Cookies are just cookies but when they start creating mental conflict, I’m not really sure that I should recommend baking them.
So here’s what happened. I made these here cookies today and shortly before picking my kids up from school I found myself in a bit of a bind. With only a few minutes before I had to walk out the door, I sent a quick text to a trusted friend for her take on the situation.
The text went something like this. “So I have a bit of an ethical dilemma and would love some advice..”
No response (because sometimes we just don’t feel like talking about things of importance) but I carried on.
“Let’s just say I made 5000 cookies today and already ate 4999. Do I let my boys split the last cookie after school or should I just eat it and pretend this day never happened.”
Her response?
“Eat it.”
So I did.
Because. They. Are. That. Good.
The end.
For the Cookies: Preheat your oven to 350F (175C). Mix your ground flax and water in a bowl and mix. Allows to sit for about 10-15 minutes to thicken.
Using a stand mixer (I love my Kitchen Aid mixer), mix your Earth Balance and brown sugar until creamy and smooth. Add your flax/ water combo and vanilla and beat until incorporated. Mix in the applesauce.
In a separate bowl combine the flour, baking soda, salt, nutmeg, cloves and cinnamon. Add it to the the wet ingredients and mix until blended.
Drop by the spoonful onto a stone cookie sheet or a parchment lined cookie tray. You should have about 18-20 cookies. Bake for about 13 minutes until lightly browned around the edges.
Meanwhile make the spice glaze: Combine the icing sugar and cinnamon and mix well. Add your warm water and stir until no lumps or dry spots remain.
When the cookies are done remove them to a cooling rack and allow to cool for a couple of minutes. While still warm paint the surface of each cookie with the spiced glaze using a pastry brush. Once the cookies have completely cooled, store them in an airtight container. If not consuming the same day, store any remaining cookies in the fridge. 
Adapted from Pollan, Tracy. “Sam’s Applesauce Spice Cookies”. The Pollan Family Table.
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- For the Cookies:
- 1 tbsp ground flax seed
- 3 tbsp water
- ½ cup Earth Balance baking stick (or other vegan margarine)
- 1 cup lightly packed brown sugar
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 1 cup unsweetened apple sauce
- 1½ cups whole wheat flour
- ½ cup all purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking soda
- ¼ tsp salt
- 1 tsp ground nutmeg
- 1 tsp ground cloves
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- For the Spiced Glaze:
- ½ cup organic icing sugar
- ⅛ tsp cinnamon
- 1 tbsp warm water
- For the Cookies:
- Preheat your oven to 350F. (175C)
- Mix your ground flax and water in a bowl and mix. Allows to sit for about 10-15 minutes to thicken.
- Using a stand mixer, mix your Earth Balance and brown sugar until creamy and smooth.
- Add your flax/ water combo and vanilla and beat until incorporated.
- Mix in the applesauce.
- In a separate bowl combine the flour, baking soda, salt, nutmeg, cloves and cinnamon. Add it to the the wet ingredients and mix until blended.
- Drop by the spoonful onto a stone cookie sheet or a parchment lined cookie tray. You should have about 18-20 cookies.
- Bake for about 13 minutes until lightly browned around the edges.
- Meanwhile make the spice glaze:
- Combine the icing sugar and cinnamon and mix well.
- Add your warm water and stir until no lumps or dry spots remain.
- When the cookies are done remove them to a cooling rack and allow to cool for a couple of minutes.
- While still warm paint the surface of each cookie with the spiced glaze using a pastry brush.
- Once the cookies have completely cooled, store them in an airtight container. If not consuming the same day, store any remaining cookies in the fridge.
I’ve made these cookies several times. Even my non-veg family members go bonkers over these – they are a huge favorite! I double the glaze recipe, though – I seem to run out otherwise.
Yay!! Glad you like them! We are pretty light on the glaze over here so great tip for those who like a bit more:)
These look moist and delicious!
Wow! I’m definitely making these soon!