Whipping up a batch of apple clusters
February 9th, 2009
I came home starving today. Starving. Kick the cat out of the way and head straight for the kitchen starving. Does that ever happen to you? I ate a full healthy breakfast and lunch with a snack of carrot and celery sticks. And on the way home instead of thinking about reheating dinner I had visions of baked good dancing in my head.
One of my health challenges is my love affair with cookies. When I don’t have the baking bug I end up eating organic oreo-type cookies, or maybe fig newtons. But I much prefer homemade cookies because after all the work of baking I’m a bit more likely to make them last. 
And, of course I almost forgot, because I can make something satisfying with whole ingredients.
Today’s creation: Apple Clusters. Despite being a “treat” food they are made of whole grains and natural sweeteners. If you like ‘em sweeter, sprinkle with sugar before baking. Me, I like them as a sort of cookie/granola hybrid snack.
Apple Clusters
1/2 stick butter
1/3 cup peanut butter
1/2 cup date sugar (granulated dried dates)
1/2 cup honey
1 1/2 cups spelt flour
1 cup rolled oats (not instant)
1/2 cup quinoa
2 eggs
1 apple, chopped tiny
1/2 cup milk or soymilk
1/2 tsp. vanilla
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
2 tsp. baking powder
pinch salt
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In mixing bowl, cream together butter, peanut butter, date sugar and honey. In a separate bowl, beat eggs with milk. Add the rest of the ingredients one at a time to the butter/sugar mixture, alternating with some of the eggs/milk. Combine, adding a little water as needed. Drop tablespoon sized clusters onto baking sheets and bake for about 15 minutes.
What do you like to eat as a snack when you get home?
