Apple Walnut Oatmeal Cookies

Disclosure: I received free samples of California Walnuts mentioned in this post. By posting this recipe I am entering a recipe contest sponsored by California Walnuts and am eligible to win prizes associated with the contest. I was not compensated for my time.

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Do you prefer savory or sweet?  Apparently it is wired in our DNA if we will prefer savory or sweet?  I tend to lean toward the sweet side so I created these Apple Walnut Oatmeal Cookies for this California Walnuts challenge. They are the perfect mid-morning snack, and afternoon snack, and midnight snack...I could pretty much eat them all day long.  

A handful of California walnuts is a versatile snack and can satisfy any taste preference, from savory to sweet.​ Regardless of your flavor preference, walnuts are the only nut to provide an excellent source of the plant-based omega-3, ALA (2.5g/oz).

These apple walnut oatmeal cookies are easy to make and so yummy.  Apples and California Walnuts just go together...add oats and you have perfectly delicious crispy and chewy cookies.  

You have a couple of sweetener options when making these cookies.  I use coconut sugar instead of granulated white sugar because it is lower on the glycemic index, but granulated sugar works well for making these cookies too. 

If you are running short on butter, you can use less by reducing the butter down to 1/2 cup (1 stick).  They will still be delicious, but they will be more like muffin tops or muffin cookies and won't be as crispy.  (pictured below)  If you want to make them more cookie like and less muffin like, use the full amount of butter (original recipe) and they will spread more and be crispier on the edges.  We prefer the crispier edges of the cookies over the "muffin cookies".  

Another tip, you can store butter in the freezer.  I always keep extra butter in the freezer so I never run out.  You can also store nuts in the freezer to keep them fresh longer.  If your butter was stored in the freezer though, it will need to sit out for a while before making cookies.  

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Ingredients:
1 ¼ cups flour
½ tsp. baking powder
½ tsp. baking soda
¼ tsp. salt
1 tsp. cinnamon
3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) butter softened (I always use real butter)
3/4 cup coconut sugar or granulated white sugar
1/3 cup packed brown sugar 
1 ½ tsp. vanilla extract
1 egg
2 Tbsp. milk
1 cup apple, peeled and diced (about 1 medium apple)
1 cup quick or old fashioned oats
1 cup California Walnuts, chopped

Directions:
1.  Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

2.  Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and cinnamon.  Set aside.  

3.  Beat butter, sugars, and vanilla extract in large mixer bowl until creamy.  Beat in egg.  Gradually beat in flour mixture and milk.  Stir in apple, oats, and California Walnuts.   

4.  Refrigerate dough for at least one hour.

5.  Drop by rounded tablespoon onto un-greased baking sheets.  (I always line my cookie sheets with parchment paper.)  I also use a cookie scoop which makes perfectly rounded tablespoons.  

6.  Bake for 12-13 minutes or until edges are crisp but centers are still soft.  Cool on the baking sheet for 2 minutes then move to a cooling rack to cool completely.  

Makes about 2 1/2 dozen cookies.

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