I can’t be trusted with cookies.

Especially gingersnaps.

Every year, when Winter Break rolls around and stores begin to sell gingerbread houses, candy canes, and red & green m&m’s, my family always makes sure to pick up the biggest bin of gingersnaps we can find. And trust me, those babies are gone long before the kids head back to school in January.

For obvious reasons, grocery stores don’t tend to sell gingersnaps during the warmer seasons. And as it gets closer and closer to summer, the likeliness of finding a bin of these delectable treats at our local Kroger is decreasing at an unfortunately rapid pace. Now, I don’t know if you’ve ever had a gingersnap, but if you haven’t, trust me when I say they’re probably the best thing you’ll ever taste. The balance between the sweet and spiciness is absolutely perfect, and the cookie practically melts in your mouth.

Plus, unlike gingerbread cookies, they’re so thin that you can eat 10 without feeling an ounce of guilt! Until you get on the scale the next morning… but everyone always gains the Winter 15 right?

Anyways, in the summer, I’m forced to come up with other ways to enjoy my favorite winter treat without breaking and just whipping up a batch. Because I think we all know, those gingersnaps would be gone before you could say cheat day.

If you haven’t noticed from my recipes for Hearty Banana Nut Pancakes, Strawberry Shortcake Gluten-Free Cupcakes, and Carrot Cake Oatmeal (to name just a few), I love combining two of my favorite foods into one recipe. Well, similar to these guilt-free recipes, this recipe for Ginger Spice Apple Waffles combines the heavenly taste of gingersnaps, the crunch of apples, and guilt-free-ness of breakfast foods into one completely decadent recipe.

As a bonus, this recipe is so hearty and delicious that you’ll be completely satisfied after just one waffle!

Well, unless you’re me and you’re not satisfied until after two…

Hey, I never said I could be trusted around waffles either! 😉

Ginger Spice Apple Waffles

• 1 3/4 c old fashioned oats (or 1 1/2 c oat flour)
• 1 tbs spelt flour
• 1 tbs whole wheat flour
• 3/4 tsp baking soda
• 1/3 c applesauce
• 1 egg white (or 3 tbs egg whites)
• 1 1/3 c milk of choice (I used almond milk)
• 1/2 tbs molasses
• 1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp all spice
• 1 1/2 tsp ginger (dried or fresh)
• 1 medium apple
• stevia to taste
• 1 tbs flax seeds

Process oats in a blender or food processor until they have the consistency of oat flour. In a mixing bowl, mix all dry ingredients together, including oat flour. If using fresh ginger, grate and mix in as well, if using dry, simply measure 1 tsp ginger and add to the batter. Add milk, applesauce, molasses, and egg white and stir until combined. Add stevia until desired sweetness is reached (or substitute with about 2 tbs brown sugar). Chop up apples into bite-sized pieces and fold into batter. If desired, skin the apple before chopping, but this step isn’t necessary. Heat up a waffle iron and grease with cooking spray. Pour about 1 c of batter onto iron (if using an 8 in belgian waffle iron), sprinkle on scant tsp of flax seeds, close iron, and allow the waffle to cook for roughly 8 minutes (time may vary based on size). Once it’s cooked through, plate it and top with desired fruit, syrup, etc. Enjoy!

Nutrition Information (from myfitnesspal.com)

Calories: 294

Fat: 5g

Carbs: 52g

Protein: 10g

(Yields 3 servings)