The Pressure's On! Cowboy Cookies for Healthy Cooking Group

The pressure is on again....Healthy Cooking Group's annual healthy cookie exchange.  I know, it's kind of an oxymoron isn't it.  One year, I remember baking a zucchini cookie that was about the ugliest cookie you've ever seen.  They stuck to the waxed paper and everything.  So this year, I baked one of my favorite recipes, Cowboy Cookies, but made them a little healthier by cutting down on the butter, sugar and adding some chopped apricots and whole wheat flour.  Chocolate and apricots is one of my favorite flavor combinations of all time, so why not put them in a cookie together?!

Here's what you need........

Plus some chopped, dried apricots........

Paige helps out by creaming the butter, vanilla and egg.

Mix all the dry ingredients {recipe below}.  Then mix the creamed butter and dry ingredients together.  You're going to have to use your hands for this, there's no other way, because of the lesser amount of butter and only one egg, your hands need to help bind the ingredients into small walnut sized balls.  Paige is an expert Playdough baller and she was a BIG help in this portion of the recipe.

Bake at 350 for 11-13 minutes.

And boy, are these good!  I love the chopped apricots!  You can substitute any dried fruit if you wish.....dried cherries would be fantastic as well!  Especially for Christmas!

Healthy Cooking Meeting, here we come!

Cowboy Cookies

1 1/3 cup quick cooking oats
½ cup packed brown sugar
½ cup white sugar
½ cup pecans or walnuts, chopped {optional}
1/2 cup dried apricots, chopped , or any dried fruit or even shredded coconut!
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips {I used milk chocolate}
3/4 cup all purpose flour
2/3 cup whole wheat flour
1 t. baking powder
1 t. baking soda
¼ t. salt
½ cup butter, softened
1 egg
1 t. vanilla

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease cookie sheets. In a large bowl, combine oats, brown sugar, white sugar, pecans, chocolate chips, flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. In a medium bowl, cream together butter, egg and vanilla. Stir into dry ingredients. You may need to use your hands to finish mixing. Shape into walnut sized balls. Place 2” apart on prepared cookie sheets. Bake for 11-13 minutes. Enjoy!

Related posts you may also enjoy:
October's Healthy Cooking Meeting
Healthy Cooking Group Night
My Healthy Cooking Group


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