Birthday Baking

I love sweets.

But just like every other food addiction I have, I cannot have just one treat. So when it’s someone’s birthday at work and a tray of cookies, cupcakes, or cake is brought out I either drool in envy or end up having a major dietary disaster.

These days a cupcake can hit an average of 500 calories while a small cookie might be packing a 200 cal punch to the gut. That’s enough to make any calorie counter nauseous with guilt.

So this time, when one of my fav co-workers CGossip was celebrating her birthday, I decided to deter my usual dilemma by bringing in my own baked goods.

100 Cal Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

Yeah, that's right. These large, delicious morsels are a mere 100 calories but still full flavor! I adapted the recipe from one I found at a fabulous little bakery recently.

Ingredients/Directions:

Preheat oven to 350. Then combine the following in a large bowl:

2 1/2 C. Old Fashioned Oats
2 C. Whole Wheat Flour
2 C. Raisins
1 C. Brown Sugar
1/3 C. Stevia Extract
1/2 Tbs. Baking Powder
1 Tsp. Baking Soda
1 Tsp. Salt

Puree applesauce and prunes in a blender until smooth:

12 oz Applesauce
2 oz Prunes

Add the following:

1 Tsp. Vanilla Extract
1/2 Tsp. Cloves
1/2 Tsp. Cinnamon


Slowly stir wet mixture into dry mixture.


Scoop large spoonfuls (1/4 cup each) onto a greased baking sheet and bake for about 10 minutes each.

Total Calories: 110 per cookie, makes 32 (25 g. carbs, 2 g. fiber, 2 g. protein)

Hungry-Girl’s Chocolate Chip Softies


Ingredients:

3/4 C. Whole-Wheat Flour
1/2 C. Splenda
6 Tbs. Unsweetened Applesauce
1/4 C. Canned Pure Pumpkin
1/4 C. Fat-free Liquid Egg Substitute or Egg Whites
2 1/2 Tbs. Chocolate Chips
2 Tbs. Brown Sugar (I replaced this with sugar free maple syrup)
3/4 Tsp. Vanilla Extract
1/4 Tsp. Baking Soda
1/8 Tsp. Salt

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375.

Combine all dry ingredients (except chocolate) in one bowl, and all wet ingredients in another.

Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients.

Scoop mixture onto a greased baking sheet in eight large dollops.

Bake for about 10 minutes.

Total Calories: 88 each, makes 8. (17 g. carbs, 2 g. fiber, 3 g. protein)

Both cookies were big crowd pleasers and a nice alternative to the average buttery bingefest!