Tasty Tuesday: Apple Cookies

I can't believe that this was the first apple recipe we've done this fall. We have a bunch of apples that were calling my name. They were begging to not be eaten plain. They deserved more out of their short lived lives. They needed to be combined with sugar and spices. I owed it to them to make them into cookies. 

I was busy gathering the ingredients and readying everything to start baking. 

And what does Alyssa decided she wants to do?

Eat one of those apples!

She's lucky I had more. I just feel sorry for the poor apple. Its hopes and dreams of being made into delicious cookies were broken with each crushing bite.

 I eventually put her to work though . . .

Pouring

 Dumping

 Mixing

 And of course, grating.

The kids shredded the apples since I knew that Jake would not eat the cookies if they had bits of apple chunks in them. This is the kid who begs for asparagus, but doesn't like "things" in his cookies and what-nots. For that reason (and also because of his daddy), we did not add the raisins or walnuts either.  We did however, add a half cup of quick-cooking oats to make up for some of the missing substance.

Let me just say . . . yum! These cookies are the perfect way to use up a couple of apples in the fall or anytime of the year, for that matter. The shredded apples worked perfectly in place of the diced and the added oatmeal gave the cookies a wonderful consistency. They really don't even need the glaze on top; the cookies are pretty sweet as it is. We made half a batch of the glaze and it was just enough for one batch of cookies.

Whether you use glaze, raisins, walnuts, oatmeal, or a combination of four, you will not be disappointed with these apple cookies!

Besides, just think how happy you'd make the apples.

Ingredients:
1/2 cup shortening                                                  1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 1/3 cups packed brown sugar                             1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1 egg                                                                       1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
2 cups sifted all-purpose flour                                 1 cup chopped walnuts
1 teaspoon baking soda                                          1 cup apples - peeled, cored and finely diced
1/2 teaspoon salt                                                     1 cup raisins

Glaze:
1/4 cup milk                                                             1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups sifted confectioners' sugar                     2 1/2 tablespoons milk, or to desired consistency    
1 tablespoon butter   

Directions:

1. Beat shortening and brown sugar together until light and fluffy. Beat in egg and blend thoroughly.

2. Stir together flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg.

3. Stir half the dry ingredients into creamed mixture. Stir in nuts, apple and raisins, then stir in remaining half of dry ingredients and milk. Mix well.

4. Drop from tablespoon 1 1/2 inches apart onto lightly greased baking sheet. Bake in a preheated 400 degree oven for 10-12 minutes. Remove cookies to racks and let cool. Spread with glaze.

5. To make Glaze: Combine powdered sugar, butter, vanilla and enough milk to make glaze of spreading consistency. Beat until smooth. Spread on cooled cookies.
Recipe adapted from allrecipes.com.