Lower-Fat Chewy Oatmeal Spice Cookies

Wholesome, low-fat oatmeal apple butter cookies loaded with dried mixed fruit and/or raisins.

Recipe Ingredients:

3/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) margarine, softened
3/4 cup apple butter or applesauce
2 large egg whites or 1 large egg
2 tablespoons fat-free milk
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt (optional)
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg (optional)
3 cups Quaker® Oats (quick or old fashioned, uncooked)
1 cup diced dried mixed fruit or raisins or a combination of both

Cooking Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly spray cookie sheets with cooking spray.
2. In large bowl, beat sugars and margarine until well blended. Add apple butter, egg whites, milk and vanilla; beat well. Add combined flour, baking soda, cinnamon, salt and nutmeg, if desired; mix well. Add oats and dried fruit; mix well. (Dough will be moist.)
3. Drop dough by rounded tablespoonfuls onto cookie sheets.
4. Bake 10 to 12 minutes or until edges are light golden brown. Cool 1 minute on cookie sheets; remove to wire rack. Cool completely. Store tightly covered.

Makes about 3 1/2 dozen or 42 cookies.

Tip: Look for apple butter in the jam and jelly section of the supermarket.

For a No-Fat Cookie: Omit margarine and increase apple butter to 1 cup. Proceed as recipe directs.

NNutritional Information Per Serving (1/42 of recipe made with 1 cup apple butter and without margarine): Calories 90, Calories from Fat 0, Total Fat 0g, Saturated Fat 0g, Cholesterol 0mg, Sodium 30mg, Total Carbohydrates 19g, Dietary Fiber less than 1g, Protein 2g.

Recipe and photograph provided courtesy of The Quaker Oat Company.