Alaska Molasses Cookies

Total Time: 20 mins Preparation Time: 10 mins Cook Time: 10 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 32
• 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

Recipe

• 1 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.
• 2 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.
• 3 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.
• 4 gradually add flour mixture to sugar mixture, beating until blended. cover and freeze dough 30 minutes or until firm.
• 5 preheat oven to 375°.
• 6 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.
• 7 bake at 375° for 8 to 10 minutes. cool on pans 5 minutes. remove from pans; cool completely on wire racks.