Gluten-Free Butterscotch Chocolate Chip Oat Cookies

The worst part about trying to go healthy is having to cut out all of the super delicious foods we've come accustomed to enjoying.

One of my favorite snacks and BIGGEST weaknesses is chocolate chip cookies. If I go out to eat with my fiancee, I can usually keep my meal well within my calorie count and health-conscious mind frame... unless I see cookies or cheesecake on the menu; then, it's all downhill from there.

Now, I've still yet to find or make a healthier cheesecake alternative. And me being on the no lactose list, I'm very hesitant on what that would even look like!

But I have found a way to enjoy my most favorite of desserts... COOKIES!!!!

And anyone who knows me knows that I LOVE my chocolate chips.

Anyone who has spent a lot of time around me knows how much I love the smooth taste of butterscotch. So when I walked into the basement at my mother-in-law's and saw the butterscotch morsels with the chocolate chips... I was sold!

But I didn't start off with the intention of making healthier cookies. So let's take it back to the beginning.

It was Fourth of July weekend, which you know means FAMILY COOKOUT. In particular, we were visiting Sam's side of the family, and I had never really baked for them before, so I wanted to pull out all the stops. And I knew since Sam loved my cookies so much, the rest of the family would for sure love them too.

I would like to give a huge thanks for my cousin Pitbull Paul for being the true inspiration behind these cookies. These beauties were a hit for our Fourth of July weekend bash!

Originally, I was supposed to make my super soft chewy chocolate chip cookies! I may have made a promise to my mother-in-law that was interrupted by excessive alcohol consumption and ultimately, forgetfulness. Sorry, ma!

But I am glad I didn't make the batch I had planned to come down with. I had remembered last minute that my cousin had made a decision to cut carbs in his diet! So, some improvisation was required.

As much as I love to work with flour, I want to support healthy lifestyle changes even more.

I'll admit, though this isn't my first time using ground oats in place of flour as a cheat, I was a little skeptical of how they were going to turn out. My young cousin was assisting as my sous chef, and he is a tough critic. The moment I pulled the orange juice out; I just knew I was going to have to win him over with the dough...

...and ... it worked! So well the little monster ate like five cookies of just dough!

(Talk about compliments to the chef!)

After unveiling these treats to the hungry, patient, loving family... the cookies were nearly gone in minutes!!!

I knew I couldn't just keep the goodness to myself.

Besides... who said being healthy meant cutting out ALL the snacking?

Prep Time: ~25 mins | Bake Time: ~20 mins

Total Time: ~45 mins

Dry Ingredients:

• ~4 cups of blended oats**
• 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp salt

Wet Ingredients:

• 1 egg
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
• 2 tbsp vanilla
• 1/8 cup orange juice
• 1/8 cup butter melted but not hot
• 1/4 cup Chocolate chips
• 1/4 cup butterscotch morsels

Procedure:

1. Blend oats in a blender until fine like flour.
2. Combine all dry ingredients, (sift together for an even blend).
3. Combine all wet ingredients and blend until thoroughly mixed.
4. Combine both wet and dry ingredients until a nice firm dough forms.

**keep in mind that oat flour will have a different consistency still than regular flour and may feel a little different to the touch. That is okay.