The fall is filled with the smell of apples – baking, cider, taffy and so many other yummy goodies that apples contribute to, but these cookies are a combination of all things that are autumn.
Apple Cider Caramel Cookies
Ingredients
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup softened butter
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 box (7.4 oz) Alpine Spiced Apple Cider Instant Original Drink mix -not sugar free- all 10 packets (I found this in my grocery store near the hot chocolate mixes.)
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
3 cups all purpose flour
1 bag Kraft Caramels (14 oz)
Directions
- Preheat oven to 350° F. Line cookie sheets with parchment. (You really need the parchment!)
- In a small bowl whisk together flour, baking soda, baking powder and cinnamon.
- With your mixer (or an energetic spoon) cream together butter, sugar, salt and all 10 packages of apple cider drink mix powder, until light and fluffy.
- Beat in eggs, one at a time. Add vanilla and mix well.
- Gradually add flour mixture to butter/egg mixture. Mix until just combined.
- Refrigerate for about an hour. (If you're really impatient you don't have to do this, but it makes it so much easier to work with.)
- When you are ready to bake, unwrap your caramels.
- Scoop out cookie dough ball about the size of a walnut. (I used a rounded cookie scoop-full. My scoop holds about a Tablespoon.)
- Flatten the ball of dough slightly in the palm of your hand. Press the unwrapped caramel into the center of your dough and seal the dough around it, covering it completely. Place on parchment covered cookie sheets 2 inches apart.
- Bake 12-14 minutes, or until very lightly browned around the edges. Please don't over-bake! Once the cookies are done, slide the parchment off of the baking sheet right out onto the counter. Allow cookies to partially cool on the parchment. When cookies are cool enough to be firm but still slightly warm, carefully twist off of parchment and allow to finish cooling upside down (either on the parchment or on a rack.) If you forget about them and they cool too much and stick to your parchment, put them into the freezer for a few minutes and they'll pop right off.
- Yield: about 4 dozen, depending on how large you make your cookies (or how many caramels have been snitched out of your bag before you begin.) Store in an airtight container.
Recipe courtesy of scrambledhenfruit
Apples are great all year round, but they do tend to lend a hint of holiday to the air when they are baking during the fall.
Enjoy these cookies any time of the year, and be sure and use some of these apple red gift ideas to stuff your stockings and keep the cookies to yourself!
SewAmazin
Red with White Stars Patriotic Dog Scrunchie Neck Ruffle
10 Christmas Gift Tags - Upcycled Books - Hand Stamped DieCut - Gift Wrap
RSSDesignsInFiber
Shaded Garnet Red 3D Rose Flower Pin or Brooch - or Applique
specialtivity
Ruby Red Glass Pearl White Leather Bracelet Swirling Pewter Button
CardsbyLiBe
Box of 10 Handmade Flat Notecards With Red Bouquet Of Flowers
KathisewnsewsBoutique
Cell Phone Clutch Case Gadget Lady in Red Hat Vines Flowers Pink
bluemorningexpressions
Red Flower Bracelet w Red Shell Beads Green Glass Pearls Polymer
SolanaKaiDesigns
Celestial Bookmark Star Peace On Earth Red Hematite Silver Handmade
KatsAllThat
Czech Tomato Red Picasso and Crystal Niobium Dangle Earrings
adorebynat
Woodland Animal Valentine's Favor Tags -- Set of 12
Olive,Burgundy,Copper Fall Watch Band
craftingmemories
Red Rocaille Bead Bracelet
Umeboshi
Red and White Square Handmade Post Earrings - Fused Glass
Valentines Heart Decor With Words Hug Me Handcrafted from Ash Wood
TheTwistedRedhead
Beverage Coasters and Napkin Rings Set, Beaded, Handmade, Red and Gray
Covergirlbeads
Handmade Lampwork Beads Opaque Matte Etched Medium Red 432e
Red White Lampwork Siam Swarovski Summer Earrings Handmade OOAK
PrettyGonzo
Christmas Earrings, Red Pearls Green Glass Swarovski Crystals Handmade
ResetarGlassArt
Red and Green Round Fused Glass Pendant, Handmade, Christmas Holiday
TheSingingBeader
Red Large Hole Earrings With Chains Silver Lined Big Chunky bead
Handwoven Set of Placemats Pink, Orange, Purple; Free Shipping in US
jazzitupwithdesignsbynancyjazzitupwithdesignsbynancy
Scarf Hand Knit Ruffle Ladies Elegant Red Victorian Style Neck Warmer
dianesdangles
Candy Cane Red White Beaded Christmas Silver Heart Hair Clip 45mm
There are many other gift ideas in our Countdown to Christmas series, so check out these other goodies:
More recipes and goodies:
Chocolate Macadamia Nut Coconut Cookies
Enjoy these gift ideas and make these amazing apple cookies!
Julie and Blu
Thanks so much for featuring my placemats. I'm pinning this yummy cookie recipe! Can't wait to try it.
ReplyDeleteI have already gained a few pounds just looking at those cookies! Must try. Thanks for the recipe and the beautiful gift ideas! Sharing!
ReplyDeleteThank you for this recipe and for this gift guide, Shared!
ReplyDeleteLovely blog post, Julie and beautiful Blu! :) The cookie recipe sounds so yummy, and the showcased items are all so gorgeous! Thanks so much for including my earrings. Will be sharing! :)
ReplyDeleteWonderful post! Thank you for making me hungry with that luscious recipe! I have shared all items.
ReplyDeleteRed is my favorite color. I like cookies, too! Thanks so much for showing my red earrings with chains with all these other marvelous items. Sharing...
ReplyDeleteReally enjoyed this blog Julie. The recipe is one I really have to try! Thank you so much for featuring such gorgeous handmade items. Promoting...
ReplyDeleteIt just keeps coming, temptation after temptation! :) Thank you for including my bookmark amongst so many red treasures! Sharing!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Julie and Blu, for another great blog and including my sparkly bracelet.
ReplyDeleteGosh, another scrumptious recipe. I'm not much into baking but the three you have shared so far just might push me to fire up the oven (: Fabulous post, Julie and Blu. Thank you for including my lampwork bead earrings. Will share with the world. And my apologies for not doing a blog post this week. Hopefully the AF blogs will be fixed sometime soon. Hope to catch up then . . . Thanks again.
ReplyDeleteRich, rich recipe!! Rich, rich in Color Gift Ideas!! Very nice blog post, Julie!! Thanks for featuring my Shaded Garnet Red Handmade 3-D Flower - the DMC Pearl Cotton it is crocheted with is lustrous and rich in Color!!
ReplyDelete'scuse the delay...it took me a few minutes to scroll all the way down to the comments; had to wipe the drool off my chin after seeing that gorgeous cookie photo! Looks like another winner, Julie and Blu (does he help you pick out the recipes?). Love the post, love your handmade selections and will be sharing sharing sharing so others can enjoy as well. Thank you!!
ReplyDeleteThese are FABULOUS items and what a great recipe too! Yummy all around. Thanks Julie for including my set of cards.
ReplyDeleteLove your choice of red items. Fantastic recipe...just happened to have caramels in the ingredients. Yummy Yummy! .
ReplyDeleteThose cookies look so yummy. I need to find the ingredients and when I do, I shall try this recipe. Thank you for including my Valentine's tags.
ReplyDeleteWow, gorgeous red creations in this blog. Thank you so much Julie for including my bracelet. Omgosh I that cookie recipe is going on my holiday list of treats to make!
ReplyDeleteKathy :)
Great selection of tempting red creations - this is such a talented group of artisans! I'm so honored to have Penny and our scrunchie neck ruffle included. I love apples and this cookie recipe is so tempting, too!
ReplyDeleteI have a neighbor who isn't doing very well health-wise and he loves sweets so I think I'm going to make these cookies for him - they sound so good. Thank you for including my fused glass Christmas pendant in your post :)
ReplyDeleteWonderful post and that recipe sounds yummy, going to have to try it soon. So many wonderful gift ideas. Sorry I'm so late sharing, I became a grandma this week and I was filled with baby on the brain and could think of little else. Off to share all these beautiful gift ideas.
ReplyDelete