Apple Oatmeal Flax Cookies

I'm always eager to try healthy baked goods.  Mainly because it seems like an oxymoron.  Can there really be tasty cookies that are good for you?  After some searching and experimenting, my conclusion is yes.  There are so many innovative ways to change a recipe to cut out all the bad stuff, while keeping the flavor.  There are also many ways to mix different healthy ingredients together to get a great tasting outcome.  These cookies are a combination of all that.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.  Peel and chop two medium sized apples.

Wanted to show you this photo; it's Sucanat, a sugar substitute that is whole cane sugar.  This is the first time I've used it, and must say really enjoyed it.  Read here for more information.

In a bowl, mix flour, flax meal, baking soda and salt and set aside. In a separate bowl, beat together apple sauce, Sucanat, eggs, and vanilla until fluffy.

Stir in the flour mixture.

Then the oats, apples, and nuts. 

Spoon out cookies onto a lightly greased cookie sheet.  Cook for 8 minutes, or until edges are lightly brown.  Place cookies on a cooling rack.

These cookies are soft and delicious.  The chunks of apple and nuts give the cookies great texture.  These are easy to eat a few at a time, but at least you don't have to feel like you've behaved badly afterward!  Enjoy.

Apple Oatmeal Flax Cookies

Serving size ~3 dozen cookies

1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour

1/4 cup flax meal

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

1 cup vegetable oil - or apple sauce

1 cup Sucanat

2 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 cup quick oats

2 medium apples, peeled and chopped

1 cup walnuts

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

In a bowl mix the flour, flax meal, baking soda and salt together and set aside.

In a separate bowl, beat together oil, Sucanat, eggs, and vanilla until fluffy.

Stir in the flour mixture, apples, oats and nuts.

Spoon out cookies onto a lightly greased cookie sheet.

Cook for around 8 minutes until edges are slightly brown.

Cool on a cooling rack.

Apple Pie Bars

Recipe number 2 for my holiday treats!  Let me preface this by saying that I like pie, but baking pie can be a little overwhelming sometimes.  Especially when you have a full time (or full time and a half) job, yet need to whip something up for a party the next day.  This tastes very similar to apple pie without too much effort and time.

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.  Line a 15x17 inch rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.  Begin by making the crust, beat the butter and the sugar in a medium bowl until light and fluffy.  

At a low speed beat in flour and salt until the dough is soft.

Press the dough over the bottom of the prepared pan, in an even layer.  Bake in the center of the oven for about 20 minutes, until crust is golden and set.  Let cool.

In a large skillet, melt 6 tablespoons of butter with 1/2 cup of brown sugar.

Add in the apples and cook over high heat, stirring occasionally, for around 10 minutes until apples are soft.

Stir in the cinnamon and nutmeg.  Cook until the apples are soft and tender and liquid is evaporated, about 10 minutes longer.  Let cool.

In a large bowl, mix the oats with flour, light brown sugar, cinnamon, baking soda and salt.  

Using a pastry blender (or kick it old school and use your hands like me) cut in the butter until the mixture resembles coarse meal.  Optional to stir in pecans if you choose.

Spread the apple filling over the crust.

Scatter the crumbs on top of the apples, pressing them lightly into an even layer.  Bake in the center of the oven for one hour until the top is golden.  Let cool completely on a rack before cutting into bars.

I served with a little dollop of whipped cream on top, and it tasted exactly like apple pie!  I really enjoyed the oat topping, gave the bars extra flavor.  Enjoy everyone.

Apple Pie Bars

Adapted from: My Baking Addiction

Serving size 4 dozen **I cut in half

Crust:

3 sticks unsalted butter, softened

3/4 cup sugar

3 cups flour

1/2 teaspoons salt

Filling:

6 tablespoons unsalted butter

1/2 cup light brown sugar

12 granny smith apples (peeled, cored and thinly sliced)

1 tablespoon cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

Topping:

3 cups quick-cooking oats

2 cups flour

1 1/2 cups light brown sugar

1 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

3 sticks unsalted butter, cut into 1/2 inch cubes, chilled

3/4 cups chopped pecans *optional

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. 

Line a 15x17 inch baking sheet with parchment paper.

For the crust: beat the butter and sugar until light and fluffy.  

Beat in the flour and salt until dough forms.

Press the dough over the bottom of the prepared pan in an even layer.

Bake for around 20 minutes, and let cool.

For the filling: melt six tablespoons of butter and brown sugar in a large skillet over medium heat.

Add the apples to the skillet and cook over high heat, stirring occasionally.

Stir in the cinnamon and nutmeg, and cook until apples are tender, then let cool.

For the topping: mix the oats, flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, baking soda and salt.

Cut in the butter until well combined.  

Stir in the pecans if you're using.

Spread the apple filling over the crust.

Scatter the crumbs on top, pressing them lightly into the apples layer.

Baking for one your, until the top is golden brown.  

Let cool completely, then cut into bars.

Apple Fritter Muffins

I would like to raise my glass to fall baking. Probably one of my favorite things is spending a chilly fall day in the kitchen. Pumpkin flavors are obviously a big part of this, but I think apples are as well. I thought a breakfast/dessert that incorporated apple was needed, and that’s exactly what I did!

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.  Line a muffin pan with muffin liners and spray with non-stick.   I used a cupcake pan, but you can use whatever you like.  I had apples in the house that I used, but I will say I thin granny smith would be your best option here.  Cut up two apples into ¼ inch slices.

In a skillet add the apple ingredients except for the flour.  Cook over medium heat until the apples are tender.

In a medium bowl whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and cinnamon.

In a large bowl beat together applesauce, oil, and sugars until smooth.

Beat in the eggs, one at a time. Then add the vanilla and mix thoroughly.

Stir the flour into the butter mixture alternately with the buttermilk.  Make sure you begin and end with flour, making sure everything is well incorporated.

Fold in the apples.

Spoon batter into the lined cups.  Bake until muffin tops are pale golden brown, around 14 minutes.

 Cool the muffins in the pan for around five minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool.

To make the glaze, mix the melted butter, powdered sugar, vanilla and water together in a large bowl.  Whisk until smooth.

When muffins have cooled dip the top of the muffin into the glaze.  Allow the glaze to harden, and dip for a second time before serving.
I’m not sure whether these are breakfast muffins or dessert muffins.  Even people at work had trouble classifying them.  “These cupcakes, er muffins are delicious.”  Despite being a little hard to place, they are pretty awesome.  I really like the chunks of apple that you get when you bite in.  Plus, they are topped with a glaze, need I say more?

Apple Fritter Muffins

Apples:
2 large apples, preferably granny smith
3 tablespoons butter
1/3 cup granulated sugar
2 teaspoons cinnamon
2 tablespoons water
1/3 cup flour

Muffins:
2 large eggs
¼ cup apple sauce
¼ cup oil
1 cup granulated sugar
1/3 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 1/3 cup flour
1 ½ teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon baking soda
3 teaspoons cinnamon
½ teaspoon salt
1 cup buttermilk
Glaze:
2 tablespoons melted butter
1 cup powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 tablespoon hot water

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
Line a muffin or cupcake tin with liners and spray with non-stick spray.
In a skillet add apple ingredients, except flour.
Cook over medium high heat until the apples are tender, around 10 minutes.
Stir in flour and set aside.
In a medium bowl whisk together flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon and salt. 
In a large bowl beat together apple sauce, oil and sugars until smooth.
Beat in the eggs, one at a time.
Add vanilla and mix thoroughly.
Stir the flour mixture into the sugar mixture alternately with the buttermilk.
Make sure to begin and end with the flour mixture.
Fold in the apples and make sure everything is well combined.
Spoon batter into cups and bake for around 14 minutes, until the tops are golden brown.
Let cool in the pan for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire cooling rack.
To make the glaze, mix all of the glaze ingredients together in a large bowl.
Whisk until smooth.
When the muffins have cooled dip the top into the glaze.
Let the glaze harden for a few minutes, and dip into glaze again before serving.

Apple Pancakes

One my final visit to Dartmouth for my brother's graduation I picked up a cook book called "Dishing up Vermont."  It's a very interesting cook book as it also has little tid-bits about certain fruits, syrups etc that are Vermont favorites.  I think this has jump started my new souvenir idea that I'll be collecting from every place I visit.  My fridge is getting a little overwhelmed with the many magnets, so I think it's about time I change things up.  One of the recipes that caught my eye as I was leafing through the cook was apple pancakes. 

Begin by thinly slicing two tart apples.  You can peel them if you wish, I kept the skin on.  You can also substitute two ripe pears for the apples, depending which you like better!

Whisk together eggs, milk, flour, salt and vanilla extract until smooth.  In a separate bowl toss together the apples, sugar and cinnamon.

Pour melted butter in a pie pan, or in a warm skillet.  Arrange the apples on the bottom of the skillet, with no more than two layers.

Carefully pour the batter over the fruit.

Bake for 25 minutes at 450 degrees F, until puffed and golden brown.

Serve with confectioners' sugar and drizzle with maple syrup.  I must admit this was more like a dessert than breakfast, but it was tasty and hard to put down either way.  I will be trying this again with pears, as it would be delicious with pears as well.  This is a great dish if you're serving a group of people for breakfast.  Enjoy!

Apple (or pear) Pancakes

Serves 4-6

Adapted from Dishing Up Vermont cookbook

3 eggs

3/4 cup whole milk

3/4 cup flour

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 tart apples, peeled, cored, and thinly sliced

2 tablespoons sugar

3/4 teaspoon cinnamon

2 tablespoon butter

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.

Whisk together eggs, milk, flour, salt and vanilla extract until smooth.

In a separate bowl, toss together apples, sugar and cinnamon.

Melt the butter and swirl on the bottom of a pie dish or skillet.

Arrange the apples in no more than two layers on the bottom of the pan.

Carefully pour the batter over the fruit.

Bake for 25 minutes until puffed and golden brown.

Sprinkle with powdered sugar and maple syrup, and eat up!

Apple Pizza Pie

 

Who doesn't like apples?  Who doesn't like pie?  Mix the two together, you can't go wrong!  This is a creative idea because it's not exactly a pie, just uses pie crust like a pizza crust.  It tastes amazing, like a little slice of apple pie with a sugary glaze on top.  I think this dessert is great to bring to spring/summer BBQ!

I used store bought pie crust, and used both of them.  If you have a great recipe of your own I'm sure that will work great too!  Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F.  Spray a cookie sheet with non-stick cooking spray.

Roll pie crust out into a rectangle and line the cookie sheet with the dough.  I had to cut and paste some of the edges.  It doesn't have to look perfect because you won't see it!  Set aside.

The first part of this recipe is a little tedious, but stick with it, it'll get easier.  Peel, core, and slice six apples into bite size pieces.

Put the bite sized pieces of apple in a large mixing bowl.

Add sugar, cinnamon, vanilla, and flour.  Stir until the apples are all evenly coated.

Pour apples onto the dough.  Spread into an even layer.  Set aside.

In a medium sized bowl mix together the flour, brown sugar and oats.  Cut in the butter.  I mixed this in with my hands, but you can use a fork too.

Mixture should be crumbly, like above.

Sprinkle the mixture evenly over the apples.  Bake for 20-25 minutes, until the crust is golden brown.  My piece of advice here is don't under-cook.  I usually like my baked goods gooey, so I cook them a few minuets less than the suggested time, don't do that here.  The crust in the middle takes a little longer to cook, if you think they look like they're done, I would cook them an extra two minutes just to make sure!

While the pizza is baking mix together the cream cheese, powdered sugar, and milk.  Make sure your cream cheese is room temperature so you can combine easier.  I mixed it all together and then used a whisk to get all the clumps out.

Once the pizza is finished cooking, remove from the oven and drizzle the cream cheese icing over the top.

Slice and serve.  It tastes great served warm and cold.  I kept the leftovers in the fridge, and they taste just as great then too!  The butter and oats crumbles and the icing really make this a tasty dessert. 

Apple Pizza Pie

Adapted from: Flour Me With Love

1 double crust pie dough recipe (or 2 refrigerated crusts)

6 medium sized apples

2 tablespoons sugar

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1 teaspoons vanilla

2 tablespoons flour

1/2 cup flour

1/4 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup oats

1/4 cup butter

Icing:

2oz cream cheese, softened

1/4 cup powdered sugar

1 tablespoons milk

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Spray a cooking sheet with non-stick cooking spray.

Roll pie crust out onto cookie sheet, and set aside.

Peel, core and slice apples into bite size pieces.

Add the sugar, cinnamon, vanilla and flour to the apples until evenly coated.

In a separate medium bowl mix together flour, brown sugar and oats.

Cut in butter until the mixture is crumbly.

Sprinkle mixture evenly over apples.

Bake 20-25 minutes, until crust looks golden brown.

While pizza is cooking make the icing.

Mix together cream cheese, powdered sugar and milk. 

Whisk until all clumps are out.

Once the pizza has finished baking, remove from oven and drizzle with the icing.

Slice and serve!