Oatmeal Walnut Crisps

Are you suffering withdrawals from holiday sweets, but you have pledged to eat healthier?  These crisp cookies are just the answer.  A Healthy option for a sweet treat.


3/4 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
1/4 cup whole-wheat flour
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1 pinch salt
1 egg or 2 egg whites
1/3 cup packed light brown sugar
1/4 cup canola oil
1/3 cup walnuts, chopped fine
1 ounce bittersweet chocolate
1 tsp vanilla extract 

Position rack in center of the oven; preheat to 400ºF.  Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Whisk oats, flour, cinnamon, and salt in medium bowl. Whisk egg whites, sugar, oil, and vanilla in large bowl. Add oat mixture; mix with rubber spatula until blended. Stir in walnuts. Drop batter by rounded teaspoonfuls, spacing mounds 4 inches apart, on prepared baking sheets. Use the back of a spoon to spread batter into 2- to 2 ½-inch rounds. Bake, one sheet at a time, until edges are just starting to turn golden, 6 to 8 minutes. Do not over bake. Immediately, slide a metal spatula under each cookie to loosen, then transfer to wire rack to cool. Continue until all the batter is used. Make sure that baking sheets are cool before spooning batter onto them. Store cookies in an airtight container. If cookies become soft, you can re-crisp them in a 350ºF-oven for 5 to 8 minutes. If desired, drizzle cookies with chocolate. Place in refrigerator for a few minutes to set the chocolate. Yield: about 30 cookies.

Per serving: Calories: 45 (50 with chocolate drizzle). Total fat: 3 grams (3.5 grams with chocolate drizzle). Saturated fat: 0 grams. Cholesterol: 0 milligrams. Sodium: 15 milligrams. Carbohydrates: 5 grams. Fiber: 0 grams. Protein: 1 gram. 

Variations: 
- Substitute 1 tsp freshly grated orange zest for cinnamon.
- Substitute 4 tsp minced crystallized ginger for cinnamon.
- Substitute finely chopped almonds, hazelnuts, or pecans for walnuts. 

Tip: To make larger cookies with a chewy texture, drop batter by rounded tablespoonfuls onto prepared baking sheets. Do not spread batter. Bake 8 to 10 minutes. Yield: about 12 cookies. Per serving: Calories: 120 (130 with chocolate drizzle). Total fat: 7 grams (8 grams with chocolate drizzle). Saturated fat: 0.5 grams (1 gram with chocolate drizzle). Cholesterol: 0 milligrams. Sodium: 45 milligrams. Carbohydrates: 11 grams (13 grams with chocolate drizzle): Fiber: 1 gram. Protein: 2 grams.