Cookies - Day 2 + Frosting

One of my favorite cookies in the fall and well, truthfully anytime is molasses. And I endlessly annoy my family saying, "I wonder how many mole-asses it takes to fill the bottle?" I think it may have been cute the first 111 times. Anyway, I found a healthier version on Cooking Light's site. FYI - A sprinkle of powder sugar adds minimal calories and looks like snow, I'm just saying.

(By the way, as promised yesterday, you will find a fat free and lower calorie frosting.)

Alaska Molasses Cookies

Ingredients:

1/2 c - applesauce
1 1/4 c - sugar, divided
6 TBSP - butter, softened
1/4 c - dark molasses
1 - large egg
1 c - all-purpose flour
1 c - whole wheat pastry flour
2 tsp - baking soda
1 tsp - ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp - salt
1/2 tsp - ground ginger
1/2 tsp - ground cloves
Cooking spray

Preparation:

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.

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.

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.

Gradually add flour mixture to sugar mixture, beating until blended.

Cover and freeze dough 30 minutes or until firm.

Preheat oven to 375°.

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. Bake at 375° for 8 to 10 minutes.

Cool on pans 5 minutes. Remove from pans; cool completely on wire racks.

Nutritional Information: (Makes 32 cookies - Serving size is 1 cookie)
CALORIES 88(25% from fat); FAT 2.4g (sat 1.4g,mono 0.7g,poly 0.1g); PROTEIN 1.2g; CHOLESTEROL 12mg; CALCIUM 16mg; SODIUM 141mg; FIBER 0.7g; IRON 0.7mg; CARBOHYDRATE 16g

The frosting... I do not have nutritional information, but the biggest bonuses are no trans-fats (like in commercial brands) and no saturated fats.

Beat and Eat Frosting - From Flora's Recipe Hideout

Ingredients:
1 - egg white
3/4 c - sugar
1/4 tsp - cream of tartar
1 tsp - vanilla
1/4 c - boiling water

Directions:

Mix egg white, sugar, cream of tartar and vanilla in a small, deep bowl. Add boiling water. Beat to stiff peaks. It's ready to spread.

Hope these help.

I am headed to a meeting about the 801 Power Climb right now, then on to the gym. I'll report back tomorrow about the Power Climb meeting.

Yours in health, Kate