I celebrated Valentine’s Day yesterday by starting the day with my favorite–cookies! (I also ended the day with my favorite–cookies!–too. But those were cookies from Whole Foods. Because treats are even better when there’s no effort or clean-up involved.) Since I knew I was going to be have cookies twice in one day (and that I’d be eating the whole batch–C’mon, how can anyone only eat one or two fresh cookies??), I went for a slightly healthier option for my cookies-for-breakfast.
Oats n’ Dots Cookies
These feature some fake-sugar-stuff I got from Xylitol Canada. Yes, a company was finally awesome enough to send me something for free–and then I promptly procrastinated posting about it for over two months. And although this was a gift with a *wink wink nudge nudge*, you know I’m going to be honest. For instance, they also sent some gum, which was like chewing on fake-sugar-aftertaste-flavored car tire. Pass on that. I think I’m also supposed to tout the health benefits of this product, but frankly? I’m typically more comfortable using real sugar over any fake sugar, sugar- substitute or “natural” alternative, claims of safe-and-good-for-you aside.
That said (and my product-reviewing career ended just as it began), if you want a good sugar substitute for those days when you know are going to eat at least one batch of cookies before 7am, I do recommend Xyla. It’s large-granulated, rather than the weird powdery dust you get with most fake baking sugars, so you still get texture and a sweet hint of crunch. I absolutely could not detect a fake sugar taste before or after, and Xyla is incredibly sweet, so you don’t have to use as much/it lasts longer (ahh, cheap-me rejoices).
Ingredients
The base for these cookies is simple, soft and chewy, and rich chocolate-covered treats balance it perfectly.
- 2/3c oats, ground into flour
- 1T flax seed, ground into flour
- 1/2t baking powder
- 1/4c Xyla/real sugar/fake sugar/sweetener of choice
- 2T Coconut oil
- 2T almond milk
- 1/2t vanilla
- Chocolate-covered-fruit-or-nut-of-choice
Preheat your oven to 375. Mix first three ingredients (I like to just throw them all into my Magic Bullet and whir ‘em together, saves having to grind/blend the oats and flax separately and omits one level of stirring). Mix sugar and wet ingredients, stir well, add in dry, stir again. Scoop onto parchment paper (this make about 5 medium-sized cookies), stud with a chocolate treat (I used all five of the dark-chocolate-covered pomegranate seeds I had left from Wednesday…Don’t leave open bags of candy near me.), bake for 12 minutes. Enjoy. Best hot and fresh (of course).
I love that you are honest about Xyla! I hate to give a company which is kind enough to send me samples a bad review but at the same time, I can’t pretend something tastes good when it doesn’t. Despite all the rave reviews NuNaurals received, it tasted far too chemically for my liking…I rather use the real deal. However as I am currently lumped with so much of the stuff, I should give it a shot in baking and see if it masks the artificial, oversweet taste!
I paid for a little thing of nunaturals and had the same issue, definitely a strong fake-sugar-taste to that one. It is hard to balance saying a legitimate and well-deserved “thank you” for free samples with wanting to be honest! Luckily I DID really like the Xyla baking sugar, so it makes me feel better about disliking their other products
Free products are awesome. The only time I got sent something for free was when I got Frank’s Red Hot, which made my year because I grew up on that stuff and they sent me like 10 bottles.
+1 for this
Free hot sauce would make my year too. Mmm, if only sriracha mailed out samples!
I love that you’re honest in your review!
I have such a weird relationship with artificial sweetners. I totes grew up on Diet Coke, so that doesn’t taste weird at all. But I can’t wrap my little brain around stevia – it just tastes so chemically.
Those cookies look delicious, though! I love the little chocolate treat in the middle
Stevia is way more hit or miss for me than other fake sugars–some of it really isn’t bad (like this stuff–really couldn’t detect a “fake” taste and I’m pretty darn sensitive to sugar replacement flavors), others are not good (like Khushboo and I were commenting above–NuNaturals=chemically yuck). And these cookies would probably taste just as good/better with real brown sugar instead. Because brown sugar is the best sugar.
Awesome product review! I’ll have to try that sugar type because I’m not a fan of most fake sugars but maybe I’ll like this one. Yay for cookies!
I am not a fan of fake sugar AT ALL either, I’d rather just cut down on the real stuff. Your cookies look great though, I am a Big fan of cookies! Have a great weekend.
Yep! A little of the real thing in moderation makes sense to me as the best way to go.
I LOVE your honesty – thank you. so refreshing!
Those cookies look faaab! I started the day yesterday with some white chocolates and ended it with ferrero rochers, perfection!
I’m weary of fake sugars in baking too. The aftertaste freaks me out and I always feel like I crave more sweets than when I eat real sugar. I used yesterday as a reason to eat more than a few cookies myself too!
I’m not one for artificial sweetners and much like you I’m skeptical of the natural sugar substitutes. I’ve used Erythritol, which is the same kind of substitute as Xyla and I couldn’t tell a difference in my baking. I haven’t done a ton of research on it either, so part of me thinks it seems sketchy, especially with names like Erythritol and Xyla. At the same time, it’s touted as a healthy and natural replacement so maybe it’s ok. Who knows. Obviously not me.
Yeah, I have no idea either. Which is why I like to err on the side of real food for the most part, even if that real food is real sugar. But there’s a time and place for everything, and hey, if it’s free, I’ll use it!
those look so tasty, I saw them yesterday and wanted to dive right into them.
I was so looking forward to you posting these! I love xylitol for baking – I use it in my oatmeal “chewy granola” cookies too!
Wonder of this would work with some protein powder? Hmmmm…
I bet you could sub some of the oat flour for protein powder, no problem. Hmm, I’ve got to try that for the non-holidays that I want cookies for breakfast.
You’re the best about being honest about your review
I hate fake sugary stuff too and I have a hard time buying that stevia is “healthy”. Nothing beats cookies for breakfast 
Those look good!!! I love your review honesty!
You always make the most delicious looking vegan goodies 
Yummy!! I have to agree on the sugar substitute thing… they usually freak me out and I get scared if I use them too much I might get cancer or something. I actually have all of these ingredients on hand and am going to have to try these out ASAP! Might have to modify a bit since I’m scared of fake sugar and I gave up the real stuff for lent. Do you think a few dates would work? Maybe in no-bake form…
Sugar twinsies! That’s all I’ve ever received to review, too. I don’t mind NuNaturals for the most part. I’m still finishing off the packets of sugar into smoothies. The baking mix disappeared a long time ago. The liquids I’m still kind of O_o about. Thats what tastes most chemically to me. As you can see, I don’t rush out and buy more…
YAY COOKIES!
I’ve been wanting to try this! I love experimenting with fake sugars, but I’ve been trying to eat less of them
I Love how honest you are about this product. I have tried the gum before, it does taste like crap but have never tried the fake sugar. I used to only use real sugar but the jitters I get are not worth it, so Stevia it is for me. I do enjoy the taste of Stevia so it works
Thank you for sharing! Love + Shine CourtStar
Do you think I’d be able to sub the flax for something else??
These look delicious and super easy! Love it! I have never used xylitol before, but thank you for giving an honest review!
Starting AND ending your day with cookies is such a good idea. I need to do that sometime
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Delicious looking cookies!
omg can I just say that I love your down to earth, funny and upbeat personality? And I really appreciate your honesty! This refers to all your posts but especially this one. Reading your blog makes my day!
They look tasty. I’ve never tried baking with any of the sugar alternative. I figure if I’m actually going to bake, I might as well make the real thing!
I still have a bunch of that Xyla from previous baking experiments. This looks like a fabulous base for a ‘healthier’ (I only put that in quotes because is fake sugar really better for us?) cookie…I definitely might have to adapt this one.