Guest Post - Gluten Free Skinny Oatmeal Dark Chocolate Chippers (Nancy Fox)

I am so honored & delighted to get to share Nancy from Skinny Kitchen with you today!

This will be the first of 2 guest posts she'll be sharing over the next few weeks. 

I've made many of her tasty recipes.  I love that she makes them 'skinny' (I especially love all her Copycat Starbucks drinks that are most often, half the calories!) AND....she includes Weight Watchers points!

Nancy and I have emailed each other many times, but it wasn't until recently that I realized what a BIG NAME gal she is! So proud of her accomplishments and that she was willing to come to a guest post for li'l ole me. 

My son and gr'daughter are eating gluten free...it seems I know many others who are too, so I asked if she'd be willing to share this yummy GF cookie...

(Remember...this is just a sample of the goodness that Nancy shares at her blog, so please pop over there and sample more of her amazing creations!)

Take it away Nancy....

Nancy Fox is no stranger to the food industry. She founded Mrs. Beasley's, a gift-basket company featuring baskets full of decadent baked goods. It became the "hot" gift to give among the Hollywood community. 

Nancy later opened 2 low fat restaurants called Nancy’s Healthy Kitchen. Her line of reduced-fat cookies were featured on "Oprah's Favorites" gift show.

Continuing her passion for cooking and baking Nancy created a recipe website called 

Skinny Kitchen. Each week she shares skinny recipes, cooking and kitchen tips, food finds and the healthy benefits of many recipes. There’s also nutritional facts and Weight Watchers POINTS on each recipe.

SKINNY OATMEAL DARK CHOCOLATE CHIPPERS (GLUTEN FREE) 

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Chill Time: 30 minutes

Bake Time: 18-20 minutes

Ingredients

2 tablespoons light butter, melted (I used Smart Balance Light Butter and Canola Oil Blend or Smart Balance Light)

3 cups old fashioned rolled oats or gluten free oats, see shopping tip

1 (14 oz) can fat-free sweetened condensed milk

1 cup shredded sweetened coconut

1 cup dark chocolate chips, I used Ghirardelli 60% cacao bittersweet chocolate chips

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Parchment paper for baking, see shopping tip

Instructions

1. In a large bowl, add melted butter. Stir in remaining ingredients. Mix well to combine all ingredients.

2. Refrigerate batter for at least 30 minutes so it’s easier to handle. The batter is not your typical cookie batter.

3. To Bake: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.

Using a tablespoon, scoop 1 level tablespoon for each cookie and add to pan. When scooped it creates a little blob of batter. You’ll need to squish each cookie together a bit.  It does hold together once baked.

4. Place both trays in oven. Bake for 10 minutes. Rotate trays and bake for an additional 8-10 minutes or until light golden brown. Total bake time, 18-20 minutes. If you have batter left, bake remaining cookies.

5. Store cooled cookies in an airtight container or plastic bag. These cookies freeze great too!

Makes 50 cookies total

Healthy Benefits

Rolled oats are very good for you. There is 25 years of clinical proof to show the soluble fiber in rolled oats can help lower cholesterol, which has wonderful benefits for the heart

Dark chocolate has less sugar and the most health benefits. Eating a small amount of dark chocolate is heart healthy. Dark chocolate, not milk or white chocolate, is a potent antioxidant and can help lower blood pressure.

Shopping Tips

I love Ghirardelli 60% cacao bittersweet chocolate chips. Most supermarkets sell them or use your favorite dark chocolate baking chips.

Bob’s Red Mill Gluten-Free Rolled Oats are one of the brands available in many supermarkets and health food markets. There are other brands of gluten free rolled oats available.

Parchment paper is available in most supermarkets in the plastic wrap and foil aisle. It’s packaged the same. Target, Bed Bath and Beyond and Smart and Final also sell it.

Weight Watchers (old points) 1

Weight Watchers POINTS PLUS 2

SKINNY FACTS: for 1 skinny cookie 69 calories, 2.5g fat, 1mg chol, 2g protein, 11g carb, 1g fiber, 15mg sodium, 6g sugar

Thanks and thanks again Nancy for sharing this wonderful cookie recipe!
I sure can't wait to try it. 

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