Oh, Honey

I had some leftover honey from work and decided to make something sweet to celebrate the mother's in my life - my wonderful mom and my sister, the wonderful mother to my 1-1/2 nieces. I followed this up the next week with easy cookies. Thank you bees!

Honey Oatmeal Cookies
Oatmeal Cookies - These were so good and so easy to make! I will definitely be making these again! Makes 2 dozen.

3 tablespoons butter, room temperature
1/2 cup applesauce
1 cup Splenda
1/3 cup honey
2 egg
2 tablespoon water
1 cup whole wheat flour (all-purpouse is good too)
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
3 cups rolled oats (aka oatmeal)
1 cup cranberries (also use chopped dates, raisins, nuts and/or chocolate chips

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a cookie sheet with nonstick cooking spray
2. Mix together the butter, applesauce, sugar, honey, eggs and water thoroughly.
3. Sift together the dry ingredients then stir in the oats.
4. Add the dry ingredients to the wet and mix. Add any additional ingredients you've chosen.
5. Drop by heaping teaspoonfuls onto the cookie sheet. Bake 12 to 15 minutes. Cool on a wire rack.

Strawberry Honey Muffins
I also made strawberry honey muffins and a honey cake but I can't find my recipe notes. I'll update this post when I clean off my counter and find them :)

White Chocolate Cranberry Bites

These cookies are like mini-scones but not dry and crumbly. The white chocolate and cranberries give it a sweet taste. Ingredients
1/4 cup butter spread (Smart Balance)

1/2 cup canola oil

3 cups Splenda

4 large eggs (or egg whites)

1-1/2 teaspoon vanilla
5-1/2 cups all purpose flour
2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup white chocolate chips

1-1/2 cups dried cranberries

Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350F. Cover cookie sheets with wax paper sprayed with cooking spray.
2. Mix flour, baking soda and salt.

3. In seperate bowl mix butter, oil and Splenda. Gradually add eggs and vanilla.

4. Add flour mixture slowly to well combined. Add chocolate chips and cranberries.

5. Roll into 2" cookies and place onto sheet.

6. Bake for 12-15 minutes. Cool on wire rack.

Pumpkin Pie Cookies

An unusual twist on a traditional holiday treat. And, a healthy option for desert.

Ingredients
1 1/2 Cup Butter (Smart Balance buttery spread)
1 Cup Splenda
3 Eggs
1 Can (15oz) Pumpkin
1 Tablespoon Ground Cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon Ground Nutmeg
1 1/2 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract
3 Cups All-Purpose Flour
1 1/2 Teaspoon Baking Powder
Craisins & toasted pecan pieces

Steps
1 Grease cookie sheets and preheat oven to 350.
2 Mix butter and sugar with mixer until well mixed (will be light and fluffy).
3 Add eggs, pumpkin, spices & vanilla; mix well.
4 Sift dry ingredients together & gradually add to pumpkin mixture, mixing by hand.
5 Mix in Craisins & pecans
6 Drop onto cookie sheets & bake 10 to 15 minutes - or until slightly browned.

* Note: Dough will be sticky and wet.

(Makes 3 to several dozen cookies, depending on size and shape.)