Carrot Cake Cookie Bites: My First Recipe ReDux!

This is a very exciting post for me.

Why?  Because it's my first Recipe ReDux recipe!

That's right, this girl is officially on the team!  And guess what?  The theme this month could not have been more perfect for me!  Orange foods!  I swear I read it and started jumping up and down.

Anywho, I decided to go any surprise everyone by not doing something with pumpkin.  My apologies if anyone was looking forward to that, but I'm a bit pumpkin-ed out (there are a bunch of revcipes on the way using it).  Instead, I decided to create a recipe that uses what I think is a much more overlooked fall ingredient: Carrots.

Carrots are a great ingredient, both because of their versitality, and because of the many health benefits they offer.

Not only are they good for the eyes, they can also help to prevent cancer and aging, keep your skin looking great, and even clean your teeth and gums!

It look like carrots are out to save the world, huh?  Reading through all their nutritional benefits, I sure thought so.

Moving on... Just because I strayed a bit from the norm by choosing carrots, did not mean I was going to go way out of my (recipe creating) comfort zone.  Therefore, I did not use my carrots to make something savory.  Instead, I ended up creating a highly snack-able carrot cake cookie.

Carrot Cake Cookie Bites

• 1/2 cup rolled oats
• 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp ginger
• pinch cloves
• pinch allspice
• 1/2 cup shredded carrots
• 2 tbsp honey (or agave)
• 2 tbsp water (or milk)
• 2 tbsp ground flax
• optional: If you want sweeter cookies, add a tsp or two of brown sugar

Preheat oven to 375F.  Combine oats and spices in a medium bowl.  Mix in honey, water, carrots, and sugar if using.  Stir in flaxmeal.  Form into small balls on sprayed baking sheet.  Bake in oven for 9 minutes.  Let cool before serving.

On top of the amazing (and spicy) taste, these cookies are pretty darn good for you, too.  Honey is used to sweeten and they're also completely flour, oil, and fat free.  I swear they don't feel like deprivation though.  All you taste when you bite into them is sweet carrot, spicy ginger, and a whole lot of YUM.

So, enjoy them.  Make them now, and then pop a few into your mouth whenever you need a quick snack.  Or maybe crumble one into some yogurt for breakfast.  Possibly drown a couple in milk (or melted chocolate??) for a midnight snack.  Or, you know, just watch as your family members sit down and eat them all in a total of 5.4 minutes.

On second thought, maybe you should just grab some while you can... and hide.

Revisited Recipe of the Day:

Pumpkin Raisin Oatmeal Cookies