These chewy cookies may taste like a muffin top when in fact they'll actually help shrink yours! Bonus: The same recipe also makes a hearty cereal or breakfast parfait!

By Peggy Kotsopoulos

4 gala or other baking apples, cored and finely diced
1 cup water
3 tsp cinnamon
3 cups rolled oats (uncooked)
1/2 cup apple butter
2/3 cup maple syrup (optional)
pinch sea salt

1. Preheat oven to 380 F.
2. Place apples, water and 2 tsp cinnamon in saucepan; bring to a boil; simmer over low heat until apples are soft, stirring occasionally.
3. Remove pot from stove and stir in oatmeal, remaining tsp cinnamon, then remaining ingredients; mix well.
4. Drop small spoonfuls of batter onto parchment-lined cookie or baking sheet greased with coconut oil and bake for about 30 minutes, until the bottom becomes golden and cookies stick together.
5. When cookies are done, carefully transfer them to wire racks to cool.

Apple-Oatmeal Breakfast Cereal

ingredients same as above

1. Place apples, water and cinnamon in saucepan; bring to a boil; simmer over low heat until apples are soft, stirring occasionally.
2. Once apples are soft, stir in oats, remaining tsp cinnamon, apple butter and sea salt. Serve hot with maple syrup, if desired.

Apple-Oatmeal Parfait

4 gala or other baking apples, cored and finely diced
1 cup water
2 tsp cinnamon
3 cups rolled oats (uncooked)
Greek or coconut yogourt
maple syrup, to taste (optional)

1. Place apples, water and cinnamon in saucepan; bring to a boil; simmer over low heat until apples are soft, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat. Refrigerate until chilled.
2. Layer cooked, chilled apples in glass with Greek or coconut yogourt and oats. Top with a drizzle of maple syrup, if desired.

Dietary Dish

• Apples and oats are a heart-healthy, weight-loss-friendly combo. Both are super high in fibre, which helps to pull bad cholesterol from your body and keep you full for longer periods of time.
• These "muffins" are dairy-free, wheat-free, soy-free and egg-free. To make them gluten-free as well, substitute oats for quinoa flakes. While oats are wheat-free, they may still contain trace amounts of gluten. They are safe for those with gluten intolerance or sensitivity but should be avoided by celiacs.
• The cinnamon and fibre help to lower the glycemic index of the maple syrup. For sugar-free treats that are still plenty sweet, omit the maple syrup all together!