Gluten-Free Pumpkin Oatmeal Cookies

I’ve been following a paleo (grain-free) diet for over a year now, and I’m a big fan. While I still follow paleo 95% of the time, I’ve recently started adding in a few gluten-free grains that I know I can tolerate pretty well. One of these is gluten-free oats.

I know I need to be gluten-free 100% of the time, so I’m careful to buy certified gluten-free oats. (Oats that are not certified as gluten-free are often cross-contaminated with gluten.) I also take extra measures to prepare them properly by soaking them overnight to make them easier to digest.

One recipe that I love is my pumpkin oatmeal cookies. You know I love pumpkin as I have several pumpkin recipes on my blog!

Pumpkin is a popular food this time of year plus it’s super healthy! These cookies are a great way to enjoy pumpkin without all of the sugar that typically accompanies it.

In fact, these really aren’t cookies. I usually think of cookies as being sweet treats loaded with sugar. These are quite the opposite. They contain no refined sugar; only a little bit of pure maple syrup. These cookies can be enjoyed as dessert, snack, or part of your breakfast! Plus, they’re super easy to make, which is always a bonus.

Give them a try and see for yourself.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup gluten-free whole rolled oats (See prep notes below. This is optional but helps with digestibility)
• ½ cup pureed pumpkin
• 1-2 tbsp pure maple syrup (I use 1 tbsp, but you may like them a little sweeter)
• 1 tbsp coconut oil, melted
• 1-2 tsp pumpkin pie spice or essential oils (see notes at bottom)

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees
2. Mix all ingredients in bowl
3. Scoop out into small balls and place on baking sheet or silicone muffin pan
4. Bake for 12 minutes (if you don’t soak your oats overnight, you may need to cook longer)
5. Store in refrigerator

Essentials Oils Version

*Use only pure, therapeutic grade essential oils that are okay for ingestion. Do NOT use store bought oils.

• 1 drop clove oil
• 2 drops cinnamon
• 1 drop ginger

Click here for my preferred brand.

Preparing Oats (optional):

1. Pour 1 cup oats into mason jar and fill with water.
2. Soak in refrigerator overnight.
3. Pour oats out into a strainer and rinse with water.
4. Place in baking pan and warm in oven on 175 degrees for about 15 minutes
5. Follow recipe above

Optional Add-ins:

• Protein powder
• Dried Cranberries
• Nuts/Seeds