Neiman Marcus Urban legend cookie -lightened up!

This is our favorite cookie around the house.  I used to never make cookies because they weren't healthy but then they (my kiddos and husband) always went for something worse or wanted store bought cookies (full of fat, sugar, and all manner of additives!) So I started baking these. 

I used apricot pieces for half and
mint and chocolate chip for the other half.
Healthier version of the Neiman Marcus / Mrs Fields urban legend cookie

(This makes a huge batch so you can halve it or freeze the dough for half and cook half now)

1 1/4 cup smart balance spread & 3/4 applesauce      (theirs calls for 2 cups)

4 cups flour

2 tsp. baking soda

1 cups granulated sugar                                          (theirs calls for 2 cups)

1 cups brown sugar                                                (theirs calls for 2 cups)

5 cups blended oatmeal (measure oatmeal and blend in blender to a fine powder)

1 1/2 cups chopped dried apricots                           (theirs calls for  24 oz. chocolate chips)
OR 12 oz chocolate chips 

1 tsp. salt

I skip the additional chocolate all together               (theirs calls for 1 Hershey bar grated)

2 eggs and 4 egg whites                                                     (theirs calls for 4 eggs) 

2 tsp. baking powder

3 cups chopped nuts ( I love walnuts)

2 tsp. vanilla

Cream the butter and both sugars. Add eggs and vanilla; mix together with flour, oatmeal, salt, baking powder, and soda. Add the apricots or chocolate chips, and nuts. Roll into balls and place two inches apart on a cookie sheet. or to save time just pour this into 9 x 13 casserole baking pans and Bake for 10 minutes at 375 degrees. Makes 112 cookies or a few batches of bar cookies.

KID TESTED - MOTHER APPROVED!!!

See?  They love them!

These faces don't lie!

YUM!