Caramel Apple Bites
Country Woman
This fun recipe, from Darlene Markel of Sublimity, Oregon, is one the kids will find appealing. Children can help by dipping the baked cookies in caramel and nuts —and also by eating the treats! "They just disappear at my house," Darlene details.
SERVINGS: 18
CATEGORY: Dessert
METHOD: Baked
TIME: Prep: 25 min. + standing Bake: 15 min. + cooling
Ingredients:
- FILLING:
- 1/3 cup chopped unpeeled apple
- 1/3 cup evaporated milk
- 1/3 cup sugar
- 1/3 cup chopped walnuts
- DOUGH:
- 1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened
- 1/4 cup confectioners' sugar
- 1/4 cup packed brown sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- TOPPING:
- 1 package (14 ounces) caramels
- 2/3 cup evaporated milk
- Green toothpicks
- 1 cup chopped walnuts
Directions:
In a small saucepan, combine filling ingredients. Cook and stir over medium heat until thickened; set aside to cool. In a mixing bowl, cream butter and sugars. Add egg, vanilla and salt; beat well. Add flour; mix well. Shape dough into 1-in. balls. Flatten and place 1/4 teaspoon filling in center of each. Fold dough over filling and reshape into balls. Place 1 in. apart on greased baking sheets. Bake at 350° for 12-15 minutes or until lightly browned. Remove to wire racks to cool. In a saucepan over low heat, cook caramels are melted. Insert a toothpick into each cookie and dip into caramel until completely coated. Dip bottoms into nuts. Place on wire racks to set. Yield: about 3 dozen.