Cookie Experiment...and Recipe!

I have recently been experimenting with using natural peanut butter in place of regular butter in various cookie recipes. So far, it has been going well. This recipe is a cross between oatmeal raisin cookies, previous cookie experiments using peanut butter instead of butter, and even the concept of granola bars. I used crunchy peanut butter in these cookies and it was very good! No need for other nuts. The recipe? See below!

Peanut Butter Oatmeal Raisin Cookies aka “Healthy” Cookies

½ c peanut butter	¼ c water	3 c quick oats
1 c brown sugar	1 ½ c whole wheat flour	1 c raisins
2 eggs	1 t baking soda	1 c chopped nuts (opt)
1 t vanilla	½ t salt

Cream peanut butter and sugar. Add eggs, vanilla and water and mix well. Sift together flour, soda and salt and stir into wet ingredients. Stir in oats, then raisins and nuts if desired. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto cookie sheet. Press down before baking. Bake @ 350 for ~9 minutes. Allow to cool on cookie sheet 3 minutes, then remove to wire rack to cool.

I am not really sure how many this makes as I rarely make cookies without sampling dough and fresh cookies! =) I also usually make cookies very small to allow for times when only a small treat is desired or for guilt-free consumption of several at a time!