Recipes for Healthy Family Desserts: Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

Got a family with an extra sweet tooth or two? Dessert is everyone’s favorite course, but it’s definitely not a good idea to make it an everyday thing, especially if your desserts are high in fat, calories and sugar as well as other unwanted additives. What do you do when you’re either trying to instill healthy habits into your kids or trying to be more health conscious, cut sugars, decrease empty carbs with no nutrition, lose some weight and be healthier yourself? Or what if you’re doing both? You don’t have to pack on the pounds or the mountains of sugary, simple carbs when making desserts for your family. There are endless ways to whip up a yummy dessert for the kids and the spouse that are either low in fat, low in sugar or are deceptively healthy for you. It’s all about choosing unexpectedly healthy ingredients to make healthy versions of old classics. Here are a few recipes that will help you satisfy those sweet cravings your family gets while not having to sacrifice their health and nutritional diet.

Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

Who doesn’t love cookies? This recipe is great for cookie lovers - which is basically everyone. It satisfies the sweet tooth while also packing some healthy ingredients that give your body some nutrition.

Use apple butter to add moisture instead of traditional butter for an extra healthy substitution.

Ingredients

• Boiling water
• 1/2 cup raisins
• 1 cup whole-wheat pastry flour, spooned and leveled
• 1/4 cup apple butter
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
• 1/2 cup light brown sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 3/4 cup rolled oats (not quick-cooking)

Instructions

1. In a small bowl, add the raisins and cover with boiling water. Let stand 5 minutes. Once plump, drain raisins and set aside to cool.
2. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F, and arrange racks in the lower and upper thirds.
3. Whisk together the flour, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a medium bowl.
4. In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat the apple butter, butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the egg and vanilla until combined. With the mixer on low speed, gradually add the flour mixture until just combined; stir in the oats and raisins.

Using a rounded tablespoon, drop the cookies onto parchment-lined baking sheets about 2 inches apart (12 per sheet). Bake until the cookies are no longer wet-looking in the center, 14 to 16 minutes, rotating pans halfway through. Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.