Cherry Chunk Cookies
We all know that we shouldn't eat sweets all day every day, but many of us like to have something sweet once a day.
If you're one of those people, baking dessert at home can help you make healthier choices than buying packaged products from the grocery store. You'll be able to control the ingredients, such as how limiting sugar, increasing whole grain, and eliminating ingredients that you don't think belong in your food.
Homemade goods also taste better than processed, packaged goods, which means you'll enjoy your treat more.
This week, I adapted a chocolate chip oatmeal cookie recipe from Cooking Light. I replaced the chocolate with dried cherries to sneak a little fruit into my family's diet. I also reduced the sugar by
¼ cup and removed the salt. The oatmeal adds whole grains and fiber to the cookie.
Cherry Chunk Cookies
Makes 21 large cookies (3" diameter)
Adapted from Cooking Light
INGREDIENTS
5 Tbsp.
butter
1
large egg
1 ¼ cup all purpose flour
¼ cup chopped dried cherries
DIRECTIONS
Preheat the oven to 350°F.
Beat together sugars and butter in a mixing bowl. Add vanilla and egg. Beat until combined. Add 1 cup flour. Beat until combined. Add remaining ¼ cup flour. Beat until combined. Add 1 cup oats. Beat until combined. Add baking powder and baking soda. Beat until combined.Stir in pecans and dried cherries.
Drop dough onto greased or lined baking sheets. (I used a cookie scoop, but a spoon will work.) Bake for 12-15 minutes until desired browning is reached. Transfer to wire racks to cool.
Store in airtight container.
If you're one of those people, baking dessert at home can help you make healthier choices than buying packaged products from the grocery store. You'll be able to control the ingredients, such as how limiting sugar, increasing whole grain, and eliminating ingredients that you don't think belong in your food.
Homemade goods also taste better than processed, packaged goods, which means you'll enjoy your treat more.
This week, I adapted a chocolate chip oatmeal cookie recipe from Cooking Light. I replaced the chocolate with dried cherries to sneak a little fruit into my family's diet. I also reduced the sugar by
¼ cup and removed the salt. The oatmeal adds whole grains and fiber to the cookie.
Cherry Chunk Cookies
Makes 21 large cookies (3" diameter)
Adapted from Cooking Light
INGREDIENTS
½ cup
granulated sugar
½ cup
packed brown sugar
1 ½ teaspoons
vanilla extract
1 ¼ cup all purpose flour
1 cup oats
¾ teaspoon
baking powder
½ teaspoon
baking soda
¼ cup chopped pecans
DIRECTIONS
Preheat the oven to 350°F.
Beat together sugars and butter in a mixing bowl. Add vanilla and egg. Beat until combined. Add 1 cup flour. Beat until combined. Add remaining ¼ cup flour. Beat until combined. Add 1 cup oats. Beat until combined. Add baking powder and baking soda. Beat until combined.Stir in pecans and dried cherries.
Drop dough onto greased or lined baking sheets. (I used a cookie scoop, but a spoon will work.) Bake for 12-15 minutes until desired browning is reached. Transfer to wire racks to cool.
Store in airtight container.