Nickie’s Nook: Oils and Books

I have an incredible love of sugar. Desserts, baked goods, sweet drinks like lattes or sodas or candy, the specifics don’t matter. I just love sweets! So it’s no surprise that I love the sweet foods we eat around Christmastime! That said, even though I love sweet stuff, I’d prefer that it have foods and drinks which don’t taste so heavily packaged. I’d prefer fresh-baked cookies, brownies and other good stuff to fake packaged stuff.

All of that is great, but baking fresh cookies that don’t taste like they come from a box isn’t always easy for those of us with chronic illnesses. I only have so much energy or pain tolerance to spread around, which makes it hard to do as much as I would like. So I was grateful to find out how much simply adding several drops of Doterra essential oils to a package of Betty Crocker cookie mix made it go from standard prepackaged cookies to tasting richer and more like something you baked from scratch.

I must caution that I’m only able to speak about Doterra essential oils, especially when discussing internal using oils internally. Also, even when using Doterra oils, not all oils are are safe to use internally. It’s vital to make sure that you check that the bottle or product information page states that the oils can be used internally. There are many oils which can be used in cookies. In the cookies pictured above, I used about 4 drops of spearmint and 4 drops of Wild Orange essential oils. I couldn’t specifically taste the flavor of either oil, but I find that even when I use both oils in my water, I don’t specifically taste the orange or the spearmint. These oils just added a little extra something to the cookies. They tasted a bit more homemade, like cookies which have added almond extract or something similar, where you can’t identify the additional flavor, you just know it’s there. I’d probably add at least a couple more drops of essential oil to the recipe and choose one specific flavor. I think something like cinnamon or clove would be great additions to a recipe. Orange on it’s own, or any other citrus oil, or even Onguard would be great. Below, I’ve listed several oils and their possible benefits.

To find any of the following oils, go to my Doterra website.

These statements haven’t been reviewed by the FDA and are not meant as claims to prevent, diagnose, treat or cure any illness. Always check with your doctor if you have any questions and especially if you have any medical conditions.

• Wild Orange: Wild orange has a bright aroma or flavor. It may help boost immunity and assist overall health. Other citrus oils like lemon or lime may have similar benefits.
• Cinnamon: Cinnamon tastes great in almost all baked goods. It can boost immunity and may also help promote healthier metabolic function.
• Madagascar vanilla: I love vanilla. In my opinion, you can never have enough vanilla, so adding vanilla to the cookie batter can’t hurt. It’s an overall comforting flavor, so adding it can only help the taste of the cookies!
• Lavender: As I mentioned in my earlier post about adding oils to hot chocolate, I like the taste of lavender. It’s not as weird as it sounds! I personally enjoy it. Lavender is included in the Serenity softgels and Adaptiv capsules because it can promote a sense of calm. I think it’s a more springlike flavor, so not everyone will find it a match for Christmas cookies, but I thought I’d mention it anyway.
• MetaPwr: MetaPwr is Doterra’s metabolic support blend. It’s ironic to use a metabolism blend in sugar cookies, but that type of thing has never stopped me from doing something like that before. MetaPwr contains grapefruit, lemon, peppermint, ginger, and cinnamon. I feel like it smells like Christmas. I’ve always used it because I find it can support healthier digestion and soothe occasional stomach upset which is a challenge for me due to my body’s reaction to my pain. Anyway, I think it would be a good addition to a Christmas cookie recipe.

I hope these essential oils give you some new ideas for your baking enjoyment!