Heart Healthy Cookies

One of my favorite things to do is check out magazines at the library. I know, I'm a nerd.

Lately, I've been enjoying Health magazine and found this cookie recipe. They touted these as "heart healthy cookies" giving you you the "cholesterol-lowering benefits of oats and fiber-packed dates.". Hey, I'm game. I typically do not buy dates, and don't think of myself as liking dates, but this recipe called for them and I decided to follow it exactly. These were outstanding - I'll make these again and again. Here's to heart healthy cookies!

Oatmeal Date Chocolate Cookies

Health Magazine
January 2008 issue

6 tablespoons unsalted butter
3/4 cup packed light brown sugar
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
1/3 cup whole-wheat flour
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/2 cups regular oats
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 lightly beaten egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 cup chopped pitted dates
3 ounces coarsely chopped bittersweet chocolate (I used Ghiradelli)

Preheat oven to 350º. Melt butter in a small saucepan over low heat. Remove from heat and add brown sugar. Stir until smooth. In a medium bowl, combine all-purpose flour, whole-wheat flour, baking soda, oats, and salt. Combine the butter mixture with the dry ingredients, and add egg, vanilla, and chopped dates. Fold in bittersweet chocolate. Mix well and spoon mixture by tablespoon-fulls out onto lightly greased (or silicone baking mat–covered) baking sheets. Bake for 12 minutes, until tops are dry to the touch.