Recipe: Oatmeal Raisin Cookies (2=100 calories) and Low-Fat Chewy Oatmeal Spice Cookies (1=80 calories)

I haven't made these, but they look good and certainly seem healthier. If you try one, let us know what you think. They are both from Quaker Oats.

OATMEAL RAISIN COOKIES

4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) margarine, softened
3 tablespoons granulated sugar or 2 tablespoons heat-stable sugar substitute equal to 3 tablespoons sugar
1/4 cup egg substitute or 2 egg whites, lightly beaten
3/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
1/4 cup frozen unsweetened apple juice concentrate (thawed)
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt (optional)
1 1/2 cups Quaker Oats (quick or old fashioned, uncooked)
1/3 cup raisins, chopped

Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly spray cookie sheet with cooking spray.

In large bowl, beat margarine and sugar or sweetener until creamy. Add egg substitute; beat well. Add applesauce, apple juice concentrate and vanilla; beat well. Add combined flour, baking soda, cinnamon and salt; mix well. Add oats and raisins; mix well.

Drop dough by rounded teaspoonfuls onto cookie sheets.

Bake 15 to 17 minutes or until firm to the touch and light golden brown. Cool 1 minute on cookie sheets; remove to wire rack. Cool completely. Store tightly covered.

MAKES ABOUT 3 DOZEN COOKIES

NUTRITION INFORMATION: 2 cookies (made with granulated sugar or Sweet One and without salt)
Calories 100, Calories From Fat 20, Total Fat 3g, Saturated Fat 0.5g, Cholesterol 0mg, Sodium 120mg, Dietary Fiber 1g, Protein 3g.

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LOWER-FAT CHEWY OATMEAL SPICE COOKIES

3/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) margarine, softened
3/4 cup apple butter* or applesauce
2 egg whites or 1 egg
2 tablespoons fat-free milk
2 teaspoons vanilla
1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt (optional)
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg (optional)
3 cups Quaker Oats (quick or old fashioned, uncooked)
1 cup diced dried mixed fruit or raisins

Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly spray cookie sheets with cooking spray.

In large bowl, beat sugars and margarine until well blended. Add apple butter, egg whites, milk and vanilla; beat well.

Add combined flour, baking soda, cinnamon, salt and nutmeg, if desired; mix well. Add oats and dried fruit; mix well. (Dough will be moist.)

Drop dough by rounded tablespoonfuls onto cookie sheets.

Bake 10 to 12 minutes or until edges are light golden brown. Cool 1 minute on cookie sheets; remove to wire rack. Cool completely. Store tightly covered.

MAKES ABOUT 3 1/2 DOZEN

NUTRITION INFORMATION: 1 cookie
Calories 80, Calories From Fat 15, Total Fat 1.5g, Saturated Fat 0.5g, Cholesterol 0mg, Sodium 50mg, Total Carbohydrates 16g, Dietary Fiber less than 1g, Protein 2g, Total Sugars 8g.

*Look for apple butter in the jam & jelly section of the supermarket.

VARIATION:

FOR A NO FAT-ADDED COOKIE:
Omit margarine and increase apple butter to 1 cup. Proceed as recipe directs.

Nutrition Information: 1 cookie (made with 1 cup apple butter and without margarine)
Calories 90, Calories from Fat 0, Total Fat 0g, Saturated Fat 0g, Cholesterol 0mg, Sodium 30mg, Total Carbohydrates 19g, Dietary Fiber less than 1g, Protein 2g