Can you have oatmeal raisin cookies on Daniel Fast? The definitive guide to diet-compliant baking

November 4, 2025 •

3 min read

Over 2 million people worldwide participate in the Daniel Fast each year, adhering to strict dietary guidelines for a period of spiritual focus. The desire for familiar comforts, like baked goods, is common during this time, leading many to question, 'Can you have oatmeal raisin cookies on Daniel Fast?' The answer is a surprising and resounding 'yes,' but only with specific, compliant ingredient substitutions.

Quick Summary

This article explores the specific guidelines of the Daniel Fast to determine how to create a compliant version of oatmeal raisin cookies. It covers ingredient swaps for sugar, flour, and leavening agents, offering a comparison of different ingredient types and a recipe for a permissible sweet treat.

Key Points

Compliant Ingredients Required: Traditional oatmeal raisin cookies are not allowed, but a version made with Daniel Fast-approved ingredients is acceptable.
Avoid Added Sugars: All forms of added sweeteners, including honey and syrups, are forbidden; natural sweetness must come from fruits like bananas and dates.
Choose Whole Grains: Oats and other whole grains are a staple of the Daniel Fast, providing the necessary bulk for the cookies.
Substitute for Eggs and Dairy: Eggs and dairy are not permitted. Use compliant alternatives like mashed bananas or nut butter for binding.
Omit Leavening Agents: Baking soda and yeast are generally excluded, resulting in a denser, chewier, or bar-like cookie.
Use Only Natural Fats: Avoid solid fats like butter and shortening, opting instead for small amounts of approved plant-based oils or nut butters.
Check All Labels: For any pre-packaged ingredients, like nuts or nut butter, always read the label to ensure no added sugars or preservatives are included.

The Daniel Fast is a biblically-based partial fast rooted in the experiences of the prophet Daniel. The modern interpretation is a short-term, vegan diet, typically 21 days, that also restricts certain food categories such as sugars, processed foods, and baked goods. While a standard oatmeal raisin cookie recipe is clearly off-limits, a modified version can be crafted by focusing on the core principle of eating only plant-based, unprocessed foods and avoiding added sweeteners.

Understanding Daniel Fast Rules for Baked Goods

Traditional baked goods are generally not permitted on the Daniel Fast due to ingredients like refined flour, added sugars, eggs, and dairy, as well as leavening agents. To create a compliant cookie, these ingredients must be replaced with approved alternatives.

Why Oats and Raisins are Generally Permitted

Whole Grains: Plain rolled oats or steel-cut oats, without added sugar, are allowed as whole grains.
Dried Fruit: Raisins are permitted as a natural sweetener, provided they do not contain added sugar.

The Challenge with Cookies

Making a compliant cookie requires finding substitutes for traditional binders (like eggs), sweeteners, and fats.

Crafting a Daniel Fast-Compliant Oatmeal Raisin Cookie

Creating a Daniel Fast-friendly cookie involves swapping non-compliant ingredients for approved ones, such as using rolled oats for the base instead of refined flour, and relying on fruits for sweetness.

Ingredient Substitutions for Compliant Baking

Here are some common substitutions:

Flour: Use rolled oats, oat flour, or unleavened whole wheat flour. Some recipes also use psyllium husk for texture.
Sweetener: Forbidden ingredients include standard sugar, honey, and syrups. Use natural sweetness from mashed bananas, date paste, unsweetened applesauce, or raisins.
Binding Agent: Replace eggs with mashed bananas, a 'flax egg' (ground flaxseed and water), or unsweetened peanut butter.
Fat: Avoid dairy butter and hydrogenated shortenings. Use small amounts of plant-based oils like coconut oil or unsweetened nut butters.
Leavening: Baking powders and sodas are generally restricted. Omitting them results in a denser cookie, often called 'bites' or 'bars'.

Comparison of Daniel Fast vs. Standard Oatmeal Raisin Cookies


Feature	Standard Oatmeal Raisin Cookie	Daniel Fast-Compliant Cookie
Flour	All-purpose white flour	Rolled oats, oat flour, or whole wheat flour
Sweetener	White or brown sugar	Mashed bananas, dates, or unsweetened applesauce
Binding Agent	Eggs	Mashed bananas, flaxseed meal ('flax egg'), or nut butter
Fat	Butter or shortening	Unsweetened nut butter or minimal coconut oil
Leavening	Baking soda	Omitted, resulting in a denser treat
Moisture	Eggs, milk	Mashed fruit, nut butter
Taste Profile	Classic, sweet, and buttery	Naturally sweet, whole grain, and rustic

Sample Recipe for Compliant Cookies

This recipe provides a way to make a Daniel Fast-friendly sweet treat.

Ingredients:

2 large, very ripe bananas, mashed
1.5 cups rolled oats
0.5 cup raisins, with no added sugar
2 tablespoons unsweetened peanut butter or almond butter
1 teaspoon cinnamon

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Combine mashed bananas and nut butter.
Add oats, raisins, and cinnamon; mix well.
Drop spoonfuls onto the baking sheet and flatten slightly.
Bake for 12-15 minutes until edges are golden.
Cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before moving to a wire rack.

The Spiritual and Nutritional Significance

The Daniel Fast is a spiritual practice of self-denial and focus. Preparing compliant foods from whole ingredients supports this spiritual goal while also offering nutritional benefits like fiber, vitamins, and energy from whole grains, fruits, and healthy fats.

Conclusion: Intentionality over Indulgence

In conclusion, you can have oatmeal raisin cookies on Daniel Fast, provided they are made with compliant ingredients. This requires intentional preparation and using natural sweeteners and whole foods instead of processed ingredients and added sugars. This approach allows for a satisfying treat that aligns with the fast's dietary and spiritual principles.

For additional compliant recipes, explore dedicated Daniel Fast resources.

Frequently Asked Questions

No, regular oatmeal raisin cookies are not allowed on the Daniel Fast. They typically contain non-compliant ingredients such as sugar, butter, eggs, and processed flour, which are all restricted.

You must use natural, fruit-based sweeteners, as all added sugars are forbidden. Acceptable options include mashed bananas, date paste, unsweetened applesauce, or the sweetness from raisins themselves.

You can use store-bought nut butter, but you must read the ingredients list carefully. Only all-natural versions with no added sugar or other non-compliant ingredients are permitted.

The Daniel Fast guidelines restrict leavening agents like yeast, which is often extended to include baking soda and baking powder. This is why compliant recipes produce denser, more rustic 'cookies' or bars.

Yes, you can substitute other soft, sweet fruits. Unsweetened applesauce or pureed dates can work well to provide moisture and sweetness, though the texture and flavor will differ.

Both are acceptable whole grains. Rolled oats are more traditional for cookies and create a softer texture, while steel-cut oats are less processed and will result in a chewier, heartier cookie.

Many resources, such as specialized websites and cookbooks dedicated to the Daniel Fast, offer a wide range of creative and compliant dessert recipes.