Vegan Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies

1.Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

2.In a large mixing bowl, combine the rolled oats (1 cup), all-purpose flour (1 cup), coconut sugar (½ cup), baking soda (½ teaspoon), salt (¼ teaspoon), and ground cinnamon (½ teaspoon). Stir until well mixed.

3.In a separate bowl, whisk together the melted coconut oil (⅓ cup), unsweetened applesauce (¼ cup), and vanilla extract (1 teaspoon) until smooth.

4.Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and mix until just combined. Be careful not to overmix.

5.Fold in the vegan chocolate chips (½ cup) and chopped nuts, if using, until evenly distributed throughout the dough.

6.Using a tablespoon or cookie scoop, drop rounded spoonfuls of dough onto the prepared baking sheet, spacing them about 2 inches apart.

7.Gently flatten each cookie with the back of a spoon or your fingers to help them spread evenly while baking.

8.Bake in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are golden brown and the centers are set.

9.Remove the cookies from the oven and let them cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.