Healthier Oatmeal Cranberry-Orange Pecan Cookies

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?