Baking with Oats

Oats are one of the healthiest food options among all diet recipes. Oats contain soluble fiber beta-glucan that slows digestion and helps in weight loss. The diabetes-friendly grain also believed to lower risk of cardiovascular diseases since it helps in reducing cholesterol level in blood. So, here are some oats recipes that taste superb and yet easy to bake.

Pumpkin Oats Cake Recipe

Ingredients needed:

1 cup pumpkin peeled and grated (approximately 250 gm), 1/4 cup grated jaggery, 1/2 cup wheat flour, 2 Tbsp fine semolina, 2 Tbsp quick roll oats, 1 Tbsp milk, 1/4 tsp grated nutmeg, 1 small pinch of salt, 1/2 tsp baking powder, 2 pinch of soda bi-carb, 4 tsp clarified butter, 1 Tbsp almond flakes, 1 cherry

Let’s bake:

1. Take the pumpkin, peel and remove the seeds and pulp and then grate it. (Pumpkin should be little raw)
2. Take a microwave-proof bowl and mix the grated pumpkin with 2 tsp of ghee and microwave for 3 minutes.
3. Then add jaggery into microwaved ghee and pumpkin, mix well and again microwave for 20 seconds.
4. Then add wheat flour, oats, semolina, nutmeg, milk, salt, baking powder, soda, to the pumpkin mix and fold well.
5. Rest the mix for 10 minutes. Then preheat the oven. (If using a microwave convection oven, use convection mode).
6. Take a baking container, grease with little ghee & pour this mixture in it.
7. Dash little ghee on it and bake for 20 minutes on 200 C.
8. Then put out this cake upside down in a microwave-proof plate, dab little more ghee and sprinkle almond flakes on it.
9. Bake it again for 20 minutes on 200 C.
10. Then remove from oven and garnish with cherries.

Breakfast Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

Ingredients needed:  ¾ cup organic all-purpose flour,  ½ tsp. baking soda, ¼ tsp. sea salt, 2 tbsp. unsalted butter at room temp, 1 cup packed light brown sugar, 1 egg, 1 tsp. vanilla extract, 1/2 cup unsweetened apple sauce, 2 cups quick oats, 1 cup raisins, 1 tsp. cinnamon

Let’s bake:

1. In a bowl mix flour, cinnamon, baking soda, and salt. In another large bowl whip butter and sugar and then add egg and vanilla into it along with apple sauce and ⅓ cup of water.
2. Now add the dry flour mixture, mix well. Then add in the oats and raisins and mix well.
3. Then keep the mixture in the fridge for 15 minutes minimum or overnight.
4. Spray 2-3 cookie sheets with baking spray.
5. Pre-heat oven to 350, take small cookie dough and give enough room for a little spreading. Bake for 15-18 minutes until it becomes golden brown.

Energetic Fig Walnut Bars

Ingredients needed: Nonstick cooking spray, 1 cup quick-cooking oats, 1 cup bran cereal, 1/4 cup whole-wheat flour, 1 cup walnut pieces, 1 1/2 cups coarsely chopped stemmed dried figs, 1/2 cup nonfat dry milk, 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger, 1/4 cup honey, 2 large eggs.

Let’s bake:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Coat the baking tray with cooking spray.
2. Take the oats, flour, cereal, walnuts, dry milk, figs, ginger, and cinnamon in a food processor; then coarsely chop.
3. Then add the honey and eggs and beat it until well mixed.
4. Transfer the mixture to the baking tray and spread the mixture evenly.
5. Then bake until it becomes lightly browned around the edges, nearly about 20 minutes.
6. Remove from oven and cool in the pan for 15 minutes, then cut into bars.
7. Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days, or wrap each bar and refrigerate for up to 3 months.

Happy Oatmeal…