Breakfast Cookies

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup whole-wheat pastry flour
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 2 tablespoons softened unsalted butter
• 1/4 cup canola oil
• 1/4 cup dark brown sugar
• 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
• 1 egg
• 1/4 cup (1 small jar) strained carrot baby food
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup oats
• 1/2 cup bran cereal flakes
• 1/3 cup raisins
• 1/3 cup walnut

Directions

Place rack in center of oven and preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Whisk together flours, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt in a medium-sized bowl. Combine butter, oil and sugars in the bowl of a stand mixer and mix on high speed, scraping down sides if necessary, until sugars have dissolved and mixture is light in color, about 1 minute. Add egg, carrot puree and vanilla and beat an additional 30 seconds. Add flour mixture and beat an additional 30 seconds. Add oats, flakes, raisins and walnuts and mix over low speed just until incorporated. Dough will be slightly sticky and less cohesive than traditional cookie dough. Line a large cookie sheet with parchment paper. Using between 3 to 4 tablespoons of batter, form a ball and place on cookie sheet. Repeat with remaining batter, leaving about 3 inches between cookies. Wet hands and use palm of hand to flatten cookies until about 1/4-inch thick. Bake for 12 minutes, until cookies are fragrant but still soft. Let cookies cool slightly, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

Hot Mama Grade: A-

Hot Mama Notes: These cookies are fantastic for healthy cookies.  They are very tasty and great for breakfast.  That being said, don't expect them to replace your favorite dessert cookie.  They are not sweet like that.  Nonetheless, my family loves them, and we continue to make them again and again.  I substitute grated carrot for the carrot baby food.  My sister in law uses apple sauce.  I might try that next time; maybe that will make them more moist.  I use regular whole wheat flour and light brown sugar (unless I happen to have dark brown).  I substitute milk chocolate chips for raisins and omit the nuts.