Delicious Dessert Recipes That Won't Derail Your Diet | Healthy Oatmeal Cookies
Real talk: You wouldn't even know these desserts were healthy if we didn't tell you. From brownies to cookies to cakes, these healthier desserts will get you through any sugar cravings. For more diet-approved low-calorie sweets, check out our best healthy cookies.
Healthy Oatmeal Cookies
Healthy cookies can be tricky to figure out, and this one was no exception. It went through rounds and rounds of testing. But we're proud to say that what we landed on is a really good COOKIE—not a granola bar that's just shaped like one.
So what makes this one “healthy”? We decreased the usual amounts of butter and sugar with some help from applesauce, which provides sweetness and moisture to the dough without additional fat. The cookie is mostly oats, with just 1/4 cup of whole-wheat flour—there’s no ultra-refined starches here. But a cookie isn’t a cookie unless it’s a little naughty—so we added some quality dark chocolate chunks and tart dried cherries for the perfect bite. Everything in moderation!
Can I swap out all of the butter for applesauce?
Not recommended. Excessive moisture from the applesauce can turn your cookie dense and rubbery. Creaming the butter and sugar together will help provide lift to your cookie, adding the perfect amount of airiness.
Do I need to use both kinds of oats?
If you like a textured cookie, yes. The quick oats act more like a flour while the old-fashioned oats add bite and nuttiness. Too much quick oats and you’ll miss out on some of the depth of flavor and mouthfeel; too much old-fashioned oats and you'll give your jaw quite a workout.
Can I make the dough ahead of time?
You can, but the oats might absorb too much moisture and bloat. Depending on how long you let the dough sit in the fridge before baking, the resulting cookie might not have the soft texture we want you to experience.
Can I substitute other dried fruits or different kinds of chocolate?
Anything your heart desires. Raisins, dried cranberries, and dried currants will work just fine. And if you don’t mind a little knife work, chopped dried apricots, dried pears, and candied ginger will all be delicious. You can use any chocolate you want, or if you’re feeling adventurous, you can even experiment with different nuts as a substitute. We love toasted pecans for a nice little crunch.
YIELDS:
1 DOZEN
PREP TIME:
0 HOURS 15 MINS
TOTAL TIME:
0 HOURS 30 MINS
INGREDIENTS
- 1 c. quick-cooking oats
- 1/2 c. old-fashioned oats
- 1/4 c. whole-wheat flour
- 3/4 tsp. baking soda
- 1 tsp. ground cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp. kosher salt
- 1/4 c. (1/2 stick) butter, softened
- 1/3 c. granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
- 1/2 c. applesauce
- 1/2 c. dried cherries
- 1/3 c. chopped dark chocolate, plus more for topping
DIRECTIONS
- Preheat oven to 350° and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. In a medium bowl, whisk together oats, flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt.
- In a large bowl using a hand mixer, cream together butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in egg, vanilla, and applesauce until combined. Mix in flour mixture until just combined. Fold in dried cherries and chocolate.
- Using a large cooking scoop, arrange balls of dough on prepared baking sheet, 2 inches apart. Gently flatten each ball slightly. Top with more chocolate.
- Bake until golden around edges, about 12 minutes.
Source delish.com
