Peanut Caramel Apple Cookies

Nothing says more about the almost start of fall than caramel and apples, so why not make a new fall cookie called peanut caramel apple cookie?

Fall is my favorite time of the year. I love the cooler weather, the changing colors of the leaves, the cozy sweaters, and curled up on the couch with a blanket. Of course, my husband laughs at me and walks away.

As I look at the newspaper this week, the carnival circuit is starting to make its rounds throughout our county. One thing I used to love as a kid was a caramel apple with chopped peanuts around the outside that they sold at one of the stands. So I thought I would try to bring these flavors into a cookie.

Peanuts have such a distinct taste but are they good for you? According to Medical News Today on the nutritional value of peanuts, yes, they do. Peanuts are an excellent source of healthy fats, protein, and fiber.

“They also contain plenty of potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, and B vitamins. Despite being high in calories, peanuts are nutrient-rich and low in carbohydrates.”

So with this cookie, you can get part of your daily apple and the benefits of peanuts. Everything in moderation!

Ingredients

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COOKIES

• Butter unsalted
• Light brown sugar
• Sugar white
• Egg
• Apple juice
• All-purpose flour
• Baking powder
• Kosher Salt
• Cinnamon
• Peanuts dry roasted chopped
• Granny Smith apples 

CARAMEL BUTTERCREAM FROSTING

• Butter unsalted
• Caramel dip
• Powdered sugar
• Chopped peanuts topping

Core and Dice an Apple

When using apples in a cookie, I often need to dice the apple. To make this easier, I core and slice the apple all simultaneously. You can find these apple slicers almost anywhere, including the grocery store. I am pretty sure that is where I got mine, and it is not a brand name.

I suggest getting a heavy-duty one for large apples if you slice apples for your kid's lunches. Savorliving Apple Slicer has stainless steel and ultrasharp cutters, making slicing through an apple a little easier.

As you can see, once the apple is cored, sliced, and the skins cut off, the apple slices have already started to brown. So I take half a lemon, spray the diced piece, and mix it a little to stop browning. Please don't put too much on them; you will bring a lemon taste into your cookie.

Making Apple Peanut Cookies

You will need room temperature unsalted butter and one egg. I take them out of the refrigerator about an hour before baking. This is based on a temperature of 72° in your house.

Now that the diced apple pieces are finished and waiting, it is time to get the rest of the ingredients ready to add to the mixer bowl. First, I weigh or measure the sugars and set them aside. Now weigh or measure the flour, salt, cinnamon, and baking powder into a bowl and whisk to blend.

Add the butter and sugars into a mixer bowl and beat on medium speed for about 3 minutes. You want a light color and fluffy looking. Next, add the apple juice and then the egg mix until incorporated. Next, scrape the bowl down and gradually add the flour mixture on a low speed.

Scrap the sides and add the chopped dry roasted peanuts and the diced apples. Mix on low speed for a minute. You may need to take a spatula and blend it so that the apples and peanuts are mixed throughout the cookie dough. Cover loosely and refrigerate for 30 minutes.

Using a medium cookie scooper add 12 mounds to a parchment-lined cookie sheet pan. Bake at 350°F (175°C or 180°C) for 10-12 minutes. Once the cookies are out of the oven, move them to a wire rack to cool.

Caramel Buttercream Frosting

Everything goes into the mixer bowl.

Frost each of your cookies, and then sprinkle some of the chopped dry-roasted peanuts on top.

You can also get some Kraft Caramel Bits or Lieber's Real Caramel Chips and place them on top if you want to substitute more caramel for the dry-roasted peanuts.

Other Apple Cookies

Recipe