I’ve never been much of a Halloween person. Some people look forward to this holiday all year-round. Me? I could take it or leave it. But this year I have, for whatever reason, gotten a little more into the spirit. I’ve also decided to throw a spooktacular little get together this weekend for some friends and their kids. As the party draws nearer, the time has come for one of my favorite things — putting together the menu. It’s going to be pretty casual, so I’m not looking to make the fanciest hors d’oeuvres on the block. And while I do want to invoke the hallowed holiday theme, I definitely have no interest in pouring a bag of mini candy bars into a bowl and calling it food. That’s why I’ve decided to put my own healthy spin on a recipe for pumpkin cookies.
The best thing about these cookies is that you don’t have to feel tricked into giving them as a treat. These fall cookies will delight anyone at the party, especially when they find out how natural the ingredients are. This recipe should yield around 40 cookies, and each cookie is approximately 50 calories a pop, so you can feel good about sharing it with the adult and kid guests. Eat it and weep, guys. Welcome to your new addiction.
Spiced White Chocolate Pumpkin Cookies
2 Cups Whole Wheat Flour
1 Cup Brown Sugar
1 tsp Baking Soda
1 tsp Baking Powder
1 tsp Allspice
1 tsp Cinnamon
1 tsp Vanilla
1/8 tsp Salt
1 Cup Organic Pumpkin Puree
1/2 Cup Organic Applesauce (unsweetened)
1 Cup Good White Chocolate Baking Chips (or semi-sweet if you prefer)
1 Cup Chopped Raw Walnuts
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, whisk together the sugar, applesauce, and vanilla. Stir in pumpkin and set aside. In another bowl combine the dry ingredients: flour, baking soda and powder, salt, cinnamon, and allspice. Add slowly into wet mixture and mix well. Last, fold in the nuts and chocolate bits. Finally, drop by spoonfuls onto ungreased baking sheet and bake for 18 to 22 minutes.
Looking for some creative and healthy treats for your Halloween event? Let these inspire you:
http://spoonful.com/halloween/best-halloween-recipes-gallery
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/holly-b-clegg/halloween-healthy-snacks_b_1024201.html
