Martha Stewart's Iced Oatmeal Applesauce Cookies

Like I do almost every year, I made a resolution to get healthy. However, that gets pretty tough when you like to bake as much as I do. So when I find recipes that are both tasty and lower calorie it really just makes my day. 

Iced oatmeal applesauce cookies. Oh yum. I can get behind that. My dad bought me the Martha Stewart Cookies book for Christmas. I was so happy that I could finally replace the many photocopies I had made from the local library's copy of the book. I love these cookies. Not only do they taste delicious, but the oats and the use of applesauce make them a much lighter treat than your average dessert. Unfortunately, my icing came out too thin somehow so mine didn't look nearly as pretty as Martha's but they still tasted wonderful!

What you need:
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
1 cup packed light brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg
1/2 cup chunky applesauce
1 1/2 cups old fashioned rolled oats
1 1/4 cups all purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon coarse salt
1 cup golden raisins (I left these out because raisins-- ew)
1 3/4 cup confectioners sugar
3 tablespoons pure maple syrup

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix butter and sugars on low speed until combined.

Add egg and applesauce, mixing until well blended (about 2/3 minutes).

Mix in oats, flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Mix in raisins.

Using an ice cream scoop (1 1/2 inch) or a tablespoon, drop dough onto baking sheets lined with parchment paper, spacing two inches apart. Bake cookies until golden and just set, about 13-15 minutes. Let cool on sheet for 5 minutes before moving to wire rack to cool completely. Make sure there's parchment paper under the racks.

Make your icing. Whisk together confectioner's sugar, syrup and 3 tablespoons of water. Drizzle over cookies and let set.

I'm not positive as to why my frosting came out too thin. I'm guessing I accidentally shorted it on powdered sugar. Even if it didn't turn out thick and pretty, it still gave these cookies a nice sweet taste.

The maple frosting along with the texture makes these cookies a winner. I don't know that I would choose these over a warm chocolate chip cookie, but these certainly make a nice, healthier alternative.

Good luck and happy baking!
Rosie

Source: Martha Stewart's Cookies (it's on her site here)