Citrus-Cranberry Oatmeal Cookies

When's the last time you took a bite of cookie and felt refreshed? Probably never...Let's remedy that.

This recipe is modified version of this recipe from CookieMadness.net. It makes about two dozen. You should serenade yourself with the Cookie Monster's "C is for cookie" song while you bake, BTW.

COMPONENTS

3/4 cup whole wheat (pastry) flour (3.25 oz)
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 scant teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 cup light brown sugar (3 ½ oz)
1/4 cup sugar
2 tablespoons maple syrup
1/4 cup applesauce, drained on a paper towel
1/4 cup vegetable oil (a light one, such as canola is best)

The zest of one orange (I also recommend you add in its pulpy juice.)

1 1/2 cup rolled oats
1/2 cup dried cranberries (plumped in hot water and patted dry)

DICTATIONS

1. Mix together the flour, baking soda, salt and cinnamon. Set aside.
2. Mix both sugars, maple syrup, apple sauce, oil and orange zest (plus orange flesh, if using) together in a medium bowl. Add the flour mixture and stir until blended.
3. Stir in the oats, followed by the cranberries. 
4. Let the mix sit for 10 minutes, but not for longer than that because the oats will absorb too much liquid and bake into an unpleasant texture.
5. Meanwhile, lightly grease two cookie sheets (or line with Silpats if you have them) and preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. 
6.  Drop by rounded teaspoonfuls of mixture onto the cookie sheets. Bake for 12-14 minutes. Let cool for about 5-8 minutes on cookie sheets then carefully scoop up onto a wire rack. 

Every human associated with you who tries these will demand more of them and/or the recipe. Bunnies will inexplicably appear and creepily follow you around, waiting to snatch a cookie when you're not looking.