Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies

Chocolate chip cookies transform any day into a holiday, and this is a wonderful family-pleasing recipe with lots of high-fiber oats.

line

Yield: 3 dozen

Active time: 15 minutes

Start to finish: 30 minutes

1/2 cup (8 tablespoons) soy margarine, softened

1/2 cup firmly packed light brown sugar

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1/2 cup peanut oil

1/4 cup mashed ripe banana

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1 cup all-purpose flour

3/4 cup whole-wheat pastry flour

11/2 teaspoons baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 cup quick oats

1 (12-ounce) package vegan semisweet chocolate chips, or more, to taste

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats.

2. Combine margarine, brown sugar, and granulated sugar in a mixing bowl, and beat at low speed with an electric mixer to blend. Increase the speed to high, and beat for 3 to 4 minutes, or until light and fluffy. Add oil, banana, and vanilla, and beat for 1 minute. Reduce the speed to low and add all-purpose and whole-wheat flours, baking powder, and salt until just blended in. Stir in oats and chocolate chips.

3. Drop batter by tablespoons onto the baking sheets, spacing them 2 inches apart. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes, or until edges are brown. Cool for 2 minutes on the baking sheets, and then transfer cookies to racks to cool completely.

Note: Keep cookies in an airtight container, layered between sheets of waxed paper or parchment, at room temperature for up to 5 days. Cookies can also be frozen for up to 2 months.

Variation:

star Substitute raisins or chopped candied or dried fruit for the chocolate chips.

Many vegan cookie recipes call for small amounts of mashed banana as a substitution for eggs to provide moisture. Go ahead and mash up a whole banana, or even a few, and then freeze the mashed banana in 1/4-cup portions. You’ll be ready for baking at any time.