Festive Lemon Sugar Cookies with Cinnamon

This recipe puts a healthy twist on the traditional favorite, lemon sugar cookies. Some of the healthier ingredients include whole wheat flour, cinnamon, nutmeg and allspice. In addition, applesauce reduces the amount of butter. To make it vegan, eliminate butter and egg and replace with ~1-1 1/2 cups applesauce, and replace skim milk with soy milk. Enjoy, and share the joy!

• ¾ cup granulated sugar
• ¼ cup light brown sugar
• ¼ cup softened butter
• ½ cup unsweetened applesauce
• 2 tablespoons skim (non-fat) milk
• 2 teaspoons grated lemon peel and a few drops of lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 egg
• 1 ¾ cups whole wheat flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• ½ teaspoon baking soda
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon nutmeg
• ½ teaspoon allspice
• ½ teaspoon cinnamon

TOPPING

• 1 teaspoon red/orange sprinkles
• 1 teaspoon green/blue sprinkles
• 1 teaspoon raw turbinado sugar (or brown sugar)

1. Preheat oven to 375F
2. Combine sugars, butter and applesauce in large bowl, beating until light and fluffy.
3. Add milk, lemon peel, vanilla and egg; mix well.
4. Add flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, nutmeg, allspice and cinnamon; mix well.
5. Cover bowl with plastic saran wrap.
6. Refrigerate ~20 minutes.
7. To prepare topping, mix sprinkles and sugar in small bowl.
8. Using ice cream scooper, shape dough into 1” balls and place onto baking sheet covered with parchment paper. Place balls of cookie dough ~1.5” apart.
9. Bake at 375F for 7 minutes or until lightly golden brown.
10. Cool for 2-3 minutes, remove from cookie sheets.
11. ENJOY!!

© Spices for Life MD 2012