Jools Oliver's Easy Oaty Fruit Cookies...

Not only do we all LOVE baking cookies this time of year, but this December, ambassadors at Food Revolution Toronto is hosting a fabulous cooking contest to win one of four @jamieoliver cookbooks! A great contest to gear up for the holidays with Jamie Oliver's wife Jools' Easy Oaty Fruit Cookies recipe to get you and/or your kids in the kitchen baking. I've got my husband's office Christmas potluck (a huge hit by the way), treats for my neighbours and of course rewards/goodies for my little helpers, so a double batch is in order to make plenty to go around! A healthy, delicious cookie you can feel good about giving and eating!

As Jamie Oliver's site says of this recipe: “A really delicious, simple, comforting cookie – porridge oats are a high-fibre carbohydrate, which means they’ll keep you feeling fuller for longer. Feel free to use whichever dried fruit you like in the mix – things like prunes, apricots, sour cherries and blueberries all work well. ”

Jools Oliver's Easy Oaty Fruity Cookies
Makes about two dozen (24) cookies

3/4 cup all purpose flour, spelt or wholemeal flour
1 tsp. ground mixed spice or cinnamon
½ tsp. baking soda
3/4 cup quick oats (not instant)
2/3 cup raisins, sultanas or whichever dried fruit you like (we used currants, cranberries and apricots)
1/4 cup mixed seeds, such as pumpkin, sunflower, flaxseed, sesame
1/2 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
1/4 cup golden caster sugar
1/4 cup soft brown sugar
1 large egg

Preheat the oven to 350ºF and line two large baking trays with parchment paper. (I doubled the recipe to make a double batch, lining four baking sheets).

Tip the flour, mixed spice/cinnamon, baking soda, oats, dried fruit (roughly chop up any bigger pieces of fruit first) and seeds into a large bowl and mix together well.

In another large bowl, cream the soft butter and sugars together until light and fluffy. Crack in the egg and beat to combine. Tip in all the dry ingredients and stir together – it should come together, but you might need to press it together with your hands to get everything properly combined.

Stirring and cracking eggs- my boys favourite cooking tasks!

"I like looking it whizz from here mom!"

At this stage, the mixture will be sticky, but if you wet your hands, you will be able to it roll into walnut-sized balls – you should get around 24 in total. As you roll them, place them onto the lined baking trays, squashing them down a little with the palm of your hand.

Bake in the oven for 8 to 10 minutes, or until lightly golden and slightly soft in middle.
Once cooked, remove from the oven and when cool enough to handle transfer them to wire racks to cool a little – they’re delicious warm, but equally good cold. Keep in an air-tight container for up to 5 days.

TIP: If you prefer to bake two sheets, space racks so oven is divided into thirds and switch cookie sheets top to bottom and back to front halfway through baking. I was able to do this with four baking sheets, two on top and two on bottom. 

Ready for the ovenator!

Four dozen yummy cookies!!!

Give this recipe a try for the holidays-- how about for an cookies exchange, teachers' and hostess' gifts or a plate out for Santa on X-Mas Eve? Healthy, delicious and fun to make together! And while you're at it, why not also enter our December contest to win a Jamie Oliver cookbook? Just snap a photo and share it on social media as per below.
Hey #Canada -  Food Revolution Toronto want to get you BAKING! Starting December 1st 2016 until December 31st 2016, bake up a batch of Jools Oliver's Easy Oaty Fruity Cookies for your chance to win one of four Jamie Oliver cookbooks thanks to Harper Collins Canada!

How To Enter:

Bake Jools' Easy Oaty Fruity Cookies with your family, snap a picture and share it on social media using the hashtag #CookwithFoodRevTO and tag us on Facebook, or at @FoodRevToronto on Twitter or Instagram and you'll be entered to win a cookbook!

Eligibility and Contest Rules:

– Contest begins on December 1st 2016 at 10am EST on and closes December 31st 2016 at 6pm EST.
– Prize consists of one (1) Jamie Oliver cookbook (various titles).
– There are four (4) prizes in total.
– Open to readers or the age of majority with a Canadian mailing address.
– No purchase of any product necessary for entry.
– Winners will be chosen randomly (using random.org) from all qualified entries on Dec. 31st 2016 after 6pm EST.
– Winners will be notified via email January 1st 2017 and will have 48 hours to respond to the email.
– Winners will be required to answer a skill testing question.

***** Roll up your sleeves and Let's Get Baking! *****