Healthy Oatmeal Cookies with Honey

In a large bowl, whisk together the quick oats, white whole wheat flour, baking powder, ground cinnamon, and kosher salt until well combined. (Prep time: 5 minutes)

In a separate medium bowl, combine the honey, unsweetened applesauce, melted and cooled butter, large egg, and vanilla extract. Whisk vigorously until the mixture is smooth and emulsified. Pour the wet ingredients into the bowl with the dry ingredients and stir gently until just combined. Be careful not to overmix. (Prep time: 7 minutes)

Gently fold in the dark chocolate chips and chopped walnuts until they are evenly distributed throughout the batter. (Prep time: 3 minutes)

Cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap and place the batter in the refrigerator to chill for at least 30 minutes, or up to 3 days. This chilling process allows the flavors to meld and the dough to firm up, resulting in a chewier cookie. (Chill time: 30 minutes - 3 days)

When ready to bake, preheat your oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) and position a rack in the center. Line a large, rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat to prevent sticking. (Prep time: 5 minutes)

Remove the chilled dough from the refrigerator. If the dough is very stiff, allow it to sit at room temperature for 5 to 10 minutes to soften slightly. (Rest time: 5-10 minutes)

Using a cookie scoop or spoon, drop rounded tablespoons of dough onto the prepared baking sheet, leaving approximately 1 inch of space between each cookie. Gently flatten each cookie with your fingers to about 3/4-inch thickness. (Prep time: 10 minutes)

Bake in the preheated oven for 9 to 10 minutes, or until the cookies are golden brown around the edges and set on top. The centers may still appear slightly soft, but they will firm up as they cool. (Bake time: 9-10 minutes)

Remove the baking sheet from the oven and place it on a wire rack. Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 2 minutes before carefully transferring them to the wire rack to cool completely. This will prevent them from breaking. (Cool time: 2 minutes +)