Jam Thumbprint Gems

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon clove
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 tablespoons vegetable shortening
• 1/4 cup mott's natural applesauce
• 1/2 cup confectioners' sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 whole egg or 1/4 cup egg substitute
• 1/2 cup strawberry preserves (or choose your favorite fruit preserves)
• confectioners' sugar

Directions

1. 1

   Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Lightly spray cookie sheet with non-stick cooking spray.

2. 2

   In a large bowl, mix flour, baking powder, cinnamon, cloves, and salt.

3. 3

   In a separate bowl, whisk vegetable shortening and Mott's Natural Apple Sauce until shortening breaks into pea-sized pieces. Add sugar and beat well. Add vanilla and egg. Mix well.

4. 4

   Add flour mixture to apple sauce mixture. Blend until smooth; mixture will be stiff.

5. 5

   Using flour-coated hands, roll teaspoons of dough into balls. Place on cookie sheet 1-inch apart. Press thumb into center to make indentation. Fill with 1/2 teaspoon of preserves.

6. 6

   Bake 12-15 minutes until light golden brown. Remove from oven and cool 10 minutes. Place on cooling rack and dust with confectioners' sugar.