Sweet Summer Treat

This recipe is based after the "Stir n' Drop Sugar Cookies" recipe in the 1963 "Betty Crocker's Cooky Book." Thank goodness the folks at Betty Crocker had a couple of prophets in the early 60s who knew people would someday want lower-fat cookies! I exchanged oil for applesauce to cut down on the fat, cut the sugar content by almost half, and made bars (faster) instead of drop cookies.

I named them "Laura's Fudge Bar Cookies" after the Jersey Shore candy chain stores that make the best chocolate-covered strawberries at the beach! ;)

Laura's Fudge Bar Cookies

3 egg whites
2/3 cup unsweetened applesauce
1/3 cup sugar
1 tsp vanilla
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa
1/2 cup strawberries
1/3 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Use cooking spray to grease 13x9 rectangular pan. Mix egg whites, applesauce, sugar, and vanilla in large mixing bowl. Mix flour, baking powder, and cocoa in medium bowl; add mixture to sugar/applesauce. Sir, gradually adding chocolate chips and strawberries.

Pour into pan. Bake 25-30 minutes or until knife pushed into center comes out clean. Makes 24 bar cookies.