Healthy Holiday Oatmeal Apple Chew Cookies

Tis the season for cookies! Celebrate the holidays with a favorite from JJ Layton, executive chef at BayCare’s St. Joseph’s Hospitals. Try this healthy and delicious recipe for oatmeal apple chew cookies. They’re gluten free and vegan too!   

Ingredients

• 3 cups cereal, quick dry oatmeal 
• 3 small/individual packets of any recommended sugar substitute
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp ground ginger
• 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
• 3 medium bananas
• 1 Golden Delicious apple
• 1 Red Delicious apple 
• 1/2 cup raisins
• 1/2 cup Craisins

Directions

• Preheat a convection oven to 312F (conventional to 340F)
• In the work bowl of a food processor combine the oatmeal, sugar substitute (optional), baking soda and spices.
• Turn on and process until ground into a powder (approximately 30 seconds)
• Peel and add bananas, puree until uniform and thick, (like cold peanut butter)
• Transfer oatmeal mixture into a large work bowl.
• Small dice (the size of a pea) the apples and add to mixture.
• Add dried fruits and mix until evenly combined.
• Use a #40 portion scoop (just under 2 tbsp) to shape the cookies into 30 equal size balls.
• Evenly space on a parchment lined cookie sheet and lightly press down.
• Bake for 12-13 minutes (conventional 14-18 minutes) until light golden brown (these chews will not spread)
• Remove from oven and allow to cool. Enjoy! 

 Yield: 30 cookies 

• Portion:7/8 ounce
• Fat 0.6 gm
• Cholesterol 0 mg
• Sodium 43 mg
• Fiber 1.5 gm
• Calcium 7 mg
• Calories 55 cal
• Carbs 11.7 gm
• Protein 1.5 gm