Gingerbread-Date Cookies

http://www.eatingwell.com/recipes/gingerbread_date_cookies.html

From EatingWell:  November/December 1998

Dates add a sweet counterpoint to these spicy gingerbread cookies.

About 5 dozen cookies | Active Time: 45 minutes | Total Time: 1 1/2 hours

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups chopped dates, divided
• 1/2 cup hot water
• 4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
• 2 teaspoons ground ginger
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 large eggs
• 2 cups packed light brown sugar
• 1/4 cup molasses
• 2 tablespoons canola oil
• 2 tablespoons sugar

Preparation

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Coat 2 baking sheets with cooking spray.
2. Soak 1/2 cup dates in hot water in a small bowl for 10 minutes.
3. Meanwhile, combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and salt in a large bowl. Stir in remaining 1 cup dates. Set aside.
4. Puree soaked dates with their liquid in a food processor until smooth. Add eggs, brown sugar, molasses and oil; process until creamy. Make a well in the dry ingredients. Add wet ingredients and stir until just combined. (Do not overmix.)
5. Separate the dough into 5 equal pieces and divide between prepared baking sheets. With dampened hands, form each piece into a 1 1/2-by-13-inch log. Sprinkle with sugar.
6. Bake logs, 1 sheet at a time, until golden brown and firm, about 25 minutes. Let cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Loosen logs with a metal spatula and slide onto rack to cool completely. Cut each log into 1-inch slices. Store in an airtight container.

Nutrition

Per cookie : 80 Calories; 1 g Fat; 0 g Sat; 0 g Mono; 7 mg Cholesterol; 18 g Carbohydrates; 1 g Protein; 1 g Fiber; 68 mg Sodium; 61 mg Potassium

1 Carbohydrate Serving

Exchanges: 1/2 starch, 1/2 other carbohydrate