Recipe: Chewy Apple-Raisin Oatmeal Cookies

Perfect for keeping your energy levels high or satisfying your sweet tooth

The wholesome combination of peanut butter, oats, raisins and cinnamon tastes like a decadent treat, but these crave-worthy, oversized cookies are free from refined sugar and oil. Don’t be afraid to get creative and add in other ingredients like chopped nuts, freeze-dried blueberries or vegan dark chocolate chips. Pro tip: Keep a batch in the freezer so you always have a tasty treat on hand!

Yields: 10 cookies

Ingredients

• ½ cup mashed banana (1 large)

• ½ cup grated apple

• ¼ cup chunky no-salt-added peanut butter

• ¼ cup pure maple syrup

• 2 tablespoons unsweetened, unflavored plant-based milk

• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

• 1 cup rolled oats

• ½ cup whole wheat flour

• 2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

• ¼ teaspoon baking soda

• ¼ teaspoon sea salt

• 1 cup raisins

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line two cookie sheets with parchment paper. In a large bowl, combine the first six ingredients (through vanilla). In a small bowl, stir together the next five ingredients (through salt). Add oat mixture to apple mixture; stir until combined. Stir in raisins.

Drop dough by ¼-cup portions, 3 inches apart onto prepared cookie sheets. Dip a spatula in water and use it to flatten and spread the mounds to 2¾-inch rounds (about ½ inch thick).

Bake 12 to 14 minutes or until cookies are browned. Cool on a wire rack. To store: Layer cookies between sheets of waxed paper in an airtight container; cover. Store in the refrigerator up to one week or freeze up to three months.

(Recipe from forksoverknives.com)