Put the oats in a food processor or blender and process until finely ground.

In a small bowl, whisk together the ground oats, flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.

In a large bowl, beat together the butter, brown sugar, sugar, egg, applesauce and applesauce with an electric mixer on medium speed until well blended. With the mixer on low speed, gradually add the flour mixture, beating just until blended.

Cover the mixture and chill for 30 minutes.

When ready to bake the cookies, place rack in the center of the oven and preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray 2 baking sheets with nonstick spray or line them with parchment paper.

Arrange dough by heaping teaspoonfuls spaced 2 inches apart onto prepared cookie sheets, making a total of 24 cookies.

With lightly floured finger tips, press each mound of cookie dough to form 2-inch cookies.

Press 4 to 5 M&Ms into each cookie.

Bake, one cookie sheet at a time in the center of the oven, until cookies are lightly browned around the edges, 9 to 11 minutes.

Remove from the oven and let the cookie cool on the cookie sheet for about 2 minutes. With a spatula, transfer the cookies to wire racks to cool completely.