Hi friends!
Hello from San Diego, where it is hot, hot, hot! We’re having a heatwave here, and today is warmer than any summer day I’ve experienced here. I’m working from my pool this afternoon after seeing that temperatures were hitting the triple digits. There’s this strong hot breeze going on and it’s pretty crazy for us spoiled San Diegans (many of whom do not have AC, myself included)!
Saturday night’s sunset in Carlsbad
The heatwave started a few days ago, so I spent a ton of time at the beach over the weekend. Coastal walks with the pup, a burrito picnic dinner at sunset, the dog beach, watching NFL Sunday football games on my phone with my feet in the sand…. I practically lived at the beach for a few days! No complaints there!
Harley enjoying the dog beach
Rewinding back to two weekends ago when it was feeling more autumn-ish, I was bitten by the baking bug as I usually am when fall starts and I’ve got apple & pumpkin on my brain.
My friend Tiffany, who throws great parties where her and her hubby play movies in their backyard on a projector screen, was having a ladies’ night. I wanted to bring a seasonal dessert, so I whipped up a new pumpkin cookie recipe that I’m sharing with you guys today!
It’s similar to a pumpkin cookie recipe I posted on the blog years ago with some modifications, including that it calls for oats instead of wheat flour (making it gluten free), and it uses Earth Balance buttery spread instead of regular butter (making it a vegan treat).
What I love about these cookies is that they’re a great seasonal snack/dessert when you’re craving pumpkin (and chocolate – because I could pretty much always go for some chocolate chips!) that are pretty simple to whip up. One cookie has less than 90 calories, making one or two of them perfect for a portion-controlled after-dinner treat.
I like making cookies small-batch because I’m usually not baking for a ton of people… and because I’ll wind up eating all of the cookies if I make too many! But, you can easily double or triple the recipe to fit your cookie quantity needs.
These cookies were popular at the party, where a couple of the ladies were gluten-free eaters. It was a cool night, so we got cozy with blankets and sweatshirts, drank tea/hot chocolate/Hot Toddies and watched Dirty Dancing.
I was reminded of what an oldie but a goodie that movie is, and remembered how my mom loved that movie when I was a kid.
I’m not a big repeat movie watcher, but Dirty Dancing is definitely one of those classic movies that I can watch over and over again throughout the years. Nobody puts Baby in the corner!
Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies [vegan + gluten free]
Ingredients
- 1 cup dry oats
- 1/2 cup pure pumpkin
- 2 TBSP Earth Balance buttery spread regular butter will work if not vegan
- 1/4 cup mini chocolate chips my favorite vegan brand is Enjoy Life
- 1/4 cup light brown sugar
- 1/4 cup almond milk or whatever type of milk you prefer
- 1 TSP vanilla extract
- 1 TSP cinnamon
- 1/2 TSP baking powder
- 1/4 TSP salt
- Dash of cloves
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Coat a baking sheet with cooking spray.
- Place oats in a food processor and pulse until they're mostly ground.
- Pour oats into a bowl, and add in cinnamon, salt, baking powder and cloves.
- In another small bowl, beat the pumpkin, brown sugar, Earth Balance, milk and vanilla extract until combined well.
- Pour the wet mixture into the dry ingredient bowl, and beat just until mixed together. Add in the chocolate chips, and combine them into the batter.
- Spoon large spoonfuls of batter onto the baking sheet, forming a dozen cookies.
- Bake for 15 minutes, or until cookies are lightly browned.
- Cool a bit before enjoying!
Nutrition
Tell me… What movie could you watch over and over? Are you into pumpkin right now?
These cookies look amazing! I love that they’re only 90 calories each too. That means I can eat at least 5 in one sitting. 😉
I can’t believe you don’t have AC! It’s been super hot up here but we’re hanging out inside and doing just fine. Although I much rather be working by the pool! 😉
I could watch Dirty Dancing about a million times over too. That and Pulp Fiction.
I could also eat a million of these cookies. Saving them for when it cools off enough to turn on the oven again. Is this SoCal or Arizona???
Ha, right?? That crazy hot day on Monday reminded me of Vegas (the place, not your wife! LOL).
By us it feels like it’s the summer that will never end!! haha I love summer and all but I am soooo ready for cooler temps! Thankfully the forecast is looking pretty good coming up! Fingers crossed!
And these cookies! Pass me a few please! Chocolate + pumpkin is just such a great combo!
Yes it definitely is a great combo! Yea, I’ve heard that the Northeast has been getting a lot of warmer weather stuff. I’m flying that way next week, and am hoping for some cool 60s temps!