I don’t often make up cookie recipes. Although I love to cook, I do not profess to be a master baker in any regard. I enjoy making cookies though, and, although I usually create bar recipes (because they’re easier), I decided to give this recipe a go. It combines simple yet flavorful ingredients. The result is a soft cookie full of varying flavors.
If you’re thinking about creating a cookie recipe, go for it! What’s the worst that can happen? The cookies may turn out flat as a pancake or hard as a rock, but you can adjust the ingredients and make the next batch better…besides, hard cookies make GREAT Frisbees!
For this recipe you’ll need:
1-cup butter (2 sticks) softened
¾ cup granulated sugar
½ cup good honey (I used orange honey. Use your favorite)
¼ cup applesauce
1 large egg, room temperature
2-½ cups all-purpose flour
1-teaspoon baking powder
¼ teaspoon salt
2 packages (1.5 ounces each) Nature Valley Oats and Honey Granola Bars, crushed (may substitute ¾ cup of your favorite granola bars OR ¾ cup more of granola OR ¾ cup rolled oats)
1-cup granola (use your favorite—I used honey granola with almonds)
½ cups dried apricots, finely diced
1 teaspoon orange zest
To make this recipe:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
In a large bowl, cream the butter, sugar, and honey. Add applesauce and egg and mix well until smooth and creamy. Add the flour, baking powder, and salt, and mix well. Add the granola bars, granola, diced apricots and orange zest. Mix well.
Grease sheet pans with cooking spray. Drop cookies by tablespoonfuls onto the greased cookie sheets and bake in the preheated oven for approximately 12 minutes, until the cookies are firm (they won’t be golden). Remove from the pan carefully and place on wire racks to cool.
Makes about 30-40 cookies depending on size.
Try these “Best Ever Blondies,” too!