Apple Cranberry Oatmeal Cookie Bites

Ingredients:
2 Cups Old Fashioned Quick Oats
1 1/2 Cup Whole Wheat Flour (can substitute white)
4 tsp Cinnamon
1/2 tsp Nutmeg
3 tsp Baking Powder
1/2 tsp Salt
4 tbsp Butter - melted / cooled
2 large Eggs - Beaten
2 tsp Vanilla Extract
1/2 Cup Maple Syrup
3 Large Apples - Peeled - Small Dice
1 Cup Dried Cranberries or Cherries - Rehydrated

Directions:
Stir together in a large bowl the oats, flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, baking powder & salt.

In a separate bowl, mix together the butter, eggs, vanilla, & syrup.

Slowly add in the wet ingredients to the dry, mixing thoroughly.  Add in the apples and cranberries and mix until combined.  Cover w/ plastic wrap and place in fridge about 1/2 hour.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line baking sheets with parchment paper.

Using a small ice cream scoop (about 1 inch size), scoop out the batter onto the baking sheet. Pat down the dough to flatten it slightly.  The dough will not spread so don't worry about them all baking together.

Bake for about 13-14 minutes.

Makes about 72 cookie bites. Keep in airtight container in the fridge.

Enjoy. #Cheftainment

Apple Spice Cake

1/2 Stick Unsalted Butter
3 1/2 Granny Smith Apples - Peeled & Small Dice (keep the 1/2 apple separate)
1/2 Lemon - Juiced
1 Cup Apple Cider
1 3/4 Cups Flour (+3 tbsp for dusting)
1 tsp Cinnamon
1/2 tsp Nutmeg
1 tsp Baking Soda
3/4 Cup Brown Sugar
3/4 Cup White Sugar
Pinch of Salt
1 Egg - Beaten
1 tsp Vanilla

In a medium sized sauce pan over medium heat, melt the butter and add the 3 apples, lemon juice and apple cider.  Stir to combine, reduce to low/medium heat and cook until apples are softened and the liquid has reduced by 1/2.  About 30 minutes.

Add the apple mixture to a blender or food processor and pulse until the mixture becomes coarse.  You do not want to puree it.

In a large bowl combine the flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, baking soda, both sugars and salt.  Make a well in the center of the bowl and add the cooked apple mixture, the reserved 1/2 apple, egg and vanilla.  Stir to combine.

Butter and flour (the 3 tbsp reserved) a loaf pan.  Pour out excess flour from pan.  Pour batter into the pan and place on a cookie sheet as there will be over spill.  Place in a pre-heated 350 degree oven for 40-45 minutes or until a tooth pick comes out from the center clean.

Let sit for about 10 minutes then turn out onto a cooling rack.  Really good by itself or warm with butter.  This cake comes out so moist and delicious and perfect for school bake sales.

Enjoy.  #Cheftainment