Easter and Musselman's Applesauce

When the good people at Musselman's sent me some applesauce, cinnamon and a cookie cutter, I grinned. Mainly because Corinne LOVES applesauce, but also because HOW CUTE is that cookie cutter?!? Adorable, that's how cute. (I have a thing for cookie cutters. They make me smile...)

Since applesauce doesn't go into sugar cookies, I was a bit perplexed as to what they wanted me to do with the cookie cutter until I read the little insert with the recipe for the bunny place cards/decorations. DUH! Justin and I used the same recipe in Cub Scouts for Christmas ornaments! It's the easiest thing, too. Basically, you use equal parts of applesauce and cinnamon (with a tiny touch extra of cinnamon if it's too gooey) to make a dough. Roll the dough between 2 sheets of wax paper, cut out shapes with cookie cutters, and bake on low until hardened and voila! Instant decorations that smell divine.

We used a pen to make little holes at the top of each bunny. Once they had cooled, we threaded some leftover ribbons through and glued on pastel pom poms to make our Easter bunnies just a touch cuter.
And then? Then we made 2 batches of applesauce/oatmeal/raisin cookies and served them on froggy plates. Simply because they're DAMN GOOD.


Applesauce Oatmeal cookies

1/3 C butter or margarine
2/3 C packed brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 egg
1/2 C unsweetened applesauce
1 1/4 C flour
1 1/4 C rolled oats

Mix the butter, brown sugar, cinnamon and baking soda until blended. Add the egg and applesauce and blend. Beat in the flour and then stir in the oats by hand. (add raisins if you 'd like!)

Drop by teaspoons onto and ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 375 for about 8-11 minutes (lightly browned). Makes about 30 cookies that even my pickiest eater likes. Plus? They're not too horrible for you (as cookies go)...