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It’s been bitterly cold in the New York Metro Area… temperatures in the teens, high winds, & snow! And lots of it!
On the weekends I don’t have a choice but to stay in. I don’t mind it though.
And since my workouts have slowed down a bit this time of year, and my dessert cravings never cease to end, I try to come up with slightly healthy dessert ideas.
Say hello to these holiday inspired Oatmeal Cranberry-Orange Pecan Cookies, a twist on the traditional Oatmeal Raisin Cookies.
For these delicious cookies I used Trader Joe’s Orange Flavored Cranberries, they are SO good! Buy them! 
The cookies taste slightly buttery, soft & chewy when warm, and crunchy when completely cool. 
Instead of the full fat buttery cookies, save yourself a few calories and make these, you’ll love them. 
And the best part is, store them in an airtight container and they’ll last you up to a week.
Perfect for Christmas morning. Yes? Maybe? 
NUTRITION: Whole Wheat Pastry Flour adds Protein and Fiber to these cookies. Oats help reduce cholesterol and are a good source of Protein and Fiber. Cranberries are an excellent source of Vitamin C, a very good source of Fiber, and a good source of Vitamins E and K. Pecans contain natural antioxidants and are heart-healthy nuts known to lower cholesterol.
APPROXIMATE NUTRITION PER SERVING (yields 20 cookies):
- Calories: 83 cals
- Fat: 4 g
- Saturated Fat: 1.3 g
- Carbs: 10 g
- Protein: 1 g
- Fiber: 1 g
INGREDIENTS:
- Unsalted Butter – 3 tbsp (room temperature)
- Brown Sugar in the Raw – 6 tbsp
- Pure Vanilla Extract – 1/2 tsp
- Organic Egg – 1/2 an egg (beaten)
- Whole Wheat Pastry Flour – 1/3 cup
- Baking Soda – 1/4 tsp
- Ground Cinnamon – 1/4 tsp
- Salt – 1/8 tsp
- Trader Joe’s Dried Orange Flavored Cranberries – 1/3 cup
- Organic Old-Fashioned Oats – 1 cup
- Pecans – 1/4 cup (chopped)
DIRECTIONS:
1. Preheat the oven at 375 degrees.
2. Cream the butter.
3. Add brown sugar in the raw. Cream until the butter and sugar are whipped and creamy.
4. Add the vanilla and egg. Cream some more.
5. Add the whole wheat pastry flour, baking soda, ground cinnamon, and salt. Mix, but do NOT over mix.
6. Add your add-ins… old-fashioned oats, orange flavored cranberries, and chopped pecans.
7. Blend for about 30 seconds until all the ingredients are well combined.
8. Line a baking tray with parchment paper. Using a little ice-cream scoop, place the cookie batter on the parchment paper. 
9. Into the oven for exactly 10 minutes. DO NOT OVER BAKE, although oven temperatures may vary, so start checking around the 9th minute.
10. Indulge immediately!
TELL ME: What’s your favorite Christmas cookie to make around the holidays? How’s the weather been in your neck of the woods?
Trader joe's orange flavored cranberries?! I need to get my hands on those. I actually love staying inside on weekends, much to my husband's dismay, haha. These cookies are the perfect way to indulge without being too bad 😉
Yes, I bet they are sold out by now Amy, hopefully you got them on time. I like staying in on weekends when it's extremely cold, but I don't mind brunch outside.
With a cup of tea, these would be my favorite holiday cookie ever. They look wonderful!
Yeah, they were yummy. Thanks Georgia.
Definitely perfect for Christmas morning. Or any time. 😉 Great cookie recipe – loads of flavor, and those oats nudge it into the healthy category. Or breakfast category, your choice! Good stuff – thanks.
Thanks… glad you approve. I love the oats. Yeah, maybe breakfast for some. 🙂
Around this time of the year, I tend to have cravings for sweets more so than usual. These look awesome Nisha and I love that it's healthy! By the way, if I haven't told you –I love the new site redesign. Looks fabulous! 🙂 Have a great rest of the week, my friend. 🙂
Me too Anne, I just need a reason to eat dessert. Thanks… I love the new design, so glad you like it too. It's so pleasing to the eye, I think. THanks you too, and Happy New Year!
this is the kind of cookie recipe I was looking for one of my class I am teaching. I will have to report you back on how it went 🙂
Thanks Dixya… oh yeah, let me know how it goes. So exciting.
Love how hearty these look! I still need to make a trip out to the TJs that opened about 30 minutes from where we live. When I do, you can bet I will be scouring your posts to find all your favorite picks 🙂
Yeah, these cookies are yummy. THat's exciting TJs is only 30 minutes away.
Lovely and the good thing is we don't have to stop at 2 right?.
It must be so cold there, I remember visiting NYC few years ago during December, I just loved it.
I ate so many of these cookies, since they were lower in fat, of course. It's soooooooo cold in NYC. SFO must be perfect!
Very tempting cookies! I love carob chip cookies! Weather here is perfect. It's winter and sunny during the day, cool at night. Also the fog has appeared int he morning 🙂 I bet it must be very cold in NY
THanks Amelia.. I haven't tried carob cookies. Yes, the weather in India is so nice now, I actually like it a bit cold. NYC is freezing!!!