Honey Oatmeal Cookies - uses no refined sugars!

I have been looking for some recipes where I could substitute honey for refined sugar and came across some on this website. www.honey.com Appropriately named! I tried this last night and the kids all like them. At first I skipped the step of putting the raisins in the hot tea, but then I realized it was pulling sweetness from the raisins to put in the recipe. Good idea! The first batch I omitted it and they weren't sweet enough. I did in the second batch and they were just right. I didn't put the raisins in the cookies, because my kids would turn their noses at them. I just used the sweetness from them. Give it a try!
Michelle

Honey Oatmeal Cookies

* 1/2 cup hot tea
* 1 cup raisins
* 2 cups flour (I used a 1/4 to 1/2 c more more bc my cookies were a little flat)
* 1-1/2 cups quick cooking rolled oats
* 1 teaspoon baking soda
* 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
* 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
* 1/2 cup shortening (I used coconut oil)
* 1/2 cup butter or margarine
* 3/4 cup honey
* 1 egg
* 1 teaspoon vanilla
* 1/2 to 1 cup chopped walnuts (optional)
* 1 package (6 oz.) chocolate chips, optional

Directions

Pour tea over raisins; let stand at least 15 minutes. Combine flour, oats, baking soda, cinnamon, salt and nutmeg. Mix thoroughly; set aside. Cream shortening and butter; gradually add honey until light and fluffy. Beat in egg and vanilla. Drain raisins; reserve 1/4 cup liquid. Alternately add flour mixture and reserved raisin liquid. Stir in nuts, raisins and chocolate chips. Drop by rounded teaspoonfuls 2 inches apart on ungreased baking sheets. Bake at 350°F about 12 minutes or until browned. Let stand one minute on cookie sheet; remove and cool on rack. Store in airtight container.