Applesauce Oatmeal Cookies

I wanted to bake some simple cookies, but didn't want to have to go out and buy chocolate chips or anything (seriously, how do I not have a stash of chocolate chips on hand for spontaneous cookie baking?).  I had a bunch of oatmeal but no raisins, so I started looking through recipes.  I came across one for Self-Frosting Oatmeal cookies.  The directions said to cream sugar with vegetable oil.  I've only ever creamed sugar with butter.  Butter has a better taste too.  So I looked up conversions from oil to butter in cookies.  I came across several sites saying pretty much the same thing.  Then I came across a site suggesting substituting half the oil for something healthier like applesauce or prune puree.  Well, I happened to have applesauce in my fridge, so here's my take on Self-Frosting Oatmeal Cookies.

• 1 cup Sugar
• 1 cup Brown Sugar
• 1/2 cup Applesauce
• 1/2 cup butter softened
• 2 Eggs
• 1 tsp Vanilla Extract
• 1 1/2 cups All Purpose Flour
• 1/2 tsp Baking Powder
• 1 tsp Salt
• 2 1/2 cups Rolled Oats
• 1/2 cup Confectioners' Sugar

I somehow managed to forget the oats in this picture

Cream together the first 2 sugars, applesauce and butter.   This was hard because the butter was softened, but hardened when mixed with the cold applesauce.  Next time I'd like the applesauce sit out a bit and get to room temperature first.  Beat in each of the eggs and stir in vanilla.

In a seperate bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, and salt.  Stir that into the wet mixture.  Next, mix in the oats.  Cover, and chill in the fridge for 2 hours while you do your dishes (hopefully it doesn't take you 2 hours to do your dishes, so feel free to do whatever you want with the rest of your time.  I enjoy solo dance parties).

Want!  NOW!!!

After the 2 hours roll into balls the size of walnuts, and roll in the powdered sugar.  Place 2 inches apart on a baking sheet.  Bake in an oven preheated to 350 for 8-10 minutes.  I'm still getting used to my oven so I started at 6 minutes and checked back every 1 1/2 to 2 minutes.  Once their done, let them sit on the pan for 5 minutes, then transfer to a cooling rack.

Not all of the sugar melted into "frosting"

My roommates really like them, but I'm still undecided.  One roommate and I decided that next time we'll have to try making them with cinnamon and pieces of apple.

Nom nom nom!