healthy cookies?

Dear Kristin,

Yes, indeed we are very proud of you for passing all of your exams! It's been a very long road for you, and I don't blame you a bit for going the take-out route to help you through. But now that you are finished, and now that the holidays are over, it's time to settle down to some more healthy eating. So, you may ask, why am I posting a cookie recipe here? Well, I like to believe that these cookies are a somewhat healthier option - well, at least they are vegan friendly, and all of my vegan friends are healthy, so these must be healthy too, right? Sure - I'll just keep telling myself that as I scarf them down.

I guess these cookies seem healthier because they don't contain any butter or eggs, and they do contain good old fashioned oats. Whether they are healthier is probably debatable because they do contain a hefty amount of oil and sugar. They are also highly addictive, so you may end up eating three or four in one sitting - definitely not a healthy habit. These are loosely based on Giada De Laurentiis' Spiced Pumpkin-Raisin Cookies - I just fiddled with the spices and used diced apples instead of raisins. While, like any cookie, they are wonderful with a tall cold one (milk, that is), they are really amazing with a nice cup of tea on a snowy afternoon, making you just feel warm & toasty all over.

appleumpkin cookies

2 c. flour
1 1/3 c. oats
2 1/2 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
1 1/2 c. raw sugar
1 c. canned pumpkin
2/3 c. vegetable oil
2 Tbsp. maple syrup
2 tsp. vanilla extract
1 cup apple, small dice

Combine flour, oats, pumpkin pie spice, baking soda and salt in a medium bowl. In a larger bowl, combine the sugar, canned pumpkin, oil, syrup & vanilla. Whisk well to combine. Gradually stir the dry ingredients into the pumpkin mixture. Add the apples.

Drop by generous tablespoons onto parchment lined baking sheets, about 1" apart. Flatten each cookie slightly and sprinkle with additional raw sugar.

Bake in a 350 degree oven 17 to 20 minutes - they should be slightly firm to the touch. Cool slightly before transferring to racks.