Cozy Up with Applesauce Cookies & Maple Drizzle

Regrettably a coworker of ours has a parent that is ill in the hospital. Tomorrow we are putting together a basket of sweets for their family. M is making her chocolate chip cookies, L is making jam bars and I will be contributing these maple applesauce cookies. The original recipe came from Martha Stewart's Cookie Book. I tweaked it to fit my personal taste. Mama always said that when giving someone a present you should give them something that you love and that you find special...so here is my special recipe if you're interested. 

Applesauce Oatmeal Cookies with Maple Drizzles (Adapted from Martha's Cookie Book) 

Ingredients: 

(cookies) 

4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted 

1 cup packed brown sugar 

1/2 cup granulated sugar 

1 large egg

1/2 cup cinnamon applesauce 

1 teaspoon vanilla extract 

1 1/2 cups old-fashioned oats 

1 1/4 cups flour 

1/2 teaspoon baking soda 

1/2 teaspoon baking powder 

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon 

1/4 teaspoon salt 

1 cup raisins 

(icing) 

1 3/4 cups confectioner's sugar 

3 tablespoons maple syrup

2 teaspoons maple extract 

3-4 tablespoons water 

Instructions: 

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. 

2. Melt the butter in a large heat proof bowl (I popped mine right in the microwave)

3. Add the sugar and beat with an electric mixer until well blended. 

4. Add the egg, applesauce and vanilla and beat for an additional 2 minutes 

5. Add the rest of the ingredients and mix until combined 

6. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper. Using a cookie scoop or a regular tablespoon, drop the cookie dough onto the prepared pans about 2 inches apart. 

7. Bake the cookies for 13-15 minutes, rotate the pans 1/2 way through. 

8. Transfer cookies to a cooler rack and let them cool completely 

9. Mix the icing ingredients together in a small bowl. 

10. Drizzle the maple icing over the cooled cookies and try not to eat the whole batch yourself :) 

I hope these cookies are a comforting treat. Eating something with apples and maple syrup is like receiving a culinary hug in my mind. These cookies are much softer than you'd expect. Your teeth sink into the oats and the maple drizzle melts away on your tongue. The cookies are far from sugary. The icing adds just the right touch of sweetness. I bet these cookies would be stellar with chocolate or butterscotch chips instead of raisins, chopped walnuts, pecans or even chopped apple added in. Try 'em out folks. 

Enjoy!