Healthy Tasty Cookies

Since Thanksgiving is over and Christmas is fast approaching, many of us are already thinking about ways to avoid gaining weight over the holidays without depriving ourselves.  Well here is a great cookie recipe that uses those Thanksgiving cranberries.  I will give you the original recipe found on the Kellogg's All-Bran cereal box and my even healthier version.


All-Bran Cranberry-Chocolate Chip Cookies


Prep Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 1hr and 10 minutes
Servings: 42 cookies


Ingredients:
  2 1/2 cups      all-purpose flour
  1 teaspoon     baking soda
1/4 teaspoon    salt
     3/4 cup       butter or margarine, softened
     3/4 cup       granulated sugar
     3/4 cup       firmly packed brown sugar
              2        eggs
 1 teaspoon      vanilla
      1/4 cup      hot water
      1/2 cup      All-Bran cereal
         1 cup      Dried cranberries
 8 oz (1cup)     semi-sweet chocolate morsels
      1/2 cup      chopped walnuts


Now the healthier version


Ingredients:
  1 1/2 cups      all-purpose flour
         1 cup       whole wheat flour
  1 teaspoon     baking soda
1/4 teaspoon    salt
     3/4 cup       butter or margarine, softened
     1/2 cup       granulated sugar
     1/4 cup       Splenda
     3/4 cup       firmly packed brown sugar
              3        egg whites
 1 teaspoon      vanilla
      1/4 cup      hot water
      1/2 cup      All-Bran cereal
         1 cup      Dried cranberries
      3/4 cup     semi-sweet chocolate morsels
      1/2 cup      chopped walnuts


Directions:
1. In medium bowl, stir together flour, soda, and salt.  Set aside.
2. In large mixing bowl, beat butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar on medium speed with electric mixer until light and fluffy.  Add eggs and vanilla.  Beat well.  Mix in hot water.  Add flour mixture and All-Bran cereal.  Beat until combined.  Add cranberries, chocolate morsels, and walnuts.  Mix until combined.
3. Drop by rounded teaspoonfuls onto cookie sheets coated with cooking spray.  Bake at 375 degrees F for 13-15 minutes or until golden brown.  Remove from baking sheets.  Cool completely on wire racks.  Store in airtight container.


**** Play around with other variations like using some flax seed or sugar free applesauce in place of part of the butter.  Try some Splenda brown sugar to replace the brown sugar.  Make them as healthy as you want.  These cookies are becoming some of my favorites. 


Happy Holidays