In my previous post I had written about how I miss few things in Canada and how I was a little disappointed. I think I have to take back my words now, because I have discovered few amazing things here.
I'm sure I'm going to find more interesting stuff once I start exploring the place. Last week we had been to a mall and found a store called Bulk Barn.
From where I was looking I was able to see only the name of the store in big letters and big packets of bird food. With the name and the bird food I thought it was some pet store where they were selling pet supplies in bulk and was thinking of skipping it. But I turned back again and marched towards the store and I'm so glad I did it or else I would have missed something very amazing. It's a grocery store where supplies are sold in bulk and not in ready to go packs, so you can decide to buy how much you want.
Also they have an unbelievable selection of specialty flours/grains, baking supplies, nuts, candies and many more. I felt like a kid in a candy store. I was able to find a lot of stuff which was not easily accessible to me in US as well.
Another exciting find was the community center in our area. It's just 7 minutes walk from our home. It has a decent size library (not much in the cooking section but a lot of materials for my son) and also a fitness center with reasonable prices. There are a couple of parks and walking trails also nearby. I'm loving it here!
Now coming to today's recipe, while grocery shopping last week I found oat bran and wheat bran in the store. Back in US these and similar items were available but was either costly or I had to make a special trip to the health food store. So I did not get a chance to use oat bran. When I saw it here I immediately grabbed a pack of each. I didn't know what I was going to do but bought it anyway.
Here I have to mention something, I'm a shopaholic. Not that I buy countless dresses and shoes (I used to be one back in India) but I love to buy grocery supplies and cookbooks. While browsing the web for recipes using oat bran I found this recipe. I have tweaked it little bit to suit our taste.
Recipe
Outrageous Oat Bran Cookies Recipe
Ingredients
- ¾ cup (1 and ½ stick) Softened Butter
- ¾ cup Brown Sugar (I used light)
- ⅓ cup Granulated Sugar
- ½ cup Unsweetened Applesauce
- 2 teaspoons Vanilla Extract
- 1 cup All Purpose Flour
- 1 cup White Whole Wheat Flour
- 1 cup Oat Bran
- ¼ cup Flax Seed (I used powdered flax seed)
- ¼ teaspoon Baking Powder
- ¾ teaspoon Baking Soda
- Little Ground Cinnamon (Optional)
- ½ cup Raisins,Nuts,Coconut,Chocolate Chips (Optional)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F for 15 minutes. Grease the baking sheet or line it with parchment paper.
- In a big bowl combine together the flours, bran, flax seed, baking powder, baking soda and raisins (if using) and set aside.
- In a medium bowl, blend together butter and sugars until creamy.
- Add applesauce and vanilla and mix until well blended. If you use an electric beater to mix the applesauce it may look curdled, but don't worry.
- To the wet ingredients add the dry ingredients and mix well.
- Drop the dough by tablespoon on prepared baking sheets. Lightly spray the tablespoon with non stick spray, so that the dough will drop easily. Use a butter knife to scoop out the dough from the tablespoon.
- The baking time mentioned in the recipe is 8-10 minutes. The cookies look very even after 9 minutes but I removed them out anyway. After it cooled we tasted it and felt that it required further baking. So baked again for another 3 minutes. This time it had a nice golden brown color. Leave it in the baking sheet itself for a minute and then transfer it to a wire rack to cool completely.
Taste & Texture
- The earthy smell of white whole wheat flour was predominant when the cookies were consumed fresh (on the day of baking). But they tasted very good the second day. The smell was very mild. My son is enjoying the cookies very much, so I guess he doesn't even smell anything different.
Brandie says
Hello Madhuram,
I am pregnant and googled eggless cookies (love to taste the dough and so does my daughter). We just made these and they are amazingly good. I used everything you called for, and would not change a thing! We topped them with a pecan to make them extra pretty.
I needed to bake mine for 16 minutes (have an extra large gas oven). Anyways, I will be using your site for more yummy recipes and I'm glad I found you!
Madhuram says
Congratulations Brandie and thanks for the feedback
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Sister Tinh Quang says
Hi, dear Madhuram. I, too, love Bulk Barn. It is great for spices, too. I can buy 5 or 6 spices for less than $1, and due to the high turnover, they are very fresh.
If you are near Toronto (I'm not too far away), there are some great Indian grocery stores and other wonderful Asian stores to buy hard-to-find items.
roma says
These cookies look professional. I have never used oats but have been wanting to try it for a long time now.
Samahita says
This recipes is simply awesome. The way you have described the taste, I can almost smell them...really I must make them sometime 🙂
Aparna says
These cookies look good, but why do you call them outrageous? Couldn't figure that one out. 🙂
Have stock of both oat bran and wheat bran. That's probably a sign.
Btw, I've found that using a little more of flax seeds tends to give a discernible taste and smell.
The site from which I tried these had named it Outrageous and I went with it thinking that it would create a curiosity and it did!
Sweatha says
Thanks for the clarification Madhu.I am yet to open my oat bran.
Divya says
I just made these this afternoon - wow! i love them! we've had oat flour and oat bran just sitting in our pantry and you posted this recipe just in time! i used oat flour instead of all purpose flour and used less sugar, i should have added more applesauce,because the cookies needed to be a touch moist.i will definitely make them again 🙂
That was very quick Divya. I'm also happy to know that oat flour works well in this recipe. I have not baked with oat flour earlier but have some and was looking for recipes.
Samahita says
You have a great blog running here with an amazing list of recipes. I loved browzing through them. I will definitely come back for more. Meanwhile I have blogrolled you 🙂
Thanks Samahita. I'll check yours too.
Mona says
Madhuram, Bulk barn is one of my favorite shop too. Walmart supercentres, Sobeys, Dominion, Price Chopper, Loblaws, Foodbasic, and many of the Chinese/Asain food stores are the other grocery stores that usually I go to and easily get a large variety of food products/grocery in quite reasonable rates.
The only few things about Canada that I still dislike is the harsh winter weather :smile:; less option of locally grown foods and the lack of farmers markets in every locality, etc. Otherwise its a beautiful place with all sorts of convenience.
That's true Mona. I have not seen Sobeys and Dominion as of now. Food Basics definitely seems to be cheaper than the Superstore/Loblaws near my place. I have not yet explored the Oriental stores yet but located a good one recently. Yes winter is definitely going to be difficult. I have lived in Winnipeg before and it was cruel.
bee says
beautiful pic (the first one). do send it in for click cookies if you can.
Vidya says
Hello Madhuram, great recipe.
sadhana says
Have tried with wheat bran, but never tried with oat bran. Will surely try it out.
Sujatha says
Hi Madhu,
Which part of Canada are you in? is it Toronto, which part of Toronto?
I love your site, your recipes are very useful for me.
Thanks a lot.
Thanks Sujatha, will send you a mail.
Uma says
Hi Madhu! Glad to hear that you have settled well in Canada! Looks like you're enjoying your stay very much 🙂 Thanks for the interesting info. on the new place! Your description is tempting me to visit there 🙂
Belated anniversary wishes to you both. Oat Bran cookies look so delicious.
Uma, be my guest. There are so many things to do here.
RedChillies says
Madhuram, welcome back. I missed your previous posts. Belated Anniversary wishes to you and your husband. Good to know that you are settling well. Hope your little one has settled as well.
Loved this and also the no bake almond butter oat cookies.
Thanks RC. Arjun caught the stomach flu the very next day we landed here, but he is fine now.