Pumpkin Oatmeal Cookies

[amadi]

I asked on Twitter what sort of recipe I should post today, and hily said "something healthyish." Now healthy cookie is, to me, an idea on the verge of blasphemy... or is it? These cookies are loaded with fruit, fiber and nuts, get a dose of good iron from the molasses and are fairly low in fat, too. Can't beat that in a cookie, can you?

Pumpkin Oatmeal Cookies

1¼ cups whole wheat flour
¾ cup all purpose flour
1½ cups rolled oats
2 tablespoons flax seeds
1 teaspoon baking soda
¾ teaspoon salt
1 tsp cinnamon
½ teaspoon nutmeg

1 cup sugar
1/3 cup canola oil
1/3 cup applesauce
2 tablespoons blackstrap molasses
1 cup cooked, pureed pumpkin
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

¾ cup walnuts, finely chopped (optional)
¾ cup raisins

Preheat oven to 350°F/175°C. Prepare two baking sheets with non-stick mats or non-stick spray.

In a mixing bowl, combine flours, oats, flax seeds, baking soda, salt and spices and mix well.

Using a large mixing bowl, combine sugar, oil, applesauce, molasses, pumpkin and vanilla until very well combined. Add the walnuts and raisins to this mixture.

Add the flour mixture to the pumpkin mixture in 3-4 batches, mixing until well combined.

Drop the batter by tablespoon onto the cookie sheets. Flatten each cookie with your fingers to press into desired shape. (Cookies will not flatten/spread significantly during baking.)

Bake at 350°F for 16 minutes.

Remove cookies from baking sheets to wire racks to cool completely and set up before eating.