Apricot Oatmeal Cookies
Cookies You Could Eat for Breakfast
Joyce Laird
June 2008


Sally Moore of Stuart, Florida, modeled these jazzed-up oatmeal treats after
her husband's favorite scone from a local bakery. The recipe is filled with
good, healthy ingredients.


Prep 40 minutes plus cooling
Bake about 14 minutes per batch
Makes about 4 1/2 dozen cookies

1 cup butter or margarine
(2 sticks), softened
1 cup packed light brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon almond extract

Salt
3 cups oats, uncooked
1 cup chopped dried apricots
3/4 cup dried cranberries
3/4 cup sweetened flaked coconut
3/4 cup slivered almonds, toasted

1. Preheat oven to 350 deg. In large bow, with mixer on medium speed,
beat butter and sugars 2 minutes or until creamy, occasionally scraping bow.
Reduce speed to low; beat in eggs, flour, baking soda, cinnamon, almond extract,
and 1/2 teaspoon salt just until blended. Stir in oats and remaining ingredients.

2. Drop dough by rounded measuring tablespoons, 2 inches apart, onto
ungreased cookie sheet. Bake cookies 14 to 15 minutes or until tops are golden.
Cool cookies on wire racks. Repeat with remaining dough.

Each cookie: About 130 calories, 3 g protein, 18 g carbohydrate,
6 g total fat (3 g saturated), 2 g fiber, 18 mg. cholesterol, 85 mg sodium.