Healthier Classic Peanut Butter Cookies

½ cup unsalted butter

1 cup crunchy peanut butter

¼ cup applesauce

1 cup white sugar

1 cup packed brown sugar

4 egg whites

2 ½ cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 ½ teaspoons baking soda

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).

Beat butter, peanut butter, applesauce, white sugar, and brown sugar with an electric mixer in a large bowl until smooth. Add eggs and beat until smooth.

Sift together flour, baking powder, and baking soda in a separate bowl; stir into peanut butter batter. Put batter in refrigerator for 1 hour.

Roll dough into walnut-sized balls and place 2 inches apart onto ungreased baking sheets. Flatten each ball with a fork, making a crisscross pattern.

Bake in preheated oven until cookies begin to brown, about 10 minutes.