Apple Pie Cookies Recipe
Ingredients:
- ========== DOUGH ==========
- 1/2 cup and 2 tbsp sugar
- 2 1/2 cups flour
- 1 1/4 cup butter
- 1 1/4 cup cream cheese
- 1/2 tsp vanilla (optional)
- 1/4 tsp pie spice
- ========== FILLING ==========
- 2/3 cup sugar
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
- 1/2 tsp lemon zest
- 3 or 4 smaller green apples
- 3/8 tsp cinnamon
- 1/2 cup butter
- 1 tsp flour
- 1 Cup Apple Cider or Juice for syrup
Directions:
- Grate or *finely* dice apples and mix them thoroughly with the lemon juice, cinnamon, flour, and lemon zest. Set aside in refrigerator.
- Stir butter and sugar together over low heat till the mixture melts together and bubbles thoroughly; you want a light caramel. Remove from heat and stir in apple syrup and the refrigerated apple mixture. Cool the filling a bit before using.
- Apple syrup: reduce 1 cup apple juice or cider (cider is preferable) to 2 to 3 tbsp of liquid over low heat. Watch it carefully, lest it burn. Apple brandy can be substituted, but the amount of sugar has to be increased to 1 cup less 2 tablespoons, maybe a bit more if the apples are very tart.
- Assembly: When I make these I roll the dough thickish (1/6 to 1/4 inch) and go scantily on the filling; this filling may well make a double recipe of cookies relative to this crust.
- Once assembled, bake these at 350 degrees until golden brown and pastry-set. That took 10 minutes for 2-inch-long ones.