Whole Wheat Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

With the words "whole wheat" in the title of these cookies, I may have scared some of you away. For those of you with an open mind and that are trying to lead a healthier lifestyle, I'm glad you've stuck around. 

These cookies are significantly lower in calories than their classic counterpart and come in at around 113 calories per cookie and about 4 grams of fat.

When you looking for a little something sweet and don't want to blow a whole lot of calories on a cookie, this may be the cookie you'll turn to. These cookies have all the flavors you love about a traditional oatmeal raisin cookie, but non of the guilt.

WHOLE WHEAT OATMEAL-RAISIN COOKIE

1 cup dark brown sugar
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
1/2 cup egg whites
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon coconut extract
2 cups oatmeal
1 cup all purpose flour
3/4 cup whole wheat flour
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup golden raisins
3 tablespoons chopped nuts (I used pistachios)

-Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.
-In the bowl of a stand mixer (or large bowl with a hand mixer), cream together the butter and brown sugar until fluffy.
-Add in the applesauce, egg whites, vanilla and coconut extracts and blend to combine.
-In a large bowl, whisk together the oatmeal, all purpose flour, whole wheat flour, cinnamon, baking powder and salt.
-Working in increments, add the flour mixture to the butter sugar mixture (1/3 at a time) and mix together until completely combined.
-Using a wooden spoon, stir in the raisins and the chopped nuts.
-Drop the dough by tablespoons onto a parchment lined baking sheet, spacing the cookies about 2" apart.
-Using the bottom of a glass that has been lightly coated with cooking spray, lightly press the cookies down to form flattened discs.
-Bake for approximately 13-15 minutes or until the cookies are lightly browned.
-Cool completely on a wire rack.

I think the next time I make these I may add some mashed bananas and maybe a different kind of chopped nuts to the mixture just to play around a little and experiment with the flavors. As long as the general "bones" of the recipe stays similar, I don't think too many calories will be added or subtracted either way.

Be healthy, Be happy!
Renee