Vegan Cherry-Chocolate-Oat Chippers

These cookies have come a long way. From my mom's stained old copy of Company's Coming "Kids Cooking", now they're an ubiquitous, veganized family favorite. The cherries are my personal addition. I mean, you can use JUST plain ol' chocolate chips, but come on... :-)

• Ready In: 25 mins
• Serves: 40
• Yields: 40 small cookies

Ingredients

• 1⁄3 cup  oil
• 1  cup brown sugar, packed
• 1⁄4 cup applesauce
• 1⁄2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1⁄2 teaspoon vanilla
• 1  cup all-purpose flour, unbleached
• 1⁄2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1  cup  quick-cooking rolled oats
• 1⁄4 teaspoon salt
• 2⁄3 cup  semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 1⁄3 cup dried cherries

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350∘F.
2. Beat the oil, brown sugar, applesauce and baking powder together until smooth.
3. Sift the flour and baking soda into a large bowl. Add the oats, salt, chocolate chips, and cherries, stirring together. Add the wet ingredients and stir (careful not to overmix).
4. Drop rounded tablespoonfuls onto sheets lined with parchment paper, or nonstick pans. Leave 2 inches between each one so they have room to spread out.
5. Bake for 10-12 minutes on the center rack of the oven. Let stand 2 minutes after you take them off, then slide the cookies onto a wire rack to cool completely.