Spiced Cranberry Oatmeal Cookies

These delicious cookies are filled with pecans, dried cranberries and chocolate chips. Every bite is packed with sweetness and crunch.

—KARIE SAXTON SOUTH BOARDMAN, MI

PREP: 30 MIN. BAKE: 10 MIN./BATCH MAKES: 1/2 DOZEN

1/2 cup butter, softened

3/4 cup packed brown sugar

1/4 cup sugar blend

3/4 cup unsweetened applesauce

1 egg

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

3 cups old-fashioned oats

3/4 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1 cup dried cranberries

1/2 cup miniature semisweet chocolate chips

1/2 cup chopped pecans

1. In a large bowl, beat the butter, brown sugar and sugar blend until well blended. Beat in the applesauce, egg and vanilla (mixture will appear curdled). Combine the oats, flour, cinnamon, baking powder, salt and nutmeg; gradually add to the butter mixture and mix well. Stir in the cranberries, chocolate chips and the pecans.

2. Drop by tablespoonfuls 2 in. apart onto ungreased baking sheets; flatten slightly. Bake at 350° for 10-12 minutes or until edges are lightly browned. Remove to wire racks.

NOTE This recipe was tested with Splenda sugar blend.

PER SERVING 1 cookie equals 71 cal., 3 g fat (1 g sat. fat), 7 mg chol., 36 mg sodium, 11 g carb., 1 g fiber, 1 g pro. Diabetic Exchanges: 1 starch, 1/2 fat.