before moving to a wire rack.
Eat warm or let cool completely before serving.
 
Notes:  If you are using frozen strawberries, I would encourage you to quickly scoop your first batch onto the cookie sheet and then refrigerate or freeze the remaining dough while the first batch is baking, so that the strawberries don't bleed into the dough.  I didn't use fresh, but I assume you would want to do the same with them. 

20 comments:

  1. I'm always a sucker for oatmeal cookies, and these look so delicious and festive! Have a great weekend!

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    1. Me too! Something about sweet and chewy always gets me. Thanks Marcie!

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  2. I need to get on the Valentines Day baking! These cookies look delicious, I always love adding coconut oil to cookies!

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    1. I know it! Isn't coconut oil fun? I love that stuff, it does wonders!

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  3. 1 bowl desserts make me happy! Sounds weird but when you are a food blogger, it means less dishes and I'm all for that. ;)
    These look delicious and so festive for Valentine's Day. :)
    I've never baked with coconut oil before. Best I start with these lovely cookies! Have a great weekend! :)
    Tina at www.tinaschic.com

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    1. Haha, doesn't sound weird at all! :) Oh, do try coconut oil; it is a fab sub for butter. Works like a charm!

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  4. Dear Mary Frances, These sound wonderful. Have a beautiful weekend. Blessings dear. Catherine xo

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  5. You had me at coconut oil but then there is white chocolate and fresh fruits? Yeah these cookies are the best!! Love the chewiness and the bursting flavor of strawberries.

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    1. We all agreed; these are incredible cookies! Thanks Zainab!

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  6. Okay...so as soon as I saw this, I went straight to the store to get some strawberries! These look amazing! What a great idea to put white chocolate and fresh/frozen strawberries.

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    1. Haha, thanks Lorraine! To believe I used to shun white chocolate ...

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  7. Yay for healthy cookies! I love oat ones, and the white chocolate + strawberries combo is a killer one! (and it looks so pretty in the cookies haha). These sound scrumptious, Mary Frances! <3

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    1. I'll admit, I was going for the pretty factor!

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  8. These are gorgeous! I love the strawberry and white chocolate combo! It's rare to find a cookie with strawberries that aren't "cakey" and/or soggy looking. These are neither of those things. I think they're perfect for Valentine's Day! Or for me. Right now. ;-)

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  9. Gorgeous, delicious healthy cookies, what more could you want?? ;) Love these!!

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  10. OMG! Mary Frances these look sooooo good! :D I love the little pops of color. I'm so into Valentine's Day baking :D

    Toodles,
    Tammy<3

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  11. Thanks for linking up at Sweet and Savoury Sunday. I love berries and white chocolate together, I can imagine these are so yummy!

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