Caramel Apple Cookies

We now return to fall treats after that diversion to an actual main dish. These cookies - my oh my. What a wonderful use for apples! I can't decide what part of this cookie I like best - the chewy caramel, the sweet apple, or the spicy dough that turns beautifully crunchy when baked. These cookies are autumn perfection.

Start by creaming together the butter, brown sugar

and applesauce.

Add the egg and vanilla

and mix until incorporated. In a medium bowl, combine the flour, baking soda and baking powder, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger.

Add the chopped apple to the flour mixture

and stir it up to coat all the apples.

Add the flour/apple mixture to the butter/sugar mixture and mix until combined. Then stir in the caramel bits.

Line your baking sheet with parchment paper and then drop small mounds of dough on the paper.

Bake for 12-14 minutes. Then let the cookies cool completely before removing to a wire rack. Otherwise the caramel bits will stick on the paper, and not stay in the cookie. That would be bad, very bad.

These cookies are great with a tall glass of milk!

One year ago: Portobello Spaghetti Risotto
Two years ago: Mixed Berry Coffeecake
Three years ago: Garlicky Shrimp and Spinach Pizza

Find more inspiration at Full Plate Thursday, Sweet and Swanky Stuff, Recipe Box, Thursday's Treasures, Tastetastic Thursday, Foodie Friday, Food on Fridays, Foodtastic Friday, Foodie Friday (#2), Crazy Sweet Tuesday.

Caramel Apple Cookies

1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup applesauce
2 cups brown sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
1 egg
3 cups flour
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
1/2 tsp. ground ginger
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
1 1/2 cups peeled, cored and chopped apple
1 cup caramel bits (or regular sized caramels, cut up into small pieces)

Cream together the butter and sugar until fluffy. Add the vanilla and egg and continue to beat until combined.

Whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger in another bowl.

Add chopped apple to the flour and then add the flour mixture to the creamed butter and mix until combined. Then, add the caramel bits.

Drop small balls of dough on a parchment-paper lined baking sheet and bake at 350 for 12-14 minutes. Let cookies completely before attempting to move them off the baking sheet or else the caramel will remain on the sheet away from the cookie!

Makes 3-4 dozen.

Recipe Source: Adapted from Eat, Live, Run