Cranberry Oatmeal Breakfast Cookies

This Cranberry Oatmeal Breakfast Cookies recipe that I’m sharing is in loving memory of my dad.  I hope that the recipe and the story behind it fill your heart with happiness.

I’ve been in quiet expectation of this, but I honestly never thought that the day would actually arrive.

No, I’m not referring to the day when my boobs will droop to belly button level.  That is not an anticipated date.  I’m talking about memories of my dad’s death, or rather, my lack of mourning it.

I was 15 years old when my daddy died.  He was just 48 years young.   Technically, he died on July 5th, but the time of death was 3:14 a.m. on that rainy Thursday morning in July of 1979.  Since my last moments with him were spent watching a beautiful fireworks display, my mind has always associated Daddy’s death with the 4th of July.

Thirty four years of firework displays have come and gone since that day, and thirty-three of them occurred with my shedding a boat load of tears, heaving cries towards Heaven, pleading with God to bring my dad back home…even if only for one moment so that I’m able to utter a proper goodbye and to say “I love you so much, Daddy”.

This year has been different, though.  I haven’t shed any tears.  I went to bed last night without the annual forlorn and dread of today.  Could it be possible that my broken heart has finally been healed?

Thanks to my God, I do believe so… proving that time truly does heal all wounds.  For the record, I still miss him like crazy.  That’s something that no amount of time will ever change, because little girls who love their daddy become grown women who love their daddy.

My dad, a few months before he died

It’s strange that I don’t remember too many of my dad’s favorite foods. Being the big guy that he was, he enjoyed eating in general. However, I do remember his thirst for a dry martini with 2 green olives, his passion for pickled herring in sour cream sauce atop pumpernickel cocktail bread, and his love for oatmeal raisin cookies for breakfast.

 Two oatmeal cookies would sit silently and patiently on his plate, next to the over easy, butter soaked eggs and crispy bacon.  Once the main dish was devoured, Daddy would take a cookie and dredge it through the runny egg yolk on his plate.

I suspect it was nothing more than a method of transporting the liquid love from the plate to his palate.

Edward Lee Heflin, Sr.

The second cookie, however, was worthy of some devoted attention.  He used to dunk a bit of it into his black coffee before allowing it to dissolve on his tongue.  He cherished that cookie as if it were his secret lover.  I’m convinced that there must a food love gene, because I share that sort of mega love for foods like homemade macaroni and cheese, bacon, and salted caramel.

In loving memory of my dad, I’ve recreated his favorite oatmeal cookies, but I put a healthy spin on the recipe and made some additions to assure that they are really are worthy of being a true breakfast cookie.  They’re absolutely perfect if you’re looking for something nutritious that you can eat as you dash out the door and I can also testify that they are quite dunkably delicious into a cup of coffee or milk.

I hope you love these breakfast cookies!

If you love healthier recipe options like this one, be sure to follow my Healthy Recipes for Everyone Pinterest board!

Healthy Cranberry Oatmeal Breakfast Cookies

Preparation 10 min Cook Time 10 min Total Time 20 mins

Serves 24     adjust servings

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Chewy breakfast cookies loaded with heart healthy oatmeal, flax seed, and antioxidant filled cranberries

Ingredients

• 6 ounces (1 1/4 cups) Bob's Red Mill Low-Carb Baking Mix (or all-purpose flour)
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 8 ounces (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
• 6 packets Nectresse sugar substitute
• 1/4 unsweetened applesauce
• 1/3 cup packed Splenda Brown Sugar blend (or 1 cup light brown sugar)
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 large egg
• 2 1/2 cups rolled old-fashioned oats (not instant or quick cooking)
• 1 Tablespoon golden flax seeds
• 1 1/2 cups dried cranberries or raisins

Instructions

1. Combine flour, baking soda, cinnamon and salt in small bowl; set aside.
2. In large mixing bowl with a hand or stand mixer with a paddle attachment, beat butter, granulated sugar substitute, and brown sugar on medium speed until creamy. Mix in egg, vanilla extract, and applesauce until combined.
3. Turn speed to low and gradually beat in flour mixture. Stir in oats, flax seeds, and cranberries by hand with a wooden spoon.
4. Use a 2-tablespoon size cookie scoop to drop dough about 1-inch apart on parchment lined cookie sheets.
5. Bake for 8-9 minutes or until tops are set and golden brown. Cool on baking sheets for 2 minutes, then transfer to wire racks to cool completely.

Nutrition Facts
Serving Size
Amount Per Serving	As Served
Calories 166kcal Calories from fat 85
% Daily Value
Total Fat 9g	14%
Saturated Fat 5g	25%
Transfat 0g
Cholesterol 28mg	9%
Sodium 105mg	4%
Carbohydrate 20g	7%
Dietary Fiber 1g	4%
Sugars 11g
Protein 2g

Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs:

	Calories	2000
Total Fat	Less than	65g
Sat Fat	Less than	25g
Cholesterol	Less than	300mg
Sodium	Less than	2,400mg
Total Carbohydrate		300g
Dietary Fiber		25g

Thank you so much for visiting me today!

If you make this recipe, I'd love it if you'd share a photo and/or give your feedback over on my Facebook page, Cooking with Chef Bec!

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