Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

adapted from Gluten-Free Baking Classics by Annalise Roberts

I LOVE Oatmeal Raisin Cookies!  For me, they are the perfect autumn treat—spicy, chewy, yummy.  And ever since I accidentally fed some vegans my chocolate chip cookies (I forgot that eggs are an animal product), I’ve been looking for an opportunity to try out some of the egg substitutes.  The two options used most frequently seem to be flax gel and applesauce.  (There’s also something that comes in a box, but it doesn’t appear to be corn-free, so will avoid that option.) For this recipe, I used flax gel (details below) and it worked great!

Yippee!  I now have a treat I can bring to gatherings including vegans.

Makes about 30 cookies; recipe can be doubled.

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup Superfine Brown Rice Flour (I use Authentic Foods brand)
• 1/4 cup tapioca starch/flour
• 1/4 cup potato starch (not potato flour)
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 3/8 teaspoon guar gum
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1/4 teaspoon ginger
• 1 Tablespoon flax meal (I buy whole flax seeds and grind them myself)
• 3 Tablespoons boiling water
• 1/2 cup shortening plus 1 Tablespoon water
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1/2 Tablespoon vanilla
• 1 cup gluten-free quick oats (I use Bob’s Red Mill brand)
• 1/2 cup raisins

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Position rack in the center of oven.  Grease cookie sheet with a thin coating of shortening or cooking spray.
2. Combine flours/starches, baking powder, baking soda, guar gum, salt, and spices in a medium bowl.  Whisk together.
3. Make flax gel (egg substitute) by combining flax meal and boiling water in a small bowl.  Stir together and let sit for 10 minutes or until gelled.
4. In a large mixing bowl, beat shortening & 1 Tablespoon water, brown sugar, and white sugar until light and creamy.  Add flax gel and vanilla.  Mix until smooth.
5. Gradually add the flour mixture.  Beat until smooth.
6. Stir in the oats and raisins. (I recommend doing this with a wooden spoon rather than the mixer.)
7. Drop heaping teaspoons of dough onto greased cookie sheet.  Bake in center of oven for 16-18 minutes or until golden brown.  Allow to cool briefly (less than five minutes). Transfer to wire rack and cool completely.  Store in an airtight container.

Enjoy!!

©2012 Lucinda DeWitt