Pumpkin Oatmeal Breakfast Cookies

This fall I surely had a pumpkin addiction...everything was pumpkin it seemed from breakfast foods to pasta! I was looking for some new breakfast ideas and came across this!

Pumpkin Oatmeal Breakfast Cookies-adapted from Family, Stamping, and Fun
1 cup unsweetened applesauce or butter,softened(I used a bit less, with 2 tbs butter softened)
2 eggs
1/2 cup honey
1 cup pureed pumpkin
1 tbsp vanilla
2 cups old fashioned oats
1 cup quick cook oats
1 1/4 cup whole wheat flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp pumpkin pie spice
1-2 cups mix ins:dried cranberries, raisins, chocolate chips, nuts(I used 1/4 cup choc. chips and some dried cranberries)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

In a bowl combine applesauce, butter, eggs, honey, vanilla, and pumpkin. Mix well to combine, stir in oats and set aside for 5 mins. In another bowl sitft together remaining dry ingredients. Add to wet ingredients and stir to combine. Fold in mix ins. Using a cookie scoop, scoop dough out onto cookie sheets. Cook for 15-18 mins(if cookies are big 10 mins if they are using a small scoop).

**The boys helped me make these, they are doing quite well with baking things almost pros...well my 4 yr old is, my 2 yr old helps by eating all the ingredients! I wasn't sure if they would eat these, but Q devoured at least 3 or 4 yesterday. A did like them as well!  They did not spread out or become big cookies at all, but I think that was due to the applesauce being added. Next time I think I'll add more spices!

This has been linked to Newlyweds Pumpkin Link up!

Oatmeal Fruit Bars

I had some fruit that was in dire need of being used...after seeing this recipe I thought it would be perfect!

I used about 1 qt strawberries and maybe 1 cup of frozen blueberries for the sauce. The original maker used raspberries(and she even put in some dark chocolate chips) so any fruit will do!

Oatmeal Fruit Bars-adapted from Finding Joy in my Kitchen
1 cup wheat flour
1 cup oatmeal
2/3 cup brown sugar(but i do think i used less)
1/4 tsp baking soda
3 tbsp butter,softened or melted
1/4 cup applesauce

Filling:(fruit of your choice)
1 qt strawberries, hulled, chopped
1-2 cups bluberries
2 tbsp sugar
1 tbsp cornstarch

Place filling in saucepan and turn on heat. Mix together and stir often until fruit softens and starts to get bubbly. I did mash my fruit towards the end, to get a nice thick sauce.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Mix together oatmeal, flour, and baking soda. Take 1/3 of the mixture and put in another bowl add in the butter, until crumbly. With the other 2/3's of the mix add in the applesauce. Press the mixture into an 11x7 inch pan. Top with fruit, and add the last of the mixture(the one with the butter) sprinkled over the top. Bake for 20-25 mins until top is golden brown.

**These were very good and i loved the fruit layer! Its a bit similar to a nurtigrain bar but with more texture! The only problem I have with them was they were so thin, it could have been my pan, but I used a smaller pan than an 9x13, more like a bar pan. So next time I'll double the oatmeal mixture or use and 8x8 pan!

Oatmeal Bars

I'm always looking for new breakfast or snack ideas. I'd love to find something that might be similar to a chewy granola bar...and I think this did it! The great thing about this recipe is that its very flexible. You can add or different kinds of add ins you would like!

Just excuse the picture quality...little fingers found my camera and played with the settings!

Oatmeal Bars-shared from At Home with Haley
3 cups old fashioned oats
2/3 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
3 tbsp orange juice or water(I used water)
1 tsp vanilla(which I think I forgot!)
1/3 cup oil
1 egg, beaten
1/3 cup maple syrup or honey
Mix-ins of your choice:raisins, craisins, chocolate chips, peanut butter chips, nuts, m&m's etc(about 1/3 of a cup)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Mix together dry ingredients. Add in wet ingredients and mix well. Stir in mix-ins. Place in greased 9x13 inch pan or cookie sheet with lip and spread out. (The recipe didn't specify, so I used my small pampered chef pan) Bake for 12-15 mins until browned and firm.

**The ONLY complaint I had for these were that they were a bit thin...so next time I'll double the recipe and use a 9x13 inch pan. They were delicious! Crunchy on the outside, a bit chewy in the middle. They tasted like an oatmeal cookie to be, but in bar from and healthier for you! Next time I may try subbing applesauce. The original recipe said you can also use apple juice concentrate instead of the oil...something I've never tried, but may soon!

Giant Breakfast Cookies

I like to have some muffins, baked oatmeal, or something else quick for breakfast in the morning especially on days we need to actually leave the house! I thought these sounded perfect and the ingredients sounded similar to the Quaker Oatmeal Breakfast Cookies, those were always tasty!

Giant Breakfast Cookies-adapted from Heavenly Homemakers
1/4 cup butter, melted
1/4 cup applesauce
1/3 cup honey
1/3 cup maple syrup
2 eggs
1/2 cup buttermilk
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
2 cups whole wheat flour
2 cups old fashioned oats
1 cup raisins, chocolate chips, or dried cranberries

Preheat oven to 350

Mix together all ingredients except flour, oats, and raisins. Stir to combine. Add in flour and oats, combine until moistened. Stir in fruit or chocolate chips. Using a large cookie scoop, scoop batter onto cookie sheet. Bake for 15 mins(may need more or less time depending on the size of the cookie). Let cool for 3-4 mins and place on cooling rack.

**My cookies weren't flat like the original post...I feel like this is a theme, but anyway they were tasty. The sugar was reduced(so you can use up to 3/4 of a cup and all honey or all syrup). They were perfectly sweet and delicious! They were even approved by my 4 year old and pretty easy to make!

Peanut Butter and Jelly Baked Oatmeal

I have fallen in love with regular oatmeal...something that I wasn't to fond of 2 yrs ago! But now I've discovered baked oatmeal and this sounded like a tasty new variation!

Peanut Butter and Jelly Baked Oatmeal-shared from Lynn's Kitchen Adventures
3 cups quick cook oats
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 cup milk
2 tbsp unsweetened applesauce
2 eggs
3/4 tsp salt
2 tsp baking powder
2 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/2-3/4 cup jelly(I used polaner all fruit)

Preheat oven to 350.
Mix all ingredients together except jelly and stir well. Place into a greased 9x13 inch pan. Drop jelly by tbsp on top of oatmeal mixture.(I did try to break up some of the clumps, but you don't have too) Bake for 20-25 mins.

**This was really good, I loved the added jelly. I usually serve this in bar form or broken up with milk on top.

For 15 bars-157 calories, 6g fat

Pumpkin Baked Oatmeal

I never used to like oatmeal and then I started eating it after reading that oatmeal helps boost your supply while nursing. So I put aside my dislike for it and ate it while nursing Q, now I eat it all the time. I love a baked oatmeal as well! I was looking to use up my pumpkin I had and wanted to make bagels, but realized I was out of bread flour so I will try those another day!

Pumpkin Baked Oatmeal-adapted from Nightlife
2 3/4 cup old fashioned oatmeal
1/4 cup brown sugar
3/4 cup raisins(omitted)
1/4 cup dried cranberries(omitted)
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup pumpkin puree
3 cups milk(or alternative)
2 beaten eggs
1 tbsp vanilla
1/2 cup chopped nuts(omitted)
*I added in a 1/2 cup chocolate chips for the fruit

Mix ingredients together well. Pour into a greased 9x13 inch pan. Batter is very runny. Bake for 50-60 mins until center is set and firm.

**To me this doesn't have a huge pumpkin flavor. Even though it cooked for 50 mins and the center was set and firm, they are still almost battery in the battery once they were cut. They taste very good and will be fine to eat with some milk over them, but they just weren't as dry as other baked oatmeal I have made. Q devoured 3 of these, he loved them!

Homemade Cran-apple Granola

This is another gem I found on Finding Joy in my Kitchen. Sno White has some fabulous recipes over there so definitely check her out! Although most have made it here...and some I have altered! This is the second time I made this and I cut the sugar and added more applesauce so if you want to see the original by all means check it out! Oh and did I mention this is SUPER easy and low fat!

Homemade Cran-Apple Granola-adapted from Sno White
6 cups old fashioned oatmeal
1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
1/4 cup lightly packed brown sugar
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 cup dried cranberries

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix in small sauce pan applesauce, cinnamon, and sugar. Stir until sugar has melted. Scoop sugar mixture onto oatmeal and stir until mixed thoroughly. Mix in cranberries. Spread onto cookie sheet and bake for 10 mins. Stir and bake for another 10 mins. Shut oven off and open the door for granola to crisp up! Place in air tight container.