Orange Spice Molasses Cookies
Rolling sugar
½
cup granulated sugar
1 tablespoon grated orange zest
Dough
1½
cups rolled oats
5 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
⅓
cup granulated sugar
⅓
cup packed dark brown sugar
2 tablespoons grated orange zest
½
cup light or dark molasses
7 tablespoons unsweetened applesauce
1 large egg yolk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon baking soda
1½
teaspoons ground cinnamon
1½
teaspoons ground ginger
½
teaspoon ground cloves
¼
teaspoon allspice
¼
teaspoon ground black pepper
¼
teaspoon salt
2¼
cups whole-wheat flour
Heat the oven to 375 degrees. Coat a large baking sheet with cooking spray or line with parchment paper.
For the rolling sugar: In a food processor, pulse the sugar and orange zest until well combined. Transfer to a shallow dish.
For the dough: In a blender, grind the oats until they are reduced to a fine powder, about 1 to 2 minutes, scraping the sides as needed. Set aside.
In a large bowl, use an electric mixer on medium-high to beat together the butter and granulated sugar for 5 minutes. Add the brown sugar and orange zest, then beat for another 2 minutes.
Add the molasses, applesauce, egg yolk, vanilla, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, allspice, pepper and salt. Beat on medium-high until incorporated, about 30 seconds, scraping down the bowl and beaters as needed.
Turn the mixer to medium and slowly add the ground oats. Scrape down the bowl. With the mixer on medium, slowly add whole-wheat flour. The dough will be moderately sticky.
Using a slightly rounded tablespoon of dough, roll into balls, then roll in the rolling sugar to coat. If necessary, wet your fingers to help roll without sticking. The zest will make the mixture slightly wet and it will clump. Lightly brush off any excess so that just a thin coat remains on the cookie. Place cookies about 1 inch apart on the prepared baking sheet.
Working in batches, bake the cookies until the edges are set and the tops are cracked, but the centers are still soft and puffy, about 10 minutes. Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 8 minutes. Serve warm or transfer to a wire rack to cool.
Makes 40 cookies.
@Recipe nutrition:Nutrition values per cookie: 85 calories; 2 g fat (1 g saturated), 16 g carbohydrates, 1 g fiber, 1 g protein, 9 mg cholesterol, 48 mg sodium.
EatingWell December 2009