These old fashioned “health cookies” combine oats, whole wheat flour, walnuts, applesauce or prunes, and cinnamon into a soft homemade cookie intended as a hearty snack or lunchbox treat. Recipes like this became especially popular during the mid-century years, when home bakers looked for ways to make sweets feel a little more wholesome while still keeping them familiar and comforting.
One cup walnuts
2 cups rolled oats
1 cup whole wheat flour
1 cup white flour
2 cups sugar
1 cup applesauce or prunes
1/2 cup milk
1 cup butter
1 tsp salt
2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp soda
Mix all dry ingredients but soda.
Melt butter and mix with applesauce (or prunes).
Add beaten egg then milk and soda and beat well.
Combine the two. (Add to dry ingredients)
This should be a soft dough.
Drop by dessert spoons on baking pan.
Put them quite far apart and with a clean
spoon dipped in water, flatten them out.
This makes about three dozen.
These are delicious and healthy for children’s lunches.