A Cheese-Lover's Cookie

Inspired by this post on the Kitchn Blog the other day, I decided to make my own batch of gouda apple oatmeal cookies, but with a few variations on the recipe.

Here's what I put in my gouda apple oatmeal cookies:

2/3 Cup Grapeseed Oil (lighter than olive oil with significant health benefits)
1 Egg
1 tsp Vanilla
3/4 Cup All Purpose Flour (white or wheat)
1/4 Cup Brown Sugar
1 tsp Powdered Ginger
1/2 tsp Baking Powder
1/2 tsp Salt
1 1/2 Cups Oats
1/2 Cup figs, finely chopped
1 Medium Green Apple
4 oz finely chopped Gouda cheese (you could really use any mild semi-soft cheese, but I would not recommend using smoked gouda.)
Ground Cinnamon

Oven Temp: 375
Bake Time: 17 minutes

Whisk oil, egg, and vanilla together. In a separate bowl, mix dry ingredients and figs together. Peel and core the apple, and then grate it directly into the dry ingredients. Stir this well, being sure to combine all the flour and apple. Fold in chopped Gouda. Add the oil, egg, vanilla mixture and combine fully. On a lightly floured baking stone or cookie sheet, drop spoonfuls of the dough approximately an inch apart. Dust each cookie with a little ground cinnamon, then pop them in the oven. Be sure to rotate the cookies half way through cook time if your oven cooks unevenly. Once they're done, pull them out of the oven and allow them to stand for 3-5 minutes before eating them, these cookies need a few minutes out of the oven to firm up.

Gouda apple oatmeal cookies are not sweet, and it's important to give people with whom you share them a heads up about that. Otherwise, they might be weirded out by your cheese cookie. Also, because of the oatmeal, these cookies are very filling, which is good to know ahead of time, as they are also addictive.

Last night we ate them over vanilla ice cream, and it was a fun combination! I am also hoping to find some cinnamon ice cream to pair them with for next time.

Which recipes are inspiring you to create your own variation?

-Domestic in the District