The holidays are a time for cookies, cookies, and more cookies. I wanted to take a favorite from my childhood and give it a personal twist, so I looked up the Betty Crocker recipe for Molasses Crinkles.

In the interests of reducing my fat and sugar intake, I substituted grated apple, which is something I do quite often. This made a less rich cookie, but it is still a spicy delight!

Molasses Apple Cookies

Mix together 1 grated apple (about 1 cup),  1/4 cup vegetable oil, 1/2 cup packed brown sugar, 1/4 cup molasses, and 1 egg.

Add 2 and 1/4 cups unbleached flour, 2 teaspoons baking soda, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, 1 teaspoon ginger, and 1/2 teaspoon cloves.

Cover and chill at least 2 hours.

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Oil a cookie sheet. Shape the dough into balls, dusting with a bit of flour (dough will be sticky). Dip tops in granulated sugar and place sugar side up on cookie sheet, a couple of inches apart. Bake 8-10 minutes, depending on size. Cool on a wire rack.