Mixed Review: Kodiak Cakes Bear Country Oatmeal and Dark Chocolate Cookies

Posted by Lucy Baker, January 22, 2010 at 10:15 AM

"I was pleasantly surprised."

I'm a skeptic when it comes to baking with whole wheat flour. Too often, I find the consistency of such "healthy" desserts leaden and granular, the flavors a bit woody and dull.

Still, I couldn't resist the funky, Adirondack-style packaging of Kodiak Cakes Bear Country Oatmeal and Dark Chocolate Cookie Mix ($5.75).

Made from all-natural ingredients including whole wheat and oat flours, the mix also includes low-fat baking instructions: a perfect way to round up my month of healthful Mixed Reviews.

To prepare the mix, I beat 4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) of unsalted butter with 1/4 cup of applesauce and one large egg with an electric mixer until the mixture was light and somewhat fluffy (the applesauce prevented it from becoming truly creamy). Then I added the cookie mix and continued to beat with my electric mixer until the mixture was moistened.

The instructions warned that it might be a bit crumbly, and it was—more like wet sand than cohesive dough. In order to form it into balls I had to pack mounds together with my fingers.

Of course, I couldn't help but taste a few gobs of cookie dough as I went, and I was pleasantly surprised. The flavors were toasty and sweet with just the right amounts of cinnamon and brown sugar.

After a solid 10 minutes in a 350°F oven, my cookies had puffed centers and crispy, golden edges. I let them cool just as long as it took me to prepare a cup of tea. Then I broke the biggest one in half and took a bite.

They were cakey, warm, and tasted like nutty oats. Each bite contained a modest burst of melted dark chocolate. I wouldn't have minded a few more pockets of gooey fudge, but then again, these were healthy cookies. Everything is better in moderation—even chocolate chips I suppose.

I would highly recommend the Kodiak Cakes Bear Country Cookies to anyone looking for a healthy, all-natural way to satisfy a sugar craving.

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Tags: baking mixes, chocolate, cookies, low-fat, Mixed Review, oatmeal