MAPLE OAT CHEWIES

This recipe was a winner in the 32nd Pillsbury Bake-Off back in the 1980s.

1 cup sugar
1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1 cup butter or margarine, softened
1 tbsp molasses
2 tsp maple extract
2 eggs
1 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp salt
2 cups rolled oats
2 cups crisp rice cereal

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Grease cookie sheets.

In a large bowl, cream sugar, brown sugar, and butter until light and fluffy. Add molasses, maple extract, and eggs; mix well. Lightly spoon flour into measuring cup, level off. Add flour, baking powder, cinnamon and salt; mix at medium speed until well blended. Stir in the oats and rice cereal by hand.

Drop by heaping teaspoons 2 inches apart on the prepared cookie sheets. Bake at 350 degrees 8 to 12 minutes or until light golden brown. Cool 2 minutes before removing from cookie sheets.

Yield: 5 dozen cookies.

Note: This is a file photo.