Prepare Today Homemade- Lemon Sugar Cookies (with beans)

I love dessert and so do my kids.  My husband wishes I wouldn't make it so often, so I try to make our desserts a little healthier.  I am sure you have all heard of using beans in place of the fat in recipes and it really works.  It will change the texture of the finished product by becoming a little more cake like and not soft and chewy (like a gooey brownie would be).  I use beans frequently in my baking and I have been very pleased with how my food turns out.  Beans add fiber and eliminate the saturated fats that butter or shortening would add.  In my Lemon Cookies I used 1/2 C of beans to replace half of the 1 C of butter the original recipe called for.  I use canned beans but home cooked beans will definitely work too.  I always rinse canned beans before pureeing.

I always rinse my canned beans to lessen the digestions problems that beans can cause.

I puree my beans and get about 1 C per can.

The beans are ready for baking when they are all smashed and smooth.

Beat the butter, beans and sugar until creamy.

Powdered flavorings add great flavor when you don't have the liquid version.

Lemon Cookies 
2 3/4 C white flour
1 t baking soda
1/2 t baking powder
1/2 t salt
zest of 2 lemons (I used 1 t of the lemon flavor powder)
1 1/2 C granulated sugar
1 C butter at room temp.  (replace with beans or applesauce)
1 large egg (1 T egg powder + 2 T water)
1/2 t vanilla (or vanilla powder)
2 T lemon juice (or lemon powder)
1/2 C white sugar for rolling the dough

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.  Combine the dry ingredients and set aside.  Beat together the butter (beans) and sugar until creamy.  Add the lemon zest, egg, vanilla, and lemon juice.  Stir to combine.  Add in the dry ingredients and combine.   Using 1 tablespoon of dough, roll into a ball and roll in sugar.  Place 1 1/2" apart on a cookie sheet.  Bake 8-10 minutes or until edges are slightly browned.  Let cool for 2 minutes before moving to a cooling rack.  Add lemon glaze when cooled.

Lemon Glaze
1 T softened cream cheese
2 T lemon juice
1 1/2 C powdered sugar

Combine all ingredients until smooth.  Glaze each cookie.

A little taste of spring!!