APRICOT DELIGHTS...VEGAN FRUIT COOKIES/CAKES. ALL SEASONS RECIPE

These are fantastic and although they are Vegan, no one will judge you as being "a foodie trender" because they are SO good!
They are low sugar with intense, sweet fruit flavors!


This recipe makes 18-28 depending on size

3 cups all purpose flour
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp ground allspice
1stp ground cinnamon
1/2tsp ground nutmeg
1/2 tsp sea salt (if using reg salt use 1/4tsp)
4 tbsp Vegan margarine (or reg margarine/butter)
3/4 cup cold ownmade apple sauce (I make mine in a slow cooker/crockpot with a little apple juice and no added sugar)

I also add ground cinnamon and cloves, This cooks the apples slowly and the flavors are intense.
1 tsp vanilla or almond extract
1 cup sugar
2 cups apricot filling (recipe follows)


Preheat oven 375F middle shelf


In a medium bowl beat the sugar and margarine until light, then beat in the apple sauce and flavorings. Set Aside.
In another bowl, mix all the dry ingredients together, then add the wet mix to the dry, beating well.
Form into a stiff, but not dry, dough.
Set aside for 20 mins. (this produces lighter cookies)

With floured hands form the dough into 1 1/2 - 2 inch balls (I used a food scoop) and place on parchment lined cookies sheets.
Allow 2 inches between each cookie. ( I just did 6 cookies per cookie sheet)

Dip your thumb into sugar and press deep into the middle of each cookie, then add 1-1 /2 tsp apricot filling. ( by pressing deep it forms a sort of tart shell for more fruit filling).

Bake 15-20 mins until lightly golden, do not brown these cookies as they burn easy.

Cool on cookie sheet for 5 mins then transfer to a wire rack, wait 20 mins then top with more apricot filling.
Serve cold/room temp.
The applesauce makes these cookies tender and moist, they ARE delicious.

Apricot Filling:
1 cup apricot jam/preserve
1 cup reconstituted dried apricots (soak dried apricots in a little cold water overnight, use 2-3 tbsp water for the mix)

In a small food processor/chopper, grind the apricots in the juice, then add the jam and mix well.

Variation these are fantastic with any jam/preserve and use reconstituted dried fruit or fresh (seasonal)fruit, chopped fine before adding to the preserve.