I was hit this weekend with the desire to bake!  It is likely because the weather forecast showed me low temperatures and a chance of rain for Sunday.  Sounds like perfect cookie baking weather!  I was so proud of myself too, because I remembered to take the butter out of the fridge the night before 🙂 It really is the small things!

As you know, when I think of baking cookies, my go-to recipe book is Mrs. Fields.  She never disappoints!  The cookies always turn out perfect.  When I am reading through all the options, I know exactly when I am going to get, as there is a picture with each recipe.  It should be mandatory that every recipe comes with a picture.  Hasn’t it been said that we eat with our eyes…

I originally thought about making a chocolate chip cookie, but to my shock, I didn’t have any chocolate chips in the pantry.  I was +1 with the butter but now I am -1 for the chocolate chips 😦   but I am not the type of person to let the lack chocolate prohibit me from baking.  With flour, butter, white and brown sugar in my pantry, I can still have cookie baking success!

So, as I was flipping through my faithful cookbook, I came across a recipe for Applesauce Oaties.  Now, the original recipe called for chocolate chips, but when I was reading the rest of the ingredients, I felt I could easily omit the chocolate and the cookies wouldn’t be lacking.  In fact, when I reviewed the ingredient list again, I thought that these would be a great breakfast cookie!

Key items in this cookie are: granola, applesauce, raisins and walnuts.  See, you don’t really need the chocolate chips.  Although, I am sure I would have enjoyed snacking on them while the cookies were baking 😉

So, I whipped up all the ingredients, had a sample (or two) of the cookie dough and baked up these cookies.  The scent of cinnamon and nutmeg was in every room of our apartment while these were baking.  Yum!

A quick sample of these cookies and I realized that I had a new go-to recipe for an Oatmeal Raisin cookie.  Now, the question is whether or not I will have enough to bring into work tomorrow so I can share 😉

Adapted from:
Mrs. Fields Best Cookie Book Ever! – Applesauce Oaties

Ingredients:

• 1 1/4 cups quick oats
• 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp nutmeg
• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1/2 cup softened butter
• 1 egg
• 3/4 cup applesauce
• 1 cup raisins
• 1 cup chopped walnuts

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 375°F.
2. In a medium bowl, combine oats, flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg.
3. Mix well and set aside.
4. In a large bowl, combine sugars.  Add in butter and beat together to form a grainy paste.  Add in egg and applesauce and blend until smooth.
5. Add in the flour mixture and mix until combined.  Stir in raisins and walnuts.
6. Drop dough onto parchment lined baking sheets, about 2 inches apart.
7. Bake in preheated oven for 12 – 14 minutes.
8. Transfer to a wire cooling rack.
9. Wait at least 5 minutes before sampling, if you can 🙂