 |
That do not taste “healthy” at all.
In fact, they were so mind-blowingly good that they didn’t last more than 2 days in my kitchen.
I baked them last Thursday night and they were gone by Saturday morning. And Kevin doesn’t even like pumpkin (!!!!). I know! I know…. I KNOW.
So yes, I practically ate the entire batch myself. Embarassing… and glorious.
These cookies have absolutely no butter or oil in them.
That’s right! Zip. Zero. Zilch.
They are left soft from the pumpkin purree and egg; there was really no need for any added fat or calories. I kept them even healthier by loading them with oats and whole wheat flour. The cookies are pretty hearty – I ate some for breakfast. 
What I loved the most about them is that I really didn’t use much sugar at all in the dough. Only 1/2 cup! Feel free to add more or reduce the amount as you please, but I found 1/2 cup of sugar was perfect for the healthy cookie I was shooting for.
The chocolate chips and dried cranberries work double duty: sweetening the cookies and creating mass appeal.
I ran a little test on my facebook page last week asking for suggestions on what I should add to pumpkin oatmeal cookies. You all loved the idea of chocolate chips and dried cranberries. I practically jumped at the opportunity because I absolutely love love love chocolate and dried fruit together. Oatmeal Raisinet Cookies, anyone?
Something about the juicy pop of sweetness from a dried (or fresh!) berry and the rich decadence of chocolate – there’s really nothing quite like this duo. Good thinking – thank you!
With no mixer required, the dough comes together rather effortlessly. Start to finish, the cookies were ready in about 25 minutes. With a nightly hankering for sweets at 10pm, I’m looking for any sort of quick fix. I almost always pair a spoon with peanut butter before bed, so a simple pumpkin cookie was a humble breath of fresh air.
Sometimes pumpkin + chocolate > peanut butter. SOMETIMES.
Not only is the recipe quick, but the ingredient list could not be easier. Nothing weird or strange like some healthy dessert recipes out there. In fact, you probably have all of these ingredients on hand!
The cookies pack a huge pumpkin flavor punch. Pleasantly spiced with cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves, they are the epitome of fall.
Baking cookies with pumpkin is tough (very tough if you’re cookie-particular like me) because more often than not, you’re going to end up with a cakey cookie – especially if there is no butter in the dough. For these healthy cookies, I wanted something with a bit more texture than “cakey” but still overloaded with pumpkin flavor.
Pumpkin adds a whole bunch of “glop” (technical terms here) to a cookie dough. There is so much darn moisture in pumpkin that it’s a real challenge to find the correct dry to wet/sturdy to soft ratios. Sometimes too much of a good thing spells disaster.
I went with 1/2 cup of pumpkin purree and added in a bunch of oats to help soak it all up. The cookies turned out light, but quite dense. They have lots of “staying” power. Just want I wanted.
The cookies should be shaped exactly how you want them to bake up. In other words, flatten them out so they aren’t balls of uncooked pumpkin cookie dough inside. Although that does sound quite intriguing. 
It’s the absence of butter and increased amounts of oats and leavening agents that do not allow the cookies to spread like your typically chocolate chip cookie. So make sure you flatten them out a bit!
The recipe only makes about 12-16 cookies depending on the size you mold them. I can’t say it enough, but with a small apartment and no kids, I cherish small batch recipes! Trust me, with my (lack of) pumpkin willpower, I do not need more than 1 dozen cookies laying around. Healthy or not!
The texture is so soft – they are almost like a homemade spiced oatmeal bar. In fact, they reminded me of my low fat Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Bars. Chocolate, pumpkin, oats… check!
I loved the addition of dried cranberries. What a perfect cookie this time of year!
Or any time of year (or day) if you’re like me.
|
makes 12-16 cookies
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie filling)
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3/4 cup whole wheat flour (or all-purpose)
- 1 and 1/2 cup old fashioned rolled oats
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup dark brown sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 and 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon (or less)
- 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1/2 cup dried cranberries
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat. Set aside.
- In a mixing bowl whisk together pumpkin, egg, and vanilla until well combined. In a separate bowl, combine flour, oats, sugars, baking powder, baking soda, spices, chocolate chips, and dried cranberries. Fold together the wet and dry ingredients until just combined - do not overmix. The cookie dough will be very thick. Taste the dough and add a pinch of salt if needed.
- Drop by spoonfuls onto cookie sheets and slightly flatten to the shape you want your cookie. Bake for 12-14 minutes until lightly browned. Allow to cool on the cookie sheet for at least 3 minutes and transfer to a wire rack. Cookies stay fresh at room temperature for 3 days in an airtight container.
Notes
Adapted from my friend Christi @ Love From The Oven
© Sally’s Baking Addiction. All images & content are copyright protected. Please do not use my images without prior permission. If you want to republish this recipe, please re-write the recipe in your own words, or link back to this post for the recipe.
Do you enjoy cooking or baking with pumpkin?
Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Bars
Mini Cinnamon Sugar Pumpkin Muffins
Do you like dried fruit and chocolate together?
Dark Chocolate Apricot Granola Bars
Homemade Chewy Fudge Granola Bars
Yum!
{ 79 comments… read them below or add one }
It’s hard to believe cookies can taste good without oil or butter, but I know it’s possible – these look delicious!
Ashley @ Wishes and Dishes recently posted..3 Ingredient Homemade Butterfingers
Pumpkin really does work magic! Thanks Ashley
A healthy cookie that doesn’t taste healthy?! Count me in!
Stephanie @ Eat. Drink. Love. recently posted..30-Minute Chicken Tortilla Soup
Love everything about this recipe!!!! The TJs choc chips, the cranberries (just yesterday I baked something w/ dried cranberries..tis the season) but the oats, the CHEWY factor, the pumpkin, you have it ALL in these!!
“because more often than not, you’re going to end up with a cakey cookie…”– trust me. I know. And the whole flatten them down b/c they DON’T spread…I learned that in doing pumpkin cookie trials a few months ago. The ratio of flour is such that you need it to give the cookie structure, but it then gets so structured, it won’t flatten. Girl. I know.
You nailed these! They are gorgeous and love small batch recipes. I do have a hubs and a kiddo but honestly, we dont need more than a dozen either. We’d rather be off onto the next creation than 3 doz of the same thing!
I haven’t baked too much w/ TJs chocolate chips but I love who they are bigger than your standard version. I’ve made cakey pumpkin cookie fails recently. They’re good, but just not what I want. The oats and flour saved me with these. A perfect ratio – I know YOU know! And yes, small batch recipes save my life. We both have dessert A.D.D.
They look amazing!!! I can’t wait to try your version with the cranberries! And I love the nothing strange about a healthy recipe thing – that’s so true. So many call for all kinds of things that I certainly do not have in my pantry. Sometimes something simple really is best. Great job!
Christi @ Love From The Oven recently posted..Julia Baker’s Chocolate Chunk Cream CakeAnd Julia Baker Confections Chocolates
Christi- thank you so much for the recipe and inspiration! I must make your healthy chocolate chip muffins w/ banana and pumpkin next
no butter! no oil? has pumpkin! This seems like just the recipe for me! incredible delicious and did you say healthy? – well that’s just a bonus!
baker street recently posted..Biscoff Blossoms
yes ma’am! it’s incredible how they taste without butter or oil. makes me want to test other cookies and healthify them!
I was just thinking they looked like a cookie version of one of your bars…and then you said it:-) They look incredibly dense and delicious. Give me pumpkin goodness any day of the fall and I will go to town on it too! Love that these have no butter or oil…it’s ok to eat the whole batch then!
Jocelyn @BruCrew Life recently posted..Coffee Cheesecake Oreo Brownies
Good eye Jocelyn – yep, they are like my pumpkin oatmeal bars.
These look so moist and delicious Sally!!! I love everything about them, and that it makes a small batch. I can bake and taste test, and eat them all and no one will even know they existed
Aimee @ ShugarySweets recently posted..Pumpkin Pie Cupcakes with Cool Whip Frosting
Healthy baked goodies that don’t taste healthy are my FAV! I love how full of treats these cookies are – every bite has tons of goodness in it!!
Colleen @ What’s Baking in the Barbershop?! recently posted..Pumpkin Banana Smoothie
I made them extra chunky for that reason – i wanted chocolate and craisins in each bite!
You kinda had me at cookie for Breakfast…..is that bad?
They look completely delicious!
Lara recently posted..Triple Layer Chocolate Peanut Butter Crispy Treat Bars
They make a stellar breakfast Lara – esp paired with pumpkin coffee!!
Love these Sally! Since I make healthy desserts this will be going on my list of cookies to back! I make a pumpkin chocolate cookie last weekend and they came out awesome!
Pamela recently posted..Guest Post – Becky from Tales of Beauty for Ashes – Cinnamon Rolls
Hi Pamela! Thanks for saying hi. I try to keep some desserts healthy – I love smarter choices and I know readers do as well!
Sally, I think we are on the same baking wave length, because I literally just baked pumpkin packed cookies last night! Did mine with pecans and apricot. And yes, I’m eating one with my coffee right now, lol. My batch was a bit bigger (used an ENTIRE can of pumpkin), but I cherish small batch recipes too, so perhaps I’ll try to fuse ours together the next go around. Thanks for sharing. YUM!
Erin | The Law Student’s Wife recently posted..Salty-Sweet Halloween Chex Party Mix
erin – your version sounds incredible! Just fabulous. I love the mix of pecans and apricots! I have both on hand, too. I might try that next! You and I are soulmates… we have the same favorite flavor combinations. I can’t wait to see your recipe if you post them.
Done and done
http://www.thelawstudentswife.com/2012/10/pumpkin-apricot-oatmeal-cookies.html
Erin | The Law Student’s Wife recently posted..Pumpkin Apricot Oatmeal Cookies
YOU ARE FAST!
I’m loving all of the healthier desserts you have been posting. My sweet tooth gets out of control sometimes (ok, a lot of the time) and the only thing that saves me are sweets that aren’t packed with calories and fat. While I indulge in decadent desserts every once in a while, I like keeping “healthy” desserts around for snacking during the week. So, keep up the fantastic, yummy, healthy dessert recipe ideas (with some rich indulgences thrown in the mix too)!
Elaine @ Cooking to Perfection recently posted..Baked Macaroni and Cheese Balls
Elaine, I’m so glad you appreciate the healthier items! I had someone leave a comment telling me that butter is healthy and I shouldn’t knock it. Lol trust me, I use a LOT of butter in my recipes. But when I’m looking for something low fat, that is the first ingredient to go. Thanks so much for your support – always! I love having healthier items around the house too. Granolas, granola bars, oatmeal bars, etc.
Oh em gee. These look so yummy, Sally! I love the unexpected use of cranberries.. but it so works! Pumpkin, chocolate, cranberries, and the texture from the yummy, chewy oats… these cookies are perfection! Plus, since they’re healthy I can eat like, 50 of them
Hayley @ The Domestic Rebel recently posted..Triple White Chocolate Cookies
The only thing that stopped me from eating 50 of them was that this made a very small batch! Next time I might double it and go for pecans or m&ms as my mix ins!
I love cookies that pretty much taste like granola. I bet this is one of those recipes…
Loretta | A Finn In The Kitchen recently posted..Roasted Red Pepper Hummus
Like soft granola! Lind of like an oatmeal bar.
Thanks Loretta!
I love reading your posts about all the thought that goes into developing these recipes! How much moisture the pumpkin adds, how the lack of butter prevents the cookies from spreading like they normally would. Fascinating to me! I’m hanging onto this recipe, I love small batch recipes too! Much more convenient for this single gal.
Meghan @ After the Ivy League recently posted..Miracles and Sunshine
I feel like these cookies should be the poster child for November! There’s a whole lotta seasonal awesome packed into one cookie
Nicole @ The Marvelous Misadventures of Foodie recently posted..Pumpkin Spice French Macarons
I literally just made these, and they were SUPER yummy!
I ground my oats up, so the cookies were cakier, but that’s just how I like them. I didn’t have craisins, but raisins worked pretty great, too. Thanks so much!
Hi Hannah!! Wow I love the idea of raisins. Raisins are my favorite dried fruit – especially paired with chocolate. I’ll try grounding up the oats sometimes – i like that idea too! So glad you enjoyed them.
I’ve seen so many yummy pumpkin cookies out there but none like these. Kudos to you for coming up with such an original idea
Laura Dembowski recently posted..Candy Corn Oreo Blondies
sooo i might be making this tomorrow because i love cranberry and chocolate together in a cookie that is HEALTHY!! these look so good, girl!!
Julie @ Table for Two recently posted..Lo & Sons O.M.G. Travel Bag Review & {GIVEAWAY}
Julie!! Thanks so much girl – i love cranberry + chocolate together too!
Love, love, love this! I would finish this in 2 days too! And I love that it makes a small batch. I would eat so much of this in a single serving (I have no self control as you can tell).
Chung-Ah | Damn Delicious recently posted..Recipe from the archives: Pumpkin Donut Holes
i might try these with dates instead of craisins. yum!
sarah k @ the pajama chef recently posted..Mexican Rollups
Healthy and delicious… I’m sold! They look amazing. And, who doesn’t like pumpkin?
Jennie @themessybakerblog recently posted..Pumpkin & Apple Butter Granola
I need these in my apartment now!! Love the healthy ingredient list and can’t believe no butter, oil, or even yogurt! I can’t wait to try this recipe. I have a lot of pumpkin waiting to be used.
Liz (Little Bitty Bakes) recently posted..Pumpkin Pomegranate Couscous
thanks Liz! the pumpkin brings a ton of moisture to this small batch recipe of cookies
I had to comment. I made your Healthy Pumpkin cookies for a party over the weekend. They were gone almost as soon as they hit the table. They are so good. I am a huge fan and will be making more of them soon.
Hi Eva! Thank you so much for saying hi and letting me know these were a hit. You are one of the readers who wrote in to tell me so. I love these cookies too and have a batch baking in the oven as we speak! So glad you enjoyed them as well.
I loooove baking with pumpkin, especially since you can get away without using butter or oil, like you did! These look fabulous. I’m itching to try them with the instant oats I have since I don’t have rolled…and maybe some dried cherries since I’m low on craisins
I’ve been eating leftover banana bread and cornbread for breakfast, but I think you inspired me to change things up with healthy cookies instead 
Also, one tiny thing I noticed–I think “ground cloves” is misspelled. Typos follow me wherever I go and it’s always helpful when someone else catches them for me! Love the photos, as always
Erika recently posted..Pancake Fridays: Tres Leches Pancakes
I made these last Sunday. They are really great! Love ‘em. I did get way more than 12-16, so I must have scooped much smaller cookies than you did. I made a similar (but not healthy!) recipe earlier this fall. I’ll post the link below. I loved them, but I think I like yours even better.
http://www.bakersroyale.com/cookies/pumpkin-chocolate-chip-oatmeal-cookies/
My oatmeal cookies were large, yes! I’m so glad you liked them Lizzie and thanks for letting me know that you did.
I made these healthy pumpkin chocolate chip oatmeal cookies this afternoon and they’re scrumdiddlyumptious! I didn’t have dried cranberries, so I just doubled the amount of chocolate chips. I also made them into bars. I buttered an 8×8 pan and cooked them at 35o degrees for 25 minutes. Turned out awesome! Thanks for sharing this yummy recipe!
Hi Bree! I love that you made them into bars! Seriously – what a fab idea. I must try that.
Double the chocolate – haha I love your thinking. 
Have a wonderful weekend Bree!
Not to be pedantic, but where do you get gorund cloves?
I’m really looking forward to making these next week (after I finish an algebra test at uni), my wife has been asking for something like this.
Hi Wayne! Ground cloves are available in mostly all groceries with the spices! I hope you enjoy these cookies. They are a favorite!!
These are amazing! Quick, easy, and delicious!
I agree! Hardly any time at all to make these.
Glad you made and enjoyed them Colleen!
OMG, these cookies are amazing! I made them last week and they were gone in 2 days! I couldn’t believe these cookies didn’t have a drop of oil or butter yet they were so soft and delicious! And the best part is that they’re healthy enough to eat for breakfast (;
THANKS SO MUCH FOR THIS MIND-BLOWING RECIPE!
Diana! I think you love these cookies as much as I do – I honestly cannot get enough of them and it still surprises me with each batch I make that there is no butter or oil! Thank you for letting me know you made them my friend!
you’re so sweet! please keep posting more healthy dessert recipes (:
I will!!
I just found this cookie recipe this morning and it sounds amazing. I can’t wait to try it. I was just wondering if you have the nutritional values of this cookie so I could calculate my wt. watcher points for each cookie. I’m sure this recipe is wt. watcher friendly because of the pumpkin and healthier ingredients. Thanks!
Hi Charlene! I do not count nutritional stats for this cookie recipe or any of my recipes. You are more than welcome to plug the ingredients into an online calorie calculator. Thank you!
These were fabulous—thank you so much for the recipe! I used white chocolate chips, a tad more pumpkin puree, and a gluten-free baking mix in place of the whole wheat flour. I think next time I’ll omit the sugar completely, as the chocolate chips and dried cranberries really do add sweetness. Thanks again!
Hey Jeni! I am delighted…. completely delighted to hear that! I swear by these cookies and have made them with every little add-in under the sun. EXCEPT white chocolate. Ha! I have to go make them again I suppose. I’ll try reducing the sugar as well – great idea!
I love these cookies!!! Just made them and they are my new favorite!! Thank you!!
new favorite? That says a lot Amy!! Thank you so much for letting me know. I haven’t made these cookies in a month or so, but I need something healthy to bring along with my not-so-healthy cupcakes for a work party this week. I think I’ll make these again!
I made these last week and they were SO GOOOOOD! I love baking with pumpkin too, and I will definitely be making these healthy pieces of deliciousness again soon! Thank you for the recipe and for your wonderful blog.
Thanks Misa! I am delighted that you enjoy these cookies as much as I do. You’re reminding me to go make them ASAP – which, I think I’m going to do this week!
Hi Sally! I made these cookies for my fellow teachers, and they went over SO well! I also experimented with them a bit, and used a flax “egg” instead of regular eggs to try and make them vegan. (That recipe also omitted chocolate, which I won’t do next time!) They worked just as well, though — thanks for such a stellar and inspiring recipe! Yummo!
Analise recently posted..Pinterest Challenge: Ham and Egg Cups
i use flax eggs all the time! but i never tried it here, may have to try that next time! maybe you could use dairy-free chocolate chips? I’m glad you enjoyed them though- I made them before with white chocolate chips too. Wow, so so good! Thanks Analise!
What makes these cookies healthy? With the sugar and brown sugar and the addition of chocolate chips and dried cranberries (MORE SUGAR) how is this a healthy cookie? You took out the extra fat and just sub’d it with sugar. Sugar is what adds fat around those six pack abs everybody wants. I just don’t like everyone’s misconception of the term healthy.
Thanks for your input! I’m a runner so I don’t mind the necessary sugar/fuel.
Yeah well I wouldn’t advertise them as healthy. I’m sure not everybody trying your cookies are runners or exercise for that matter. If McDonalds can get sued for serving hot coffee Lord forbid somebody starts gaining weight from your recipe marke HEALTHY! IJS.
Thank you for your opinion Kamica!
I’d use dried cherries, too–they’re yummy in cookies as well as in brown rice and salads.
I love dried cherries in salads too Lynne! So good. Thanks!
I love all of your recipes…you are my favorite baking blogger, for sure! I made these cookies and they are only 3 points on Weight Watchers…yippeee!!! http://fromhousepartiestohousewife.com/2013/02/21/healthy-food-can-taste-good-too/
That’s wonderful! Thanks for reporting back about them.
Made the Pumpkin Cranberry Chocolate Chip cookies. Everything you said is true. They are the BEST COOKIE EVER! Soft, moist,and so yummy. I will be making these cookies for a bakesale this week-end. Other then being delish they look beautiful. THANK YOU!
That is so great to hear Carolyn! Thank you so much for reporting back about them. They are one of my very favorite healthy treats to make
These pumpkin oatmeal cookies are amazing! I used rice flour (to make the gluten free) and used Enjoy Life chocolate chips (Enjoy Life brand products are free of the most popular allergens) I am unable to have soy or dairy so it was great to find a recipe that works for me!
Hey Becky! That’s so great to hear that you were able to adpat these cookies to fit your dietary needs. I’m glad! Thanks for reporting back about them too =)
Hi! I love pumpkin and use it year round. I was looking for something to use up some left over and found this recipe. Just took a batch out of the oven and they are wonderful! I love the textures and the flavors.
Hi Diane! I’m so glad to hear it because these are a favorite recipe of mine and bonus points that they are healthier cookies as well. Thanks for reporting back!
{ 4 trackbacks }