Don’t Like Oatmeal? Here are 5 Ways to Use Oats in Snacks and Desserts Instead!

So you don’t like oatmeal?  No big deal! You don’t have to eat it, ever. Sure, oatmeal is great for you and an awesome food to include in your diet. It can lower your cholesterol, reduce your risk of heart disease, prevent the hardening of your arteries, and fill you up with important antioxidants. Oatmeal is also super easy to make, which gets you out the door pretty quickly in the morning.

But just because you aren’t interested in eating oatmeal as a meal doesn’t mean that you can’t enjoy all the benefits that this whole grain has to offer. With the help of just a few spices and other ingredients, you can transform your oats into a myriad of desserts and snacks to chow down on.

From delicious cookies to sweet smoothies, we have a lineup of delicious options ready to try right here:

Oatmeal Cookies 

Cookies are a delectable treat, but most options available in the grocery store leave a lot to be desired when it comes to nutrition. Forget the fat, sugar, and additive-filled cookies – healthy homemade oatmeal cookies are the way to go! Making a batch of simple yet tasty cookies is as simple as mixing together some oats, sweetener, and your favorite fillers (like raisins and macadamia nuts), dropping spoonfuls of the mixture on cookie sheets, and then baking them until they’re warm and chewy. Here are a few awesome recipes to try:

• Raw Vegan Banana Oatmeal Cookies – Delicious treats that are full of fresh, raw ingredients.

• Coffee Cake Oatmeal Breakfast Cookies – These are the perfect accompaniment to green juices, smoothies, and of course, a cup of Joe in the morning.
• Sunflower Seed Butter Oatmeal Cookies – Rich and creamy cookies that will fill you up with nutrition and energy throughout the day.

Oatmeal cookies are easy to keep handy, no matter where you need to be. Store a batch in the freezer, in your vehicle’s glove box, and in your drawer at work.

Chewy Oatmeal Pie Crusts

Making your own pie crust out of oatmeal is ridiculously easy, not to mention super delicious. It’s just a matter of mixing whole oats with a little liquid until it becomes a paste, and then pressing the crust into your pan before adding your fillings and baking it. You can add pie spices, cinnamon, or nutmeg for dessert pies. Fill them with your favorite fruits and sweeteners, and you’re good to go. Making savory pies is also easy to do by adding herbs and garlic to the mix. Fill them with root veggies and gravy, and you’ve got a homemade pot pie.

Oat-Based Crackers

JeffreyW/Flickr

With some herbs and spices included, oat-based crackers are an excellent way to enjoy whole grains without having to put up with any mushy oatmeal textures. They’re crispy texture works well as open-faced sandwiches or to dip in soups. Of course, they’re delightful when enjoyed on their own. You can even add a slice of vegan cheese to the mix for parties.
To make your own easy oat-based crackers, start by blending a couple of cups of whole oats until they turn into flour. Put the flour in a bowl and add about a cup of liquid (nut milk, water, or even coconut water works great!), a little salt, and your favorite fillers.

Consider these ideas:

• Sweetener, chocolate chips, and coconut flakes for “s’mores” crackers.

• Dried basil, rosemary, and parsley, along with nutritional yeast for “Italian” crackers.

• Curry powder, turmeric, and cinnamon for “Thai” crackers.

Once your ingredients are well combined, use a spatula to spread the mixture on a baking sheet and put parchment paper on top. Use your hands to press the mixture down so it’s about a half-inch thick, and then take the parchment paper off and bake the crackers for about 20 minutes at 350 degrees F, or until they’re golden brown and crispy. Take them out of the oven and let them cool for about 10 minutes. Then use a sharp knife to cut your crackers into small pieces for convenient enjoyment.

Oatmeal Packed Green Smoothies

Green smoothies are packed with vitamins and minerals, and they happen to look pretty cool, too. To bulk up your green smoothies, try adding some oats for added fiber and protein! It is as easy as adding a scoop to whatever concoction you feel like enjoying at the time. The oats will thicken your smoothie up, so you may need to add extra water to compensate. But you won’t have to worry about tasting the oats when you take a sip. Don’t know where to start? Blend up some bananas, spinach, berries, and half a cup of oats with some water and ice. Voila!

Phenomenal Oatmeal Cakes

You don’t need a special occasion to indulge in a delightful cake, especially when it’s made of healthy oats. Luckily, oats hold together well without the need for additives like xanthan gum. Whether you’re a whiz in the kitchen or just getting started, you can have an oat cake on the table in less than an hour.

Try one of these phenomenal options on for size:

• Oat and Pecan Cake with Vanilla Ginger Frosting – The ginger in this cake really sings to your taste buds, and the pecans make the concoction nice and comforting.
• Sweet Vanilla Oat Cake with Pink Cashew Frosting – Slightly sweet and really dense, this is a cake that can be enjoyed for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.

Don’t be afraid to experiment with the ingredients to come up with your own signature oat cakes. Try adding dried fruit, coconut, or cacao powder to the mix.

With all of these delicious oatmeal recipes, you shouldn’t have a hard time enjoying this healthy whole grain without ever touching the mushy stuff.

Learn How to Cook Plant-Based Meals at Home

Reducing your meat intake and eating more plant-based foods is known to help with chronic inflammation, heart health, mental well-being, fitness goals, nutritional needs, allergies, gut health, and more! Dairy consumption also has been linked to many health problems, including acne, hormonal imbalance, cancer,  prostate cancer, and has many side effects.

For those of you interested in eating more plant-based, we highly recommend grabbing our favorite plant-based cookbooks and downloading the Food Monster App — with over 20,000 delicious recipes, it is the largest plant-based recipe resource to help reduce your environmental footprint, save animals, and get healthy! And, while you are at it, we encourage you to also learn about the environmental and health benefits of a plant-based diet.

Here are some great resources to get you started:

• Weekly Vegan Meal Plans
• Plant-Based Health Resources
• Plant-Based Food & Recipes
• Plant-Based Nutrition Resources
• The Ultimate Guide to Plant-Based Nutrition
• Budget-Friendly Plant-Based Recipes
• High Protein Plant-Based Recipes
• Plant-Based Meal Prep
• Plant-Based Cookbooks 

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