Cherry Pecan Oatmeal Cookies

Something about this time of year just makes me want to bake — all the time. This is a traditional dried fruit oatmeal cookie with a kick — white chocolate drizzle kick, that is : ) ++ by using dark brown sugar, applesauce + stevia, it’s a much healthier alternative! You will love these cookies.

INGREDIENTS

*note — don’t be intimidated by the list, I promise these are SUPER easy, + you probably have most of these in your kitchen already!

2 Bananas [mashed]

1/2 stick of Butter

½ cup Dark Brown Sugar

2 Stevia Packets

½ cup Applesauce [unsweetened]

1 Egg

2 tsp Vanilla Extract

1.75 cups Flour [We used white whole wheat, any kind will work]

1 tsp Baking Soda + 1 tsp Baking Powder

¼ tsp Cinnamon

1.5 cups Instant Oats

1.5 cups Dried Cherries [cut in half]

½ cup Nuts [your choice —  We used pecans!]

*optional — White Chocolate Chips

DIRECTIONS

#1] Preheat your oven to 350 + prep 2 cookie sheets – I used olive oil as my *non-stick* method. Mix butter, banana, stevia, + brown sugar in a large bowl. If you’re like me + lack a hand mixer, just mix as best you can with a wooden spoon. The consistency may seem off, but it will be fine. : )

#2] Add the egg + vanilla extract to the mixture.

#3] Add flour, baking soda, baking powder, + cinnamon. Mix until a consistent dough forms.

#4] Add oats, cherries, + pecans + mix until evenly spread into the dough.

#5] Place rounded tablespoons of the dough onto your cookie sheets ++ bake for about ten minutes — but keep an eye on them. You want them just slightly brown on the bottom. They’ll cook pretty quickly!

#6] Now, you can stop here + it’s perfectly amazing, or you can add the kick — white chocolate drizzle! If you decide to add the kick, cool the cookies! While you are waiting, melt your white chocolate [a bowl in the microwave works fine].

#7] Drizzle each cooled cookie with the melted white chocolate [or dark chocolate!] + sprinkle with pecan pieces [or your nut of choice!]. Pop ’em in the fridge for the chocolate to harden + of course, ENJOY!

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+Kelsey[@kelseyanne_inchaarg], OSU CHAARG