Alaska Molasses Cookies

If you can't find whole wheat pastry flour, increase the all-purpose flour to 1 3/4 cups and use 1/4 cup whole wheat flour. Martina Webb, Sterling Heights, Michigan.

Yield: 32 cookies (serving size: 1 cookie)

Ingredients

• 1/2  cup  applesauce
• 1 1/4  cups  sugar, divided
• 6  tablespoons  butter, softened
• 1/4  cup  dark molasses
• 1  large egg
• 1  cup  all-purpose flour
• 1  cup  whole wheat pastry flour
• 2  teaspoons  baking soda
• 1  teaspoon  ground cinnamon
• 1/2  teaspoon  salt
• 1/2  teaspoon  ground ginger
• 1/2  teaspoon  ground cloves
• Cooking spray

Preparation

Spoon applesauce onto several layers of heavy-duty paper towels; spread to 1/2-inch thickness. Cover with additional paper towels; let stand 5 minutes. Scrape into a bowl using a rubber spatula.

Combine applesauce, 1 cup sugar, and butter; beat with a mixer at medium speed until well blended (about 3 minutes). Add molasses and egg; beat well.

Lightly spoon flours into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Combine flours and next 5 ingredients (flours through cloves), stirring well with a whisk. Gradually add flour mixture to sugar mixture, beating until blended. Cover and freeze dough 30 minutes or until firm.

Preheat oven to 375°.

With moist hands, shape dough into 32 (1-inch) balls. Roll balls in 1/4 cup sugar. Place 3 inches apart on baking sheets coated with cooking spray. Bake at 375° for 8 to 10 minutes. Cool on pans 5 minutes. Remove from pans; cool completely on wire racks.

Nutritional Information

Calories:

88 (25% from fat)

Fat:

2.4g (sat 1.4g,mono 0.7g,poly 0.1g)

Protein:

1.2g

Carbohydrate:

16g

Fiber:

0.7g

Cholesterol:

12mg

Iron:

0.7mg

Sodium:

141mg

Calcium:

16mg