APPLE PIE COOKIES

there's nothing more american than warm apple pie baking in the oven, filling the house with an appetizing aroma. so why not make that little slice of america a little more handheld...? this sweet cookie embodies the classic apple pie with chunks of fresh apples and fragrant spices. the addition of protein packed greek yogurt and natural applesauce keeps the cookies moist, chewy, and irresistible. heat up the oven, put on the apron, and get a little nostalgic for this remixed favorite!

INGREDIENTS:
1 apple (firm and slightly tart)
1 cup plain greek yogurt
1/2 cup plain, unsweetened applesauce
1 cup flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup white sugar
1 cup oats
pinch of salt
pinch of nutmeg
pinch of ground ginger
pinch of ground cloves

DIRECTIONS:
-peel, core, and dice apple into 1/4"x1/4" pieces, set aside
-in a large bowl, add flour, baking powder, cinnamon, salt, nutmeg, ginger, cloves, and both sugars
-in a food processor or blender, add oats and pulse about 15 times
-add oats to flour mixture and whisk dry ingredients to combine
-add yogurt, applesauce, and apple pieces, mix until all ingredients are combined
-grease cookie sheets or use parchment paper, and drop rounded tablespoons of dough onto the sheet about 1-1.5" apart
-bake in a 350 degree oven for approximately 18 minutes, until cookies are golden brown
-let cool on a wire wrack, enjoy!

makes 2 dozen cookies

SHOUT OUTS:
this recipe is dedicated to my mom, who taught me how to make the best apple pies ever, and who loves cookies!

TIPS and ADAPTATIONS:
-add in 1/2 cup of: raisins, dried cranberries, walnuts, dried apricots, or pecans
-have pumpkin spice mix? throw in a couple of pinches instead of separately adding cloves, ginger, and nutmeg
-zest it up even more and use cinnamon applesauce!
-use a firm, slightly tart and sweet apple such as a honey crisp, gala, braeburn, fuji, or pink lady
-you certainly don't have to blend your oats, but it gives it a nice texture if you do!
-can't find greek yogurt (too bad- it's full of protein!!)? use regular yogurt, just place in a paper towel lined sieve or colander and let sit until additional liquid drips out, and yogurt becomes thick
-freeze the cookies and eat them later!