Pumpkin Oatmeal Chocolate Chunk Cookies Recipe


Pumpkin meets chocolate in these chewy oatmeal cookies. This small batch recipe makes just 16 mini cookies- perfect when you crave a sweet treat but don’t want to be haunted by dozens of cookies in your kitchen.

To make the dough, simply stir together pumpkin puree (homemade or canned), virgin coconut oil, pure maple syrup and vanilla. Then mix in oats, almond meal, cinnamon and sea salt. Add chunks of chocolate and you’re ready to bake.

Pumpkin Oatmeal Chocolate Chunk Cookies Recipe
1/4 cup pure pumpkin puree
2 tablespoons virgin coconut oil, melted (liquid)
2 tablespoons pure maple syrup
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla
3/4 cup old fashioned rolled oats
1/4 cup almond meal (almond flour)
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon fine sea salt
1/4 cup chopped bittersweet or semisweet chocolate or chocolate chips

Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.

In medium bowl stir together pumpkin, coconut oil, maple syrup and vanilla until well blended.

Add oats, almond meal, cinnamon, and salt; mix well. Stir in chocolate.

Use small cookie scoop or a tablespoon measure to drop mounds of cookie dough onto parchment-lined baking baking sheet. Flatten cookies with your fingers. (This helps the cookies bake more evenly.)

Bake 13 to 18 minutes until bottoms are browned. (Ovens vary, so adjust bake time as needed. It’s better to slightly overbake than underbake these cookies.) Cool completely on baking sheet.

Makes 16 small cookies

Tip: The dough isn’t as stiff as traditional wheat flour cookie dough, but it should hold together when you scoop and mound the dough on the baking sheet. If the dough appears too dry to hold together, try stirring in an additional tablespoon pumpkin.

For vegan cookies, make with vegan chocolate.

Recipe Links:
Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies
Applesauce Oatmeal Cookies

Product Links:
Bob’s Red Mill Almond Meal, Almond Flour
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Healthy Pumpkin Recipes plus Roasted Pumpkin Seeds and Fresh Pumpkin Puree

I don’t know what my Halloween costume will be yet, but I do know what I’ll be cooking with this weekend- pumpkin. It’s the biggest pumpkin weekend of the year!

Pumpkin is a favorite ingredient of mine. I use it to bake muffins and breads and to make smoothies and comforting soups. Really, I seem to put it in almost everything. I know my readers love pumpkin too, so I thought I’d post all my pumpkin recipes in one place to make them easier to find…and enjoy.


Pumpkin Soup Recipe
Pumpkin Black Bean Soup


Pumpkin Muffin Recipes
Vegan Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins
Whole Wheat Pumpkin Cranberry Muffins


Pumpkin Bread Recipes
Vegan Pumpkin Bread
Whole Wheat Pumpkin Bread


Pumpkin Smoothie Recipes
Vegan Pumpkin Smoothies
Pumpkin Spice Smoothies

This time of year there’s plenty of fresh pumpkins around, so making fresh pumpkin puree is a no brainer. And, it would be a shame to waste those delicious seeds. Here’s two short video recipes showing how to cook fresh pumpkin and how to bake pumpkin seeds.

Is there a healthy pumpkin recipe you’d like to see? I’m thinking of creating a vegan pumpkin ice cream recipe for Thanksgiving. Sound good?

Product Links:
The Best of Clean Eating: Over 200 Mouthwatering Recipes to Keep You Lean and Healthy
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Pumpkin Spice Smoothies

Canned pure pumpkin is one of my favorite clean eating ingredients. I add it to muffins to add flavor and nutrition, or use it to make a quick and simple pumpkin soup. Smoothies are another great use for pumpkin, as long as you opt for smart ingredients and serving size. Most pumpkin smoothies are really decadent, designed to taste like pumpkin pie in a glass. Here’s a lighter, less sweet version of a pumpkin smoothie recipe. Apple cider and plain yogurt lend a tartness that complements the pumpkin. Coconut milk, spices and pure maple syrup round out the flavor.

Pumpkin Spice Smoothies

Pumpkin Spice Smoothies
1/2 cup apple cider or apple juice
1/2 cup canned pure pumpkin
1/2 cup low-fat plain yogurt
1/4 cup canned unsweetened coconut milk
2 tablespoons pure maple syrup
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon pure vanilla
1 cup ice cubes

Add apple cider, pumpkin, yogurt, coconut milk, maple syrup, cinnamon, ginger and vanilla to blender container. Cover and blend until smooth. Add ice; cover and blend until smooth. Pour into 2 glasses.

Makes 2 servings (1 1/4 cups each)

Tip: Plain yogurt offers a tart, bright flavor to this smoothie. If you prefer a sweeter version, make with vanilla yogurt or add a little more maple syrup.

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Whole Wheat Pumpkin Cranberry Muffins

Do you have a weakness for muffins, quick breads and cookies? Walk past the bakery case and into your kitchen. That’s the best way to control what you eat. Here’s a whole grain pumpkin muffin recipe to get you started.

Whole Wheat Pumpkin Cranberry Muffins

Whole Wheat Pumpkin Cranberry Muffins

1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon table salt
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1 egg, beaten
3/4 cup canned pure pumpkin
1/2 cup packed dark brown sugar
3/4 cup low-fat buttermilk
3 tablespoons canola oil
1 teaspoon pure vanilla
3/4 cup sweetened dried cranberries (craisins)

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Place paper baking cups in 12 regular size (2 1/2-inch) muffin cups. Spray paper baking cups lightly with cooking spray.

Place flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon and ginger in a large bowl. Stir to combine; set aside.

Place egg, pumpkin, sugar, buttermilk, oil and vanilla in a medium bowl. Mix well. Add to flour mixture, stirring until just combined. Stir in cranberries. Divide batter among muffin cups.

Bake 18 to 22 minutes or until toothpick inserted in centers comes out clean. Cool in pan 5 minutes. Remove from pan and cool on wire rack. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Makes 12 muffins

Tip: Individually wrap and freeze muffins up to 1 month. Thaw at room temperature or warm in a microwave before eating.
The Eat-Clean Diet Recharged: Lasting Fat Loss That’s Better than Ever! Tosca Reno