The Healthy Apple Sandwich Cookies that are lower in calories, fat and sugar than a usual cookie recipe, but they’re just as yummy, crunchy and flavorful!
What do you say to that?
I’ll say: well they looked VERY impressive and tasted VERY good! Seriously! But… they did take some time to make! …One of those instances when I was inspired to fuss around the kitchen to make something extra-special and different!
Note: this doesn’t happen THAT often: my usual self likes to make my treats quickly to go on to actually eating them and sharing them with my family and friends!
If this is the same case with you – then you’re at a right place! For a quick & healthy cookies treat just check these Healthy Apple Cookies, Healthy Sugar-Free Almond Cookies or these Healthy Chocolate Cookies recipes! 🙂
But today… today I am sharing a lengthier to make, yet so much more impressively looking Healthy Apple Sandwich Cookies recipe! And let me tell you this: as much as it was fun to crunch through the first few cookies by myself, cookies like these are definitely made to impress!
Both my hubby and the kids were delighted to see these cookies on after dinner! And the oohs and aahs from my friend made me feel very-very proud of having made this treat! 🙂
The Healthy Apple Sandwich Cookies
Just a few words about the cookies before we’ll get to the actual recipe (I know you can’t wait! 🙂 )
I made the cookie dough similarly to the cookie dough I used in this Healthy Sugar Cookies recipe. Subbing some of the butter for the cream cheese helped lower the fat & calories count without compromising the crunch!
And as for the apple filling: I was actually thinking about putting the Healthy Caramel Filling in instead of the apple jelly which I ended up using. But then… it is Fall. And I really wanted to make something apple-some!
And although apples do go well with caramel (such as in the Healthy Apple Caramel Cake), caramel on its own can be eaten at any time throughout the year!
And so – apple jelly it was!
Why jelly?
Well, because a classic sandwich cookie filling is usually something really-really sugary, such as a jam!
But since my goal was to make these cookies healthier and less sugary – how would I make a runny apple juice more solid without adding a ton of sugar in?
Making it a jelly was the answer! And although it holds the shape and looks just as the jam – the less sugar option was definitely something that suited my healthy taste much better!
So what do you say?
Let’s get to the recipe, shall we? 🙂
The Healthy Apple Sandwich Cookies are lower in calories, fat and sugar than a usual cookie recipe, but they're just as yummy, crunchy and flavorful!
- 1 1/2 cups white whole wheat flour
- 3 tbsp butter
- 3 tbsp non-fat cream cheese
- 1/3 cup sugar or sweetener of choice
- 1 egg or 2 egg whites
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 packet gelatin
- 1 cup apple juice
Whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Separately whisk the egg with the butter and cream cheese. Add the sugar and the vanilla extract. Add the wet mixture to the dry mixture and stir until incorporated.
Cut the dough in half and wrap each section with plastic wrap. Place in refrigerator to chill for 2 hrs or overnight. In the mean time make the Apple Jelly.
To make the Apple Jelly prepare the gelatin as indicated by the package, but instead of using water, use the apple juice.
Preheat oven to 350 F.
Remove one dough half from the fridge. Roll it out onto a floured surface to 1/8 in. thickness.
With a cookie cutter cut out cookie shapes using up entire dough. These will be the bottoms of your sandwich.
Place on a parchment paper lined tray and bake for 10-12 min or until lightly golden and let cool.
Remove your second half of dough and repeat with a large cookie cutter. Then take a smaller shape cutter and cut out the centers of each cookie. Bake and let cool.
Once all cookies are cooled it is time to assemble. Spoon a teaspoon of apple jelly onto the middle of the bottom cookies. Place the top cookie onto the apple jelly.
If desired dust with some powdered sugar. Enjoy!
Please, comment!