The holiday season is packed with family traditions. A popular one? Baking and sharing cookies. And while it’s OK to indulge in your favorite foods here and there this time of year, too many cookies can take a toll on your health — and your waistline — come the New Year. For a healthier option that will still satisfy your sweet tooth, try this Heart Smart® peanut butter oatmeal cookie recipe.
Made with low-fat ingredients and whole-grain flour, these cookies have the same delicious taste as the classics with fewer calories and less saturated fat.
Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies
Yield: 26 cookies
Prep time: 15 minutes
Cooking time: 45 minutes
Ingredients:
Vegetable oil cooking spray (or parchment paper)
1/4 cup trans fat-free margarine
2 ounces (1/4 cup) reduced-fat cream cheese
10 tablespoons natural peanut butter (chunky or creamy)
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1 egg
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1 cup old-fashioned oats
2/3 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup white whole-wheat flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
Directions:
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Coat a cookie sheet with with cooking spray or line with parchment paper; set aside. In a medium bowl, cream together margarine, cream cheese, peanut butter, brown sugar, granulated sugar, egg, and vanilla. In a separate bowl, combine oats, all-purpose flour, whole-wheat flour, baking soda, and salt and stir into sugar mixture. Drop by a slightly heaping tablespoon onto prepared baking sheet and flatten slightly. Bake 10 to 12 minutes. Remove from cookie sheet and cool on a wire rack.
NUTRITION INFORMATION PER SERVING: 136 Calories (33 percent from fat); 5 g Fat, 1 g Saturated Fat; 9 mg Cholesterol; 2 g Protein; 120 mg Sodium; 24g Carbohydrate; 1g Fiber; 10 mg Calcium
Heart Smart® is a registered trademark of the Edith and Benson Ford Heart & Vascular Institute at Henry Ford Hospital.
