Vegan Strawberry Lemon Pistachio Oatmeal Cookies

I am so ready for spring!  The weather is finally getting warmer, and I think the snow is behind us finally.  Just waiting for the grass to be greener and everything to start blooming but I am just happy to be enjoying time outside with it above 50 degrees.  I am also all about the spring recipes lately!  To me, strawberries, pistachios and lemon all are good things to enjoy in the spring so I decided to make oatmeal cookies with this flavor combo!  These Vegan Strawberry Lemon Pistachio Oatmeal Cookies turned out sooo good!

I love oatmeal cookies because of their chewy texture and the fact that they have substance.  I am a big oat lover in general and have eaten oatmeal in some form for breakfast every day for about the past 20 years.  These cookies have plenty of oats to give them the perfect texture!  In fact this base oatmeal cookie recipe was one that I made and tested many times to adapt it for a natural foods store I used to work at.  It is just right!  It has the perfect balance of oats and flour.  I use coconut oil for the fat because it behaves similarly to butter and it works out very well.  For the egg substitute I use flax eggs (ground flax seeds mixed with water) because they are easy to whip up. I used granulated sugar this time because I thought it would go better with the add ins I was using but you can also use brown sugar which I have used many times for a more caramelly flavor profile.

I added in vanilla extract as well as plenty of lemon juice and zest to flavor these.  For the strawberries I used freeze dried because I love the flavor they add to recipes.  Lastly the lovely pistachios which add a nice salty crunch.  The dough was so delicious!  I could not stop sampling it!  Cookie dough is my favorite part of baking cookies.  Maybe slightly more than the freshly baked ones!

They baked up beautifully and I could not wait to try them!  They were super delicious when I did!  Soft and chewy with a hint of lemon, vanilla and sweet strawberries plus the salty pistachios!  I shared some with my Mom since oatmeal cookies are her favorite as well and she loved them too!  If you are an oatmeal cookie person and are looking for some spring deliciousness, definitely give these Vegan Strawberry Lemon Pistachio Oatmeal Cookies a try!

Vegan Strawberry Lemon Pistachio Oatmeal Cookies

Makes 16 large cookies Ingredients:

• 2 Tbsp ground flax seed mixed with 1/4 cup plus 2 Tbsp water
• 3/4 cup coconut oil, warmed to liquid
• 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar, or maple sugar or coconut sugar
• 2 Tbsp lemon juice
• 1 Tbsp lemon zest
• 1 Tbsp pure vanilla extract
• 1 tsp lemon extract
• 1 1/2 cups whole wheat pastry flour or oat flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 3/4 tsp sea salt
• 3 cups gluten free old fashioned rolled oats
• 3/4 cup chopped pistachios
• 1 cup freeze dried strawberries

Instructions:

1. Mix together the flax seed and water in a small bowl.
2. In a large mixing bowl, mix together the coconut oil, and sugar until well blended. Add flax mixture, vanilla, lemon zest and juice and mix until well combined (the mixture will become very thick).
3. Mix in the flour, soda, and sea salt until well blended. Mix in the oats until well combined, then add pistachios and strawberries and mix until evenly distributed throughout the dough.
4. Lower the oven to 350F degrees with the rack set at the middle position.
5. Roll the dough into 16 large balls, and spread them out on the 2 cookie sheets with plenty of room in between. Bake for 15-18 minutes or until golden, but not over baked. Let cool on sheet a few minutes, then remove to a wire rack lined with parchment to cool.
6. Enjoy!