Healthy Cookies

I don't really eat much dessert because it's unhealthy, has no nutritional value, and usually too sweet for my taste. So I've been searching online for healthier alternatives to overly sugary and buttery sweets (although most people find that to be the best part). I usually replace most of the sugar content in baked recipes with Splenda, but then again, artificial sweeteners can't be that great for you either. I prefer natural ingredients.

Here's a great cookie recipe I found online. I made a batch today and it tasted pretty darn good, although the texture isn't as firm as a real cookie. Maybe I'll try to bake it longer next time. The original recipe did not include chocolate chips, but I just had to add one "bad" ingredient :) I think this recipe would also qualify as vegan-friendly (do chocolate chips count?)

BANANA OATMEAL COOKIE

2 mashed ripe bananas
3 cups oatmeal
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup applesauce

1/4 cup choc chips

2 packets of Splenda (if using unsweetened applesauce)

Preheat oven to 350F. Mix all ingredients together in a bowl till everything is uniformly moist. Drop dough by tablespoonfuls on a greased cookie sheet. The dough will not spread, so flatten it to desired cookie thickness. Bake for 15 minutes. Eat warm or after cooling.