Apple Oatmeal anti-Muffin-Tops

These chewy cookies may taste like a muffin-top, but they can actually SHRINK your muffin-top! Apples and oats are a kick-ass heart-healthy, weight-loss combo. Both super high in fiber helping to pull bad cholesterol from your body AND helps keep you full for longer periods of time aiding in weight-loss.

Ingredients:

• 5 apples pealed, cored and finely diced*
• 3 cups rolled oats (uncooked)
• 1/2 cup water
• 1/2 cup apple butter
• 2/3 cup maple syrup
• 2 tsp cinnamon
• pinch sea salt

Directions:

• Pre-heat oven to 380degrees.
• Place apples, water and cinnamon in small saucepan .
• Bring to a boil then simmer at low heat till apples are soft.
• Remove pot from stove and stir-in oatmeal, then remaining ingredients and mix well.
• Drop small spoonfuls of batter onto parchment-lined cookie sheet and bake for 30min.
• When done, carefully transfer cookies to wire racks and let cool.

*Baking apples: The best apples to use when baking are varieties that hold their shape, such as: Cortland, Empire, Granny Smith, Gala, Jonagold and Golden Delicious. Avoid varieties such as Pink Lady or Fuji (that fall apart when baked) or Red Delicious (which tastes much better crunchy and raw)