I love baking, but...

If I could bake cookies, cakes and pies everyday I would. I love experimenting with different ingredients but there's nothing better than the traditional chocolate chip cookie.

  
However, the problem with loving to bake is what to do with everything once it's made. I don't just love making the treats I love eating them too but if I ate a dozen cookies and a cake every week well... you get it,



We have a major sweet tooth around here so I try to get creative about sweets to keep us healthy and also reward us for achieving our fitness and dietary goals. This week I decided to try a new "healthy" cookie recipe that we could eat for a sweet treat after dinner but also doubles as a quick snack or breakfast on the go.

Zucchini oat cookies

~ 90 calories  

Start with healthy ingredients:

• 1/2 cup white whole wheat flour
• 1/2 cup spelt flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp salt 
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp ground clove
• 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg 
• 1/8 tsp all spice 
• 1/4 cup plus 2 tbsp maple syrup
• 1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce 
• 1 cup shredded zucchini (about 100 grams) 
• 1 egg white beaten 
• 1 tsp vanilla 
• 1 1/2 cups oats
• 1/4 cup raisins 
• flaked or shredded unsweetened coconut (optional) 

* adapted from Dishing Up Dirt 

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees, prepare a pan with wax paper or baking mat, separate egg and shred zucchini. 
• Mix flours, baking soda, salt and spices in a bowl. 
• In a stand mixer or a separate bowl, stir maple syrup and applesauce until smooth
• Add zucchini, beaten egg white and vanilla and mix until well combined (I put this is my mixer and let it go for about 3 minutes until the mixture was frothy)
• Add flour mixture to wet ingredients about 1/4 cup at a time until just mixed through
• Stir in oats and raisins  

Drop rounded tablespoons of the mixture onto your prepared baking sheet and top with a sprinkle of coconut. 

Bake for about 12 minutes or until the cookies are lightly browned and the coconut is toasted. 

The cookies should easily pull away from the baking sheet.

Blake and I tried the cookies last night after dinner. Blake says they taste more like a muffin than a cookie but are still a delicious dessert. He is also excited that he can eat them for breakfast. 

I tend to like less sweet desserts so I love them but try the recipe yourself and tell me what you think.

Do you guys like to bake? Do you experiment with ingredients to increase the health and calorie content of traditional desserts? I'd love to hear your thoughts on the place of  baking in our health conscious society.