Is there any smell better than that of cookies baking in the oven? I truly don’t think there is, which is why I’m so happy that when making raw cookies in a dehydrator, your still get that same smell but for a prolonged period of time. It’s almost enough to drive you crazy thinking of how good those cookies will taste, but oh man, it’s a good kind of hurt.
That’s how I felt when I made these cookies.
I have to admit, I have tried making raw cookies many times before and I have never been pleased with the results. They tasted fine, but never satisfied that craving for a chewy, dense sugary treat like I was hoping. They always tasted, well for lack of a better word, raw. Instead of gooey decadence, it felt like I was eating nuts and seeds all ground up with a little sweetener. While good, not what I wanted.
I finally hit one out of the park though with these. It must have been a sign of good things to come here in Toronto because these were the first recipe I made in my new apartment and things have just gone wonderfully since :)
Now for all of you without a dehydrator, don’t despair! I actually tried making half of these without, just shaped them and popped them in the fridge and they were still delicious! No, you don’t get that enticing aroma, but you still get a delicious dessert out of it!
These cookies are dense, chewy and sweet with a subtle cinnamon flavour and lots of juicy raisins. Filled with walnuts and hemp seeds to supply you with those much needed omega-3 fats, oat groats for fiber and sweetened only with raisins, these are as healthy as they are delicious! The perfect fall treat :)
Raw Oatmeal Raisin Cookies (Vegan, Gluten-free, Sugar-free, Raw)
Ingredients (12 cookies)
- 1/2 cup raw oat groats
- 3/4 cup walnuts (or can do 1/2 cup cashews and 1/4 cup walnuts)
- 2 tbsp hemp seeds (or more walnuts)
- 3 tbsp raisins
- 1 tbsp water
- 3/4 tsp cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp sea salt
- 1/4 cup chopped raisins
Instructions
Grind the oat groats, nuts and hemp seed in a food processor until you have a fine meal. Add in the rest of the ingredients except the 1/4 cup chopped raisins and process until you have a dough that sticks together. Add in the 1/4 cup raisins and pulse a couple times until they are incorporated into the dough, but not broken down. You want chunks of raisins in the cookies. Form into 12 cookies.
Option 1: Dehydrate at 145 for 1 hr. on mesh trays, then flip and dehydrate at 105 for 3.5-4 more hours. Enjoy warm straight from the dehydrator for a treat!
Option 2: Chill in the fridge for 30 min.
Store in the fridge.
Just for a size reference, these are pretty good sized cookies, so you can definitely make them smaller and have more if you want!
I'm sharing this recipe on Raw Food Thursdays and Allergy-Free Wednesdays!
That’s it for me today. I’ll see you all back here tomorrow for Healthy Vegan Friday. Check out last week’s if you missed it! Have a lovely day everyone!
These look great. I’m hoping to make them this weekend but wanted to check first if I need to soak my oat groats before hand? I don’t have a dehydrator so can’t dry them up after…Thanks in advance.
No no need to soak! I mean you can and I'm sure it will be fine, especially if you are worried about digestion. Your cookies will just be smoother with a little less texture. But no need to!
Oh these look incredible. I’m with you on the challenge of making a chewy raw cookie. I love oat groats for raw cereals, but I never thought of putting them in a cookie. I’m trying this! Thanks for sharing this at Raw Foods Thursdays!
Thanks Heather! Ya, raw cookies have eluded me for so long. I think the key is oat groats. They’ll definitely make an appearance in my raw cookies from now on. It’s funny you mention raw cereals, because I have never used them for that! I’ll have to now :)
Man, I gotta get a dehydrator! I’m missing out on way too many delectable treats. These look awesome
A dehydrator is such a fun addition to a kitchen! Not necessary but man can you make some tasty raw food with it! Highly recommended!
And thank you!
How delicious! I love the fact that I have all of the ingredients already on hand, AND I can totally pack these for snacks on the go and pretend that they’re just healthy granola bars, not sweet, indulgent cookies. ;)
Yes, they are very “pantry-staple friendly”! And you can totally have these as health snacks! They are probably MUCH healthier than any granola bar anyway ;)
oooh gabby these look so incredible! love this recipe!
Thank you so much Caralyn! They are delicious too, promise :)
I’ve just started playing around with oat groats. Oatmeal raisin cookies this weekend sound perfect :-)
Same here! Oat groats are pretty new to me, I can’t wait to try out some raw porridge, using yours as my inspiration :) I hope you like these!
I love cookies that aren’t chocolate focused! Though you know me, I’d put dried cherries in instead of raisins :)
That’s the beauty of cookies, so customizeable! I am pretty committed to chocolate, but for some reason, oatmeal raisin cookies have always been my fav! Sshh don’t tell anyone though ;)
those ARE gorgeous, oh i am so in love with buckwheat! i actualyl grew up on it.. there is a special dish called “STERZ” in my home area in AUsutria and its basically buckwheat flour, heated, water added and scrambled. it becomes really light and fluffy! amazing!!
gabby are u free in december? i need a holiday and also thinking about canada! :)
Thank you Alexia, you are so sweet! I really want to try that Sterz concocotion- sounds delicious!
I will definitely be around in December! Let me know what you are thinking, I would LOVE to get up to some shenangians with you!
Genius!! I love oat groats and eat them every morning (raw and soaked)!! This is such a yummy-sounding and healthy (healthy enough for breakfast) raw alternative. And I agree, there’s nothing like the smell wafting from the dehydrator when something really delish is inside. I’m excited to try this!
Thank you Rachel! I really hope you like them! Believe me, you’ll find the smell intoxicating!
I think I’d love these straight out of the fridge :)
They are delicious that way too! Plus they are ready so much faster ;)
Nice! These remind me of the raw (sprouted) barley cookies I made in the dehydrator. With cinnamon and raisins, they were delicious! I bet these are scrumptious. :)
Yum, your version sounds amazing! Something about the combinations of raisins and cinnamon I think :)
Looking gorgeous Gabby! Would you believe my gmail stopped receiving email notifications from you? I hadn’t seen any post from you for a while and decided to look into it – I just re-subscribed with my work email now :)
Ahh that’s no good Shira! I have a feeling that’s been happening to a few people, I wonder what’s going on with my blog?
I’m glad you found your way back :)
This is what I’ve been waiting for! ; ) Sounds amazing. Can’t wait to make them!
Thanks Raechel! I really hope you like them, I sure did :)
OMG yum! That’s so cool that these were your first Toronto recipe and how they have been a great start for you in your new kitchen! I know exactly what you mean about the scent from the dehydrator. Whenever I make sweet treats in mine the house smells amazing for hours and hours. It is the best potpourri ever, especially because the results are edible :)
Your cookies sound so delicious! I definitely want to try these! It may be a little while before I can (wah, fruit! so sad ha!) but this recipe will definitely get made in the future. Beautiful recipe, the cookies look delicious and smell amazing I’m sure!
Good for you for deciding to embark on the no sugar journey! It’s tough but there are lots of delicious treats just waiting for you when you are done :)
Thanks for your compliments on my cookies! They were definitely a good omen for my life here in Toronto. It’s been amazing since!