Neda's Fruity Nutty Rocks

vegan granola energy bar cookies

• Ready In: 30 mins
• Serves: 1
• Yields: 20 cookies

Ingredients

• 3  tablespoons unsweetened applesauce
• 3  tablespoons peanut butter
• 1  cup raisins
• 1⁄2 cup  dried fruit
• 1⁄2 cup  nuts
• 1  teaspoon vanilla
• 1  cup unsweetened applesauce
• 3⁄4 cup brown sugar
• 3⁄4 cup white sugar
• 1⁄2 cup wheat germ
• 2 3⁄4 cups flour
• 1  teaspoon salt
• 1  teaspoon cinnamon
• 2 1⁄4 teaspoons baking soda
• 2  cups oatmeal

Directions

1. Mix the first 4 ingredients together and set aside, covered. This will allow the dried fruit to rehydrate somewhat before baking, so they don't turn into little fruit-flavored rocks.
2. Cream together the rest of the applesauce and sugars.
3. Add flour, salt, cinnamon and soda to vegan sugar mixture. Mix well.
4. Blend in raisin - cranberry mixture, oatmeal, and wheat germ (you can add 3/4 C chopped nuts, if you like them). Dough should be fairly stiff--if it's too wet, and a bit more flour and possibly a pinch of baking powder. Too dry, add water or soy milk.
5. Bake at 350 for approximately 12-15 min, or until they appear fluffy.
6. You might want to make a test batch, then take one out and tear it open to see if it is too doughy inside before you pronounce them done.
7. If they don't seem to be rising, add a pinch more baking powder.