California Avocado Oatmeal-Raisin Cookies

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly spray 2 sheet pans with cooking spray.
2. Combine white whole wheat and all-purpose flour, baking soda, salt and cinnamon. Set aside.
3. Combine avocado, butter, brown sugar and granulated sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer. Beat on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes.
4. Add oil, egg and vanilla and beat until well combined.
5. Add flour mixture and beat just until all dry ingredients are incorporated. Add rice cereal, oatmeal and coconut and mix. Stir in raisins.
6. Drop cookies in rounded tablespoons with an ice cream scoop or a spoon. Flatten slightly with the palm of your hand and sprinkle each mound of dough with 1/2 teaspoon of turbinado sugar. Flatten again with your palm or a flat bottom glass. (These cookies will not spread as much as traditional cookies during the baking process so it’s important to flatten before placing in the oven.)
7. Bake for 14-16 minutes or until golden brown. Let cookies sit on pan for 2-3 minutes then transfer to a cooling rack. Cookies will be soft when first removed from oven, but will crisp up while cooling.

Serving Suggestion: These cookies are great to take along on a hike for a snack.

Beverage Pairing: Serve with ice cold milk, hot tea or coffee.

Note:   * Baking is an exact science. 1 large avocado is approximately 1/2 cup but be sure to measure. You may have a bit extra. If so, reserve it for another use (mashed avocado makes a wonderful sandwich spread).

** White whole wheat flour is readily available in the flour section of most larger grocery stores.

*** Turbinado (also sometimes called Demera) sugar is a partially refined brown sugar with large, coarse crystals readily available in the sugar section of most larger grocery stores. It gives a really nice crunch to these delicious cookies.