Tag Archives: quick oats

Banana Oat Muffins with Maple Syrup

I always seem to have ripe bananas in the kitchen and these muffins are a wonderful way to use them! These aren’t super-sweet muffins, but they’re sweetened with some brown sugar in the batter and a drizzle of maple syrup on top after baking, which makes them a great muffin for fall! The batter has some healthy ingredients mixed in, like Greek yogurt to make them moist, canola oil or light olive oil, and quick-cooking oats. Cinnamon and nutmeg give these muffins a light spice flavor and the maple syrup drizzle adds the perfect amount of sweetness on top! And for any maple syrup overflow that drizzles onto your plate, you can dip your muffin in it as you’re eating it, which is a yummy thing to do!

Continue reading →

Colossal Cookies

42 Replies

Colossal Cookies @ NancyC

There’s a little cafe I sometimes go to that sells Colossal Cookies. I thought the cafe came up with that name, but apparently there really is a type of cookie that is officially called a Colossal Cookie! They’re typically made with oats, peanut butter and chocolate chips. And you’d never know it, but there’s no flour in these–just a little baking soda!

A friend and co-worker of mine, Rick, emailed me a recipe for these cookies and I also checked one out at Allrecipes–they were pretty similar. I made a few small changes in the amounts of oats and chocolate chips used, and they turned out really well! Some recipes say to flatten the cookies a little with a fork before baking–I tried baking these flattened and unflattened, and I like them unflattened better–they come out a little thicker and chewier.

The batter for these cookies is very thick and there’s a lot of it, so you’ll want to use your largest mixing bowl when you make these!

COLOSSAL COOKIES by NancyC, adapted from Allrecipes

Makes about 34 large cookies

1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened

1 1/2 cups granulated sugar

1 1/2 cups packed brown sugar

4 large eggs

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

2 cups chunky peanut butter

2 teaspoons baking soda

5 3/4 cups quick cooking oats

1 1/2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line cookie sheets with parchment paper; set aside.

In an extra-large bowl, cream butter, white sugar, and brown sugar until smooth. Beat in eggs, one at a time, then stir in the vanilla extract and peanut butter, mixing well. Mix in the baking soda, then add the oats and chocolate chips until well blended–you should end up with a thick dough). Drop 1/4 cupfuls of dough 3 to 4 inches apart on parchment-lined cookie sheets (I baked 8 at a time on my cookie sheets). You can flatten the dough slightly with a fork if you want a cookie that’s a little flatter, wider, and more crispy, but if you like your cookies thick and chewy, don’t flatten! I didn’t flatten mine.

Bake at 350˚F for 15 to 17 minutes, until cookies just start to turn golden. Cool for a few minutes on cookie sheets, then place cookies on wire racks to cool completely.

Colossal Cookies II @ NancyC

I really love these oaty, chewy, chocolatey, peanut butter cookies! Have you ever made or heard of Colossal Cookies?

Featured on Meal Plan Monday.

Linked to Fiesta Friday, Weekend Potluck, Inspire Me Monday, Show and Share, Create It Thursday, Full Plate Thursday, Favorite Things Thursday.

Cranberry Quick Oats Granola

31 Replies

Cranberry Quick Oats Granola @ NancyC

I’ve always made homemade granola with old-fashioned rolled oats–I’ve read that they work better in granola recipes. But one evening when I was wanting to make some granola, I discovered I didn’t have enough rolled oats. And no time to run out and buy more. But I had plenty of quick oats! So I decided to try making granola with those instead. I found a recipe from The Daily Dish that I modified by using more dried cranberries, adding pecans, and making a few other small changes.

This granola is really yummy! It has a great crunchy texture when eaten while still warm (it’s a little less crunchy when it cools off) and the maple syrup gives it a nice sweetness. It’s definitely worth trying the next time you want to make some granola! I’m sure this recipe would work fine with old-fashioned oats too, if you prefer using those.

CRANBERRY QUICK OATS GRANOLA by NancyC, adapted from The Daily Dish

Makes about 10 cups

6 cups quick oats

1 1/4 cups coarsely chopped pecans

3/4 cup shredded coconut, sweetened or unsweetened

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon ground ginger

1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 cup pure maple syrup

1/2 cup light olive oil

1 Tablespoon pure vanilla extract

2 cups dried cranberries (added after baking)

Preheat oven to 350˚F. Line two 9 x 13″ pans or one 13 x 18″ rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper; set aside.

In large mixing bowl, combine the quick oats, pecans, coconut, cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg (the dried cranberries are added after baking).

In a small bowl, stir together the maple syrup, oil, vanilla, and salt. Add this mixture to the oat mixture, blending until everything is thoroughly coated.

With large spoon, spread mixture on parchment-lined pan or pans. Place pans on middle rack in oven and bake for 30 minutes total, or until golden–as mixture is baking, you’ll need to remove the pan or pans from the oven every 10 minutes, stir mixture, then return to the oven. After 30 minutes, remove from oven and cool completely. Then add in the dried cranberries. Store in an airtight container up to 2 weeks.

This granola makes a great healthy snack and also is good served as a cereal with milk or in a breakfast parfait with plain or vanilla yogurt. Have you ever used quick oats in a granola recipe?

Linked to Fiesta Friday, Sunday Features, Inspiration Monday, Happiness is Homemade, Inspire Me Monday, Show and Share, Wow Us Wednesdays, Wake Up Wednesdays, Wow Me Wednesday, Whimsy Wednesday, Create it Thursday, Full Plate Thursday. Share Your Style, Showcase Your Talent Thursday, Thursday Favorite Things.