I don't know WHAT came over me last night. It was 10PM and I "wanted something". So I hit the kitchen with an empty stomach and some inspiration from these pumpkin cookies.
I fear calling mine cookies as they really aren't. I don't like to sugarcoat what I make (literally and figuratively :~P) so I'll simply call these "bites".
They are soft, tasty and very filling! Good for breakfast or as a snack paired with a cup of tea. The husband liked the flavor although I'm not sure he was sold on the texture, this just isn't his thing. The toddler, on the hand, called them cookies and enjoyed every bite! Maybe I'll get him to like these type of "cookies" so much that regular old cookies would be boring to him. LOL One can dare dream, can't they? :~)
I'm going to experiment a few more times with this idea but wanted to share for early feedback! Plus I'd like to hear your experiments!
Ingredients
- 1 small (15 oz) can of pumpkin
- ½ cup brown sugar (I used 'raw' sugar)
- â…“ cup applesauce
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 3 cups oatmeal
- 1 cup whole wheat flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon nutmeg
- ½ teaspoon ginger
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground cloves
Instructions
Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.
Mix together the pumpkin, sugar, applesauce, and vanilla. Set aside.
In a separate bowl, combine the remaining ingredients, then add to the pumpkin, mixing well.
Drop tablespoon amounts on a cookie sheet sprayed with non-stick cooking spray, should make 47-50 bites. Bake for 15 minutes or until done.
📖 Recipe
Experimental Pumpkin Oatmeal Bites
Ingredients
- 1 small 15 oz can of pumpkin
- ½ cup brown sugar I used 'raw' sugar
- â…“ cup applesauce
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 3 cups oatmeal
- 1 cup whole wheat flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon nutmeg
- ½ teaspoon ginger
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground cloves
Instructions
- Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.
- Mix together the pumpkin, sugar, applesauce, and vanilla. Set aside.1 small, ½ cup brown sugar, ⅓ cup applesauce, 1 teaspoon vanilla
- In a separate bowl, combine the remaining ingredients, then add to the pumpkin, mixing well.3 cups oatmeal, 1 cup whole wheat flour, 1 teaspoon baking soda, ½ teaspoon nutmeg, ½ teaspoon ginger, ½ teaspoon cinnamon, ½ teaspoon ground cloves
- Drop tablespoon amounts on a cookie sheet sprayed with non-stick cooking spray, should make 47-50 bites. Bake for 15 minutes or until done.
Jessica Ford
I just found your blog and recipe site recently. I made these "bites" before school this morning. I added half a cup of sugar and a cup of chocolate chips, and I baked them in mini muffin tins. I told my kids they were Pumpkin Oatmeal Breakfast Cookies. They loved them! Thanks for sharing a great recipe!
Theresa
I just made these! Yummy! I made some flattened and some round and the round ones have a much better texture!!!
My first batch was flat and I really was not loving them but the round ones are so much better! I also added 1 teaspoon of baking powder. Oh and I only had rolled oats next time I will try the instant.
Amy
I just found this recipe today and just made these bites! They were so easy as I had all the ingredients at home already. I was a bit weary after some of the people didn't find them sweet enough. I think they were fantastic. I ate 5 as I was taking them off the tray. I couldn't help myself! You have to keep in mind that these are not cookies and are in no means as sweet as cookies. They're a healthier option and are more of a snack item, like a nutrigrain bar. Thanks for the recipe, they really are great and I feel good about feeding them to my child!
Jessica
I just made these and they are PERFECT! I love them. Hubby and I are thinking up new things to put in them. I added some mini chocolate chips to half the batch. I loved how easy these were. I'll be adding them to my blog shortly if that's OK 😉
DaMora
Hey Roni,
I made something simular to these a few days ago.
I used the spice cake mix and pumpkin idea and instead of making a cake I made cookies.
I added some vanilla extract, oatmeal and raisins.
Baked as cookies and froze them for little snacks through out the week.
roni
Well that's not TOO bad! It's not like to added 2 sticks of butter or something. :~)
Glad you like them and I may revisit this recipe soon!
-Roni
Laura Nicholson
Roni, I made these a 2nd time, and added 1/2 c white sugar, 1/2 tsp salt, and about 1 cup chocolate chips. No, I didn't add to the healthfulness, but man do they taste great! I like that even though I'm eating a cookie (or 2 or 3) at least it's mostly healthy and not filled with butter and eggs and white flour. Thanks for the great idea!
April
Making your own pumpkin puree is super easy, and tastes so much better! Look for a sugar pie pumpkin at the store. Cut the pumpkin in half and place the cut sides down in a baking dish filled about an inch high with water. Bake at 350 F for about an hour (more or less depending on the size). Once cool, the pumpkin should easily peel away from the skin. Once all skin is removed blend it. I have a vita mix blender, so it blends up with out any problem. For less powerful blenders probably doing it in smaller batches would work, try to avoid adding water to get it to blend.
roni
Kate - I did use quick oats! Sorry forgot to specify!
Laura
These look great; I might have to give them a try. I've been intrigued by all the recipes I've seen recently for pumpkin baked goods, which I've never tried in my life. I don't think we even have canned pumpkin puree in New Zealand. Pumpkin is purely a vegetable, to be roasted or served in soups. 🙂 I make one batch of healthy cookies for myself each week though, so these could definitely fit the bill. I suppose it would work to just cook the pumpkin and puree it myself?
I can recommend my regular cookie recipe too; I think they're delicious, although that's possibly because I've weened myself off sugar and no longer have much of a sweet tooth at all. Those who are used to chocolate chip cookies would probably not be impressed with my offerings at all! I just combine 3/4 cup wholemeal flour, 3/4 cup rolled oats, two crushed Weet-bix cereal biscuits, 2 tsp ground cinnamon and 1.5 tsp baking powder in a bowl, before quartering ten Sunsweet prunes and tossing them into the dry ingredients. I make a well in the center and add one egg, 2 tablespoons pure maple syrup and enough unsweetened applesauce to bind the mixture together so that it can be formed into cookies (usually about half a cup or so). Then I bake until firm and golden at 190 degrees celsius, for around fifteen minutes.
ttfn300
sound awesome 🙂
Megan
I love anything pumpkin and these look like the perfect snack with a cup of coffee!
kate
Kind of a stupid question about the oatmeal part, did you use quick oats?
Michele Dochat
This sounds good...and I think I'll make it a bit sweeter...I have a pep rally for our marching band on Thursday night...need to take something, these will be PERFECT! And I think I will follow the suggestion of using a mini muffin pan...
Also, wanted to say I finally found vitamuffins at my local grocer and LOVE THEM!!
Christy
These look super yummy. I was impressed with your chocolate pumpkin muffins so I bet these are good too.
SMK
Thanks for the response Roni! Next time I will sweeten the batter until its sweet enough for me.
I also forgot to mention that I used my mini muffin pan to cook these.
danesa
Tried them today, and liked them! I added 1/4 cup chopped walnuts, and substituted stevia (12 packets) for the sugar just to experiment, as I've never used it to bake before. The batter was not QUITE sweet enough for my taste, so I divided the batter and added chopped Ghirardelli 60% cacao bitterweet choc chips to half and chopped raisins to the other half. Both variations were good. I also flattened them with a fork to make the second sheet of them look bigger. (I'm a visual person!)Not sure of the point count with my substitutions, but swapping the sugar prob makes it about equal. (?) The kids weren't sold (ages 5 and 2), but if you're looking for a healthier "cookie", these are great!
roni
SMK - I also use unsweetened. Sorry you didn't like them. I really eased back on the sugar as I don't have a sweet tooth. Plus I wanted something really lite. The idea would still work if you double to 1 cup sugar. Just taste the pumpkin mixture until you get a desired sweetness.
Apparently my father-in-law LOVED them as I returned back from a wedding and he polished them off. It all depends on your specific sweet tolerance. My friend HATED them. LOL
Thanks for your review!
-Roni
SMK
OK I made these on Friday and I wasn't a big fan. They were kind of bland tasting. Did you use regular apple sauce or the no sugar added variety? I used the sugarless kind. And I used light brown sugar.
In order for my DH to eat them, I put a little bit of frosting on top of them and I let it melt into a little glaze. But they were definitely a good alternative to Halloween Candy for me.
I'll try it again.
Courtney
I literally just made these pumpkin bites and they are fabulous! My roommate and I are on WW and we looove our pumpkin spice lattes at starbucks but these are just a wonderful treat.
Thanks for this recipe!!!
Zoey
Hi Roni,
These look delicious. I like your idea of adding extra oatmeal- and I second Melanie's excitement that they are vegan.
I will give them a try, thank you for sharing your recipe!
Judy Squires
Oh man, had I been able to get up off the couch (have a broken leg) and baked these cookies I wouldn't have eaten all the chocolate left from the trick or treats.
Melanie
They're vegan! That's wonderful 🙂
Sabrina
I thought at first these were no bakes. Man I wish there was a way to lighten up a no bake 😉
Angie
Sounds and looks great. Hubby will have nothing to do with pumpkin so if I make them, I'll share with my neighbor.
Laura Brandon
mmm, those look delicious! i'm going to try pumpkin pie oatmeal soon... can't get enough pumpkin flavor this time of year!
Annette
I love pumpkin and oatmeal. We are out of cookies at the moment so maybe the kiddos and I can make these this weekend 😉 Mmmmmmmmmmmmm......I BET they smell wonderful baking 🙂
SMK
I am totally going to try these right now. I was looking for something to take to a friends house for dinner tonight and I have all the ingredients needed for these.
Wish me luck. I'll let you know how they turn out!