Thursday, December 6, 2012

Frosted Apple-Cinnamon Drops


I was feeling a bit nostalgic the other evening and reminiscing about apple cookies my mom used to make for us when we were little.  I did a little research and I found an old recipe in a Sunset Cookie book that sounded similar, but I felt it needed a little something-something to make it worthy of adding it to the cookie line-up this year.

Brown butter, oh yeah that ups the deliciousness factor.  Cinnamon Chips, heck yes, I saw Liren - Kitchen Confidante post a Pumpkin Cinnamon Chip Muffin  recipe some time back and I swear I looked high and low for those darn chips.  I finally secured some at my local Tar-jay, you should have seen me it was ridiculous.  Here I am telling everyone in the isle, "Omg, they have cinnamon chips, do you know how long I've been looking for these?"  Of course they didn't, but I sure was proud of myself.  It was the equivalent of scoring the last talking Elmo (yes I'm acutely aware I'm dating myself here) the day before Christmas.  So if you see the chips in your local store, throw them in your cart a.s.a.p., or if you spot the last bag in someone else's cart and they somehow manage to work their way into your own cart (I saw nothing).

Frosted Apple- Cinnamon Drops

Cookie Dough
1/2 cup unsalted butter
1 1/3 cups firmly packed light brown sugar
1 large egg
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 cup milk
1 1/2 cups finely chopped granny smith apple (about 1 and a half apples)
1/2 cup cinnamon chips (I found Hersey's brand at my local Target)

Heat oven to 375 degrees F.

Add butter to a small saucepan and heat on medium-low heat until nicely browned.  Usually takes about 5 minutes.  To a large bowl add the brown sugar and browned butter, stir to combine.  Add the egg, flour, baking soda, cinnamon, salt, nutmeg, cloves, and milk and stir until combined.

Stir in the chopped apples and cinnamon chips.  If you can't find the cinnamon ones, I think semi-sweet chips would be great in these too.

Scoop tablespoon sized amounts of dough onto a cookie sheet lined with parchment or a silpat.  These spread a bit so leave a little room between each cookie.  Should get 27 cookies or more depending on size.

Bake for 12-14 minutes until browning slightly on the bottom.  If you press one with your finger and it doesn't start to spring back they need a little more time.  Let cool.  For the most even baking I like to rotate my pans from upper to lower and lower to upper halfway between cooking time.

Icing
4 tablespoons butter
2 ounces cream cheese
1 1/4 cups powdered sugar
Zest from 1 lemon
1 teaspoon lemon juice

Combine butter and cream cheese in a small saucepan and heat on medium-low heat until melted and whisk a little to combine. Whisk in powdered sugar, lemon zest and juice.  Should be a nice drizzling consistency.  If it seems too runny; whisk in more powdered sugar a spoonful at a time.  You can drizzle the icing over the cookies with a spoon or put it into a piping bag.  Let icing firm up and store the cookies in between layers of wax paper in an airtight container.



Like the cute red heart on these?  I just reserved a small amount of the icing and tinted it red and piped on a heart.  Adds just a little extra love I think.

Enjoy,

Gina

21 comments:

  1. They look like fabulous cookies, Gina! I had never even heard of cinnamon chips. They sound like a fun addition to cookies, especially apple cookies!

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  2. Gina,
    I'm glad that you finally found cinnamon chips, so you could make these wonderful apple cinnamon cookies. Love the addition of the heart:)

    Have a great weekend, and have those elves help out with your baking!

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  3. How pretty these are! I have never had apple cookies, but they sound delightful :)

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  4. They are so pretty! I love those cinnamon chips.

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  5. OH.MY. I can only imagine the deliciousness!! I haven't been able to find cinnamon chips... Tar-jay here I come!

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  6. Dude...i didn't even know there was such a THING as cinnamon chips. Heck yeah! These cookies are absolutely worth making the cookie line up. Totally original :)

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  7. I have granny Smith's waiting for this recipe in my crisper; so cute...not I have to find cinnamon chips, haven't found any around here yet.
    Rita

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  8. I love making foods that bring back memories from my childhood: have a few recipes like that on my own blog. Frosted apple-cinnamon cookies sound very delicious!

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  9. Food memories are so cool - we all have them, and they mean so much to us. And I'm sure that once I have these cookies, I'll remember them too! They look wonderful - thanks so much.

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  10. These cookies look super yummy! I love all the spice in them.

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  11. Wait, cinnamon chips? How have I never heard of these? You discover the neatest things. I want to go grocery shopping with you one day :)

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  12. I have not made a cookie with apple before..ever.. not once. It sure sounds good and comforting. Am book marking this so that I could find a great occasion to bake these cookies. Have a wonderful jolly Holiday my friend. Hugs, Jo

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  13. I just used cinnamon chips for the first time, too. I actually won them on Tutti Dolci's site, so didn't have to track them down (I had never seen them in the store either). Apple cookies and cinnamon chips are deliciously nostalgic :) Merry Christmas, Gina - you're definitely on a baking marathon!

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  14. Those cookies sound and look delicious!

    I wish I could find cinnamon chips here...

    Cheers,

    Rosa

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  15. Haha, would have love to see your reaction at Target. The cookies look great Gina! I've never had ones like these so thanks for the introduction. I saw on Facebook that your cookie factory is in full swing. Now I want a cookie...and also missing Tar-jay. sigh

    Hope you are doing well. Happy holidays sweetie.

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  16. I really don't think I've had an apple cookie before? What gives in my life...

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  17. Did you score the last talking Elmo???? I have a bag of cinnamon chips in my pantry from KAF!!! Didn't know they are so rare,lol!!
    Your cookies look sooo good, love everything about these babies;-)

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  18. Patty that's great to know you can get them at King Arthur Flour, I will have to get some reserves. Thanks everyone.

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  19. Isn't it funny how unset seems to have the nostalgic recipes - or similar? I occasionally see cinnamon chips around Christmas. I love every cookie you make and this is no exception. I just dropped by (as I slowly start to blog again) to wish you the merriest Christmas. May your days be both merry and bright!

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  20. I need to get white chocolate chips because after the holiday season is over they disappear from Trader Joes. I hope they still have them... I always love your cookies, especially creative combination ones. They look delicious and I love the cute little red heart! :)

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