My housemate and I had our rental inspection today (nailed it! “Excellent” ticked all through the report; pat on the back, pip pip!) and, as a result, there’s space to move in my room for the first time in six months. To be clear, my room has never been unclean (I’m far too paranoid about attracting living creatures for that). However, it’s not uncommon for 90% of the floor space to be taken up by piles of books, fancy heels that have been kicked off with relief at the end of a long day, and scattered recipe print-outs.
It’s amazing how putting the recipe print-outs in the desk, the books on the shelf, and the shoes neatly against the wall can affect one’s sense of space. All of a sudden I have room in my room (in my room, in my room) to practice fake-yoga and, more importantly, frenetically dance around in.
I’ve got a bit of nervous/crankypants/swirling energy to dance out at present. I’m skipping over the melancholy songs on iTunes and finding the music to which I can do my best impression of an electrocuted-monkey-crossed-with-a-jellyfish.
I dance goooooooood.
Of course, the other way to deal with skittering thoughts is through baking. After eating almost all of the amazing plain Chobani yoghurts that the Aussie Chobani folk sent me as filling work snacks (I’ve gone wild this past week, adding not just sprinkles and coconut but poppy seeds too), I made sure to save a few tubs to bake with.
These Oatmeal Cherry Yoghurt Cookies with Cacao Nibs were the first result of my Chobani baking endeavours. Okay, so “cookies” may not be the best term, as these are a far cry from crispy-buttery-sugary treats. Instead, they’re soft and deliciously doughy in the middle, not too sweet yet excitingfied through the buzz of intense cacao nibs and the tart sweetness of chewy dried cherries. The oats provide their almost-nutty malty flavour and the yoghurt a very soft tang, all bundled up in the warmth of cinnamon and a hint of coconut.
Plus, these healthy and low-fat cookies are (say it with me now!) spectacular topped with almond or sunflower seed butter.
Enjoy!
Oatmeal Cherry Yoghurt Cookies with Cacao Nibs
Makes 12
Adapted from Workout Cookies at Carrots ‘n’ Cake
- 1/4 cup plain flour
- 3/4 cup rolled oats (not the instant kind, if you can help it)
- 1/4 cup golden flaxseed meal
- 1/4 cup brown sugar, packed
- 1/4 cup tart dried cherries, roughly chopped
- 2 tb cacao nibs
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 170g tub plain Chobani yoghurt
- 1/8 cup melted coconut oil (or Nuttelex)
- Preheat oven to 180°C (375°F). Lightly grease a muffin tin or if, like me, you’re using a silicone muffin tin, simply put it on your counter, no greasing necessary.
- Combine all ingredients in a large bowl and stir until well combined. The mixture will be quite stiff.
- Stop and take a breather, because this recipe is so difficult and time-consuming.
- Divide batter evenly between the twelve muffin cups. (I scooped the batter out with a large spoon and firmly smooshed it into the muffin tins.)
- Bake for 15-18 minutes, until cooked through.
Note: Because these cookies aren’t crisp to begin with, I’ve happily been storing them in the freezer and simply letting them defrost before eating them.
Question Time: What songs do you put on when you feel the need to dance wildly in the privacy of your own room/house?
My room has stuff scattered all over too. So hard to keep it tidy! :p
I like the idea of buttery goodness smothered over these cookies, yes I do.
It gives me great joy to have a partner-in-crime when it comes to not-messy-but-scattered living.
I feel like that also describes the inside of my head these days…
yay for passing the rental inspection!!! they were always such a hassle
The worst part is I get ridiculously anxious and hyper-vigilant and end up doing things like standing on chairs to scrub at smudges on the window blinds, when I know deep down the real estate agents simply walk in and out in the space of ten minutes to check for, say, big holes in the walls. Sigh.
Well done on the inspection and clearing your room for some frenetic dancing. My suggestion? Skip the pop tunes and go for one of the tracks (15 to 20 minutes) from Miles Davis’ Bitches Brew. He was the master of polyrhytms (simultaneous use of two or more conflicting rhythms) so you can have your feet tapping to one rhythm and your hips and hands moving to another rhythm. You can’t beat that! (You might need to hop into some OCY Cookies first to give you the energy). Oh! And the monkeys and jellyfish would be proud of you.
A 15-20 minutes youtube clip would kill my internet, Mike! But one day I’ll try and investigate this music you speak of
(P.S. I finished all eight grades of piano, Mike. You don’t need to explain musical terms to me 
That said, I don’t know how good I’d be at moving my feet and hips to different rhythms!)
Bitches Brew, yeah!
Way to go Emma. I can just see Hannah krumping frenetically to Pharaoh’s Dance and even heel clicking in Spanish Key. I’d love to see that!
Eeeek, Cherry and Cacao Nibs here too! I think the universe is trying to tell me something …
Congrats on the rental inspection. Can’t say I was sorry to say goodbye to them
Yes, yes it is. It’s trying to tell you that my stash of dried cherries and cacao nibs are like the packet of Tim Tams that never runs out and therefore are being included in everything. Oh, and that you should be eating them too
I swear, I’ve never really thought seriously about buying my own place before, but the thought of a) no more inspections, and b) PUPPIES PUPPIES PUPPIES makes it more and more appealing. However, single income makes it difficult in this awful market!
I really, really don’t miss rental inspections. Actually I rented for so long that still even now it doesn’t really occur to me that I can just bang a nail into the wall if I want to. Or god forbid paint it. Your baked products look intriguing- you must have a lifetimes supply of dried cherries!
And own pets! Puppies, puppies, puppies! Teehee, that thing about being able to paint/put up pictures? I still get that feeling of surprise when I realise I can totally leave my shoes in the back of the car now, ’cause I own it. It’s the little things.
Bahaha, I really do! Endless cherries and pecans, thanks to Costco…
Yum these sound so good, and a teensy bit similar to a recipe I’m posting tonight too! LOVE dancing while I’m cooking. Usually to song I can kareoke to. Adele is a must
High five for synchronicity! I’ll be sure to check your blog this weekend when I’m stealing good internet from my parents.
Bahaha, I love how you say “karaoke to” instead of just “sing”. Makes it sound so much more dramatic and talented!
Cherry and cocoa nibs?? Sign me up! As for dancing, I’m super keen on We Are Young by Fun. and Tokyo by The Wombats. Those songs always make me wiggle.
Ooh, I’ll have to look those up on youtube tomorrow! Though in truth I may already know them; I’m just terrible at remembering titles and band names
These are definitely my sort of cookies. Almond butter and all
And I’m delighted you have room within your room, for such things make a world of difference to me and dancing space is clearly worthwhile space. Also, I’m impressed you wear high heels. That makes you an Adult in my mind, and also someone with better feet skills than me 
Teehee, I definitely don’t wear huge heels everyday, but I do love my super-high ones for the occasional night out (when someone else is driving, of course, as I enjoy not crashing). To make a strange sort of segue, though, I for the life of me can’t understand how popstars dance in heels!
Britney.
Old school only.
What gorgeous pics you took of the food. Looks insanely delicious!
My room is NEVER clean
My brother scolds me for not cleaning my room. tsk tsk I’m a terrible big sister.
*laughs* I was about to say that I don’t get nagged anymore now that I’ve moved out, but I just remembered that Mum *does* still complain about the state of my room back home, because I keep leaving bags of chocolate in it over there! (It’s air-conditioned, so it’s safer than my place in summer
)
I have a bag of cacao nibs that I really need to get through! Sounds just about perfect!
They also work well mixed into our peanut butter and dry cereal combination
I’ve never tried cocoa nibs, but a friend of mine is going to give me some soon. Can’t wait to try them! But I think that I won’t be able to make such fancy things like your cookies with them.
Oh Kath, these cookies have got to be the antithesis of fancy! Throw things in a bowl and plop ‘em in muffin tins? Laziness personified.
I’ve heard of people using cacao nibs in savoury meals; maybe you could try that!
I love nailing a rental inspection
It’s a good feeling
Cocoa nibs? Fancy fancy cookies
Never had them before but these delish cookies will give me a chance to try them!
Yum, thanks!
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
Oh, the dreaded inspection! Glad you sailed through the ordeal but isn’t it an enormous amount of work tidying up for these inspections. I’m the same when my mother comes over to the house. I’ll spend three days frantically making sure the house is in order and everything is put away and all is neat and tidy and my husband thinks I’m completely mad. But after all that effort (of trying to impress my mum about what an excellent home-maker I am) I rather enjoy the neatness and order the tidy-up brings. Shame it doesn’t last!
Actually, if I’m honest it was barely any work at all to clean the majority of the apartment, as my housemate and I are both minimalists when it comes to “stuff” and always keep things super clean. It was just my bedroom than needed some dedicated sorting-magic, Mary Poppins-style. My levels of anxiety were ridiculously disproportionate to the work involved
*laughs* Unfortunately my mum knows I’m a bit hopeless at keeping my room tidy, so I’ll probably never convince her I’m a year-round excellent home-maker
Good for you and housemate, Hannah. Inspections are never fun. Good luck with keeping the piles filed.
I’ve learnt from the best? *ahem*
I’m not sure I want to answer that!
You have beautiful book piles, mother dear.
YAY low fat healthy cookies and the fact that you’re using my new favourite Chobani yoghurt it’s practically perfect hehe
Thanks for sharing!! I can’t wait to try this recipe and best part is hehe I have all the ingrediets to make it at home! But i don’t have Cacao nibs can I just use chocolate instead? 
Chocolate would work wonderfully
Would make the cookies a little sweeter, too, which might help as they’re not too sweet in the original 
OO delish – where did you get the nibs from please?
Telephone – Lady Gaga. Not pretty.
T x
It doesn’t have to be pretty; it just has to make us happy
I get my nibs either by ordering them online at iHerb (they ship to Australia), or from a place called Mountain Creek here in Canberra, which sells Loving Earth’s cocoa nibs. If you’re in Australia, maybe check out Loving Earth’s website for stockists in your area? Hope that helps!
*Of course* you nailed your house inspection. I doubt there’s any tests out there that you don’t nail, you high achiever you.
Aw, you! Considering that I actually just failed to nail something rather significant, this comment is all the more welcome to soothe my bruised pride xoxo
I love the plain ones too! And anything with cocao nibs
This looks absolutely mouthwatering!! I don’t even know where to buy dried cherries, but I will find out
I got mine from Costco
ooh chocolate yoghurt – I had been sure you were using cherry yoghurt – esp because they don’t look full of chocolate yoghurt – but then I have only ever brought king island chocolate yoghurt (maybe it is a cream dessert) and it is too good to put in cookies so what would I know! You can send some my way to taste just to check if you like
Chocolate yoghurt? I’m so confused. I tried chocolate yoghurt once in America and thought it was horrible. I used plain Chobani yoghurt here??
maybe that was just wishful thinking – either than or that I was in a huge rush because my internet is down at home – grrrrrrrrrr
I love that you baked with plain chobani. These look so so good!!! Yay for dancing around like a crazy person to music. Mine is usually pop music like Taylor Swift. Usually = always.
Heidi xo
Did I ever tell you that, for my grandparents’ 60th anniversary last year, my brother and I got up in the fancy restaurant and, he on guitar and me singing, performed both Moon River and Taylor Swift’s Love Story as their present?
Which is all to say I’m with you there, lady.
I’ve been dancing about to Sugar Ray lately. They may have made my favorite 90s pop songs. Shoop doop de doop.
A-Wop-bop-a-loo-lop a-lop-bam-boo
I think we know how I feel about anything with “Sugar” in its title.