Apple Cider Cookies

POEM...

Close your eyes and open wide, for this special treat.

A finer one in your Halloween bag you will never eat.

Round in shape and creamy tan in color,

deliciousness on stick like no other.

Smooth and sticky covering roundabout,

making sure when I bite my teeth don't fall out.

Then I taste a crunchy bit of apple's nice red skin,

trying to take as big a bite as I can shovel in.

At last the crunch gives way to meet so sweet,

of the tender apple that just can't be beat.

Popcorn balls and chocolate all maybe nice,

but for caramel apples I would visit twice.

If you get your choice of a Halloween treat,

tell them you prefer a caramel apple to eat!

Ingredients

• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 box Alpine Spiced Apple Cider Instant Original Drink Mix (10 packets - found next to hot chocolate mix)
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 3 cups flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 (14 ounce) bag of Kraft chewy caramels

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°.

2. In a small bowl whisk together flour, baking soda, baking powder and cinnamon.

3. With an electric mixer, cream together butter, sugar, salt and all 10 packages of apple cider drink mix powder, until light and fluffy.

4. Beat in eggs, one at a time.
5. Add vanilla and mix well.

Gradually add flour mixture to butter/egg mixture. Mix until just combined.

6. Scoop out cookie dough ball about the size of a walnut (about 2 tablespoons).
7. Flatten the ball of dough slightly in the palm of your hand. Press the unwrapped caramel into the center of your dough and seal the dough around it, covering it completely.
8. Shape the dough into a ball, and place on parchment covered cookie sheets about 3 inches apart.
9. Bake 11-14 minutes, or until very lightly browned around the edges. They may not look quite done in the center but that is OK.
10. Once the cookies are done, carefully slide the parchment off of the baking sheet right out onto the counter.
11. Allow cookies to partially cool on the parchment. When cookies are cool enough to be firm but still slightly warm, carefully twist off of parchment and allow to finish cooling upside down on the parchment or on a cookie rack. If they are not upside down while they cool they may drizzle caramel out the bottom.
12. Makes around 2-3 dozen cookies. Eat at room temperature or slightly warmed in the microwave.

Sources:

• http://www.the-girl-who-ate-everything.com/2011/11/caramel-apple-cider-cookies.html

https://allpoetry.com/poem/6900544-Caramel-Apples-by-Daytonight