Cookies: Caramel Apple {Pie} Cookies

I wanted to make Apple Pie Cookies. I was in between a soft cookie base a la snickerdoodle and a hard cookie base a la shortbread cookie. I went with the snickerdoodle base because I'm a soft and chewy cookie kind of girl. The cookies didn't come out exactly how I wanted but they were still a great apple cookie full of of spice. I drizzled the cookies with caramel sauce but Alex said he liked the cookies better without the caramel.  You can also skip cooking the apples; I wanted to add more spice to the cookies and help the apples be more tender but I don't think that step is completely necessary.

 

Caramel Apple Cookies

The cookies
1 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1/4 tsp salt
1 stick (8 Tbsp) butter, at room temperature
3/4 cup sugar
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla

The apples
1 apple, chopped
2 Tbsp butter
2 Tbsp sugar
1 tsp cinnamon

Caramel sauce, optional

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Place parchment paper on two baking sheets.

In a bowl combine the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Set aside.

In another bowl cream the butter and sugar. Add egg, beating for a minute after addition, and vanilla. Slowly add flour mixture and mix until just combined. Place batter in refrigerator while you make the apples.

In a pan, over medium heat, melt together the butter, sugar, and cinnamon. Cook for about 3 minutes until sugar is melted. Add the apples and cook for another 3-5 minutes or until apples are tender.

Stir apples into batter and, using a cookie scoop, scoop batter onto baking sheet leaving 2 inches between cookies. Bake for 10-15 minutes, or until cookies are brown and firm to touch. 

Cool to room temperature and drizzle with caramel sauce. Enjoy!