Step 1

Preheat your oven to 375ºF and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

Step 2

Put the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, salt, allspice or nutmeg, and cloves in a medium bowl and whisk to combine.

Step 3

Put the buttery spread or margarine and sugar in a large mixing bowl. Beat with a hand mixer until creamed, about 3 minutes.

Step 4

Add the applesauce and egg to the butter-sugar mixture, and beat with the hand mixer until combined. Stir in the flour mixture until combined.

Step 5

Fold in the dried fruit and/or walnuts, if using. The dough will be somewhat loose and moist. If it is too wet to work with, you can refrigerate it for 1 hour before baking.

Step 6

Drop the dough by the tablespoonful onto your prepared baking sheet, about 2 inches apart.

Step 7

Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, depending on how golden you like your cookies.

Step 8

Immediately remove the cookies to a wire rack to cool completely while you bake the next batch!