Figure Friendly Oatmeal Cookie Recipe

Oatmeal cookies have and always be my absolute favorite treat. Plump, sweet raisins, mixed with hearty rolled oats and spices like cinnamon and nutmeg that fill the house with comforting scents. These round, raisin-filled snacks sound healthy...but usually that's not the case...However, this does not mean you have to give up your deserts to the cookie monster, there are healthier versions out there! But the question is, are they any good? In my search for the perfect diet-friendly recipe, I've tried countless low-fat, low-cal alternatives, which all failed to live up to the real deal. After almost giving up my search and diving into a bag of Pepperidge Farm Cookies, I finally came across a winner! WholeGrainGormet.com posted an amazingly simple and scrumptious recipe that only takes about 20 minutes to prepare and 15 minutes to bake. With no butter, sugar, or white flour, they are too healthy to be called cookies, but way too tasty to be called health food...let's call them nutritional snacks! I was so thrilled when the cookies, this time, came out tasting even better than the originals! I just finished a batch this afternoon, and though I must share the recipe with you! So, enjoy these oatmeal goodies to the fullest, and have second serving, they're guilt-free!!

Ingredients:

Dry ingredients

• 1 cup whole wheat flour


• 1 1/2 cups of Large Flake Rolled Oats


• 1/2 tsp baking soda


• 1/2 tsp baking powder


• 1/2 tsp salt


• 1 Tbsp Cinnamon


• 1/2 tsp Nutmeg (optional)

Wet ingredients

• 1/2 cup honey


• 1/2 cup canola oil *i substitute half of the oil with applesauce (1/4 cup of each)


• 1 Tbsp Molasses


• 1 egg (beat with 1 Tbsp water in separate bowl, then add in)


• 1 tsp Vanilla

Yummy extra ingredients

• 1/2 cup raisins


• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts


• 1/3 cup chopped dark chocolate

Preparation:

1. In large bowl, mix all dry ingredients together


2. In medium bowl, mix all wet ingredients together. (Hint: when measuring honey, spray cup with oil or baking spray to prevent sticking!)


3. Mix the wet stuff with the dry stuff.


4. Add the raisins, walnuts, and dark chocolate to the mix. (If it's too wet, add a bit more flour. If it's not binding well, you may add an egg white)


5. COOL the mix for 20 mins in the fridge uncovered


6. Preheat oven to 335 degrees


7. Drop teaspoons full onto your baking sheet (I recommend lining the sheet with parchment/wax paper). Press down with fingers to ensure even cooking.


8. Bake for about 15-20 minutes until bottom of cookie is golden.


9. Remove from oven and let cool for 3-5 minutes

The cookies freeze very well, fyi, and make a great snack if you want to try them cold. Enjoy!

Be sure to visit http://www.wholegraingormet.com/ for more healthy recipes!