Iced Oatmeal-Apple Cookies

These cookies are full of flavor, soft, chewy, and they stay that way-- they don't turn into bricks the next morning. They are one of my favorite go-to cookies and the only way to make an oatmeal raisin cookie.

Iced Oatmeal-Apple Cookies

*Makes about 2 dozen

4 Tablespoons butter, melted

1 cup packed brown sugar

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1 large egg

1 large apple, peeled and grated

1 1/2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats

1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

3/4 cup golden raisins

For glaze

1 cup confectioners sugar

3 Tablespoons maple syrup

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Mix butter and sugars together. Add egg and grated apple. Mix until well blended. Mix in oats, flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Mix in raisins.

Scoop onto a greased cookies tray. Bake for 7-8 minutes. DO NOT OVERBAKE. That them out when they start to turn golden brown but aren't quite set. Let them cool completely.

For glaze, whisk together sugar and syrup until liquidy and smooth. Drizzle over cookies, let set.

Apple Oatmeal Raisin Muffins

In my newest issue of Shape Magazine they had a recipe for Better Blueberry Muffins. These muffins had 173 calories compared to the 600+ that usual muffins have. I am a big fan of eating healthy so I decided to try them out. However, as usual my muffins turned out quite different from what I started out to make.

I didn't have many blueberries but I did have a bushel of apples and fresh raisins. I also added spices--cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, allspice-- to mine. The end result? These muffins were pretty good. As good as a full fat fluffy and fresh one from the bakery? No, but pretty close. But for a third of the calories, pretty close it close enough for me.

Apple Oatmeal Raisin Muffins

*makes 12 muffins
1 1/2 cups whole-wheat flour
1/2 cup splenda
1/2 cup quick cooking oats
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon allspice
1/4 teaspoon ginger
1/8 teaspoon cloves
1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
3/4 cup milk
1 large egg
2 Tablespoons vegetable oil
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 large apple, peeled and grated
1/2 cup raisins
1/4 cup orange juice

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Put raisins into a small bowl and  cover with orange juice. The raisins will absorb the juice and become plump and flavorful.

Combine four, splenda, oats, baking powder, baking soda, and spices in a large bowl. In another bowl whisk together milk, egg, oil, and vanilla. Pour wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir to combine. Add grated apple and raisins (including and extra orange juice).

Fill muffin pan with paper liners and divide batter evenly. Bake 10 to 12 minutes or until golden brown. Cool in the pan for several minutes and serve.

Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

I wanted to make Oatmeal Raisin Cookies, however I ran out of raisins, so chocolate chips took their place. This recipe comes from the Joanne Fluke novels again. Her cookies are the best that I have ever made. They always come out perfect. I know everyone has their favorite kind of cookie, but I love mine to be soft and chewy. 

The secret to getting perfectly golden round chewy discs every time-- melted butter, and a lot of it. These cookies aren't for the calorie conscious, I don't want to even to figure out how many sit-ups I must do to burn off a batch.

The point is: desserts are treats, to be eaten in moderation. It is perfectly fine to eat a sinful cookie or two every once in a while. If your going to eat a low-carb, no sugar, 1-1/2 calorie cookie then your missing the point of having a cookie.

Okay, my rant is over (Mother). The only thing I would change next time I make these is that the recipe didn't call for any spices. I like my oatmeal raisin cookies with a bit of cinnamon and all-spice. Another thing I might add to them is shredded apple and a cream cheese icing drizzle. Mrs. Fields has an oatmeal raisin cookie with those and it is delicious.

Wash your cookie down with a glass of milk, you will get extra calcium. 

Sinful Oatmeal Raisin Chocolate Chip Cookies

*Makes a little over 2 dozen cookies

1 cup melted butter (2 sticks)

2 cups white sugar

2 teaspoons vanilla

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons baking soda

2 large eggs

2 1/2 cups flour

1 cup raisins or chocolate chips

2 cups oatmeal

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Melt butter in a large microwave safe bowl. Add sugar and mix. Then add vanilla, salt, and baking soda.

Next stir in eggs. Add the flour then raisins and oatmeal.

Roll walnut sized dough balls and place on a greased baking sheet. Flatten slightly with the back of a spatula.

Bake for 6 minutes.--Don't worry if they are still a little doughy in the middle, they will cook more as they cool and as a result, be chewier longer. Cool on baking sheet for two minutes, then move to a wire rack to cool completely.