Recipe(tried): Autumn Caramel Apple Cookies

I made these this afternoon, they are really yummy. I just rolled them out on lightly floured wax paper. Happy Haunting! - Micha



AUTUMN CARAMEL APPLE COOKIES

1 cup sugar
1/2 cup (1 stick) margarine or butter, softened
1/2 cup shortening
1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
2 eggs
3 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
Red food coloring (optional)
About 24 wooden sticks
Caramel Glaze (recipe follows)

Heat oven to 400 degrees F.

Mix sugar, margarine and shortening in large bowl. Stir in vanilla and eggs. Stir in flour, baking soda and salt. (If desired, add red food coloring, a drop at a time, to tint the dough to desired redness.)

Roll dough 1/4 -inch thick on lightly floured cloth-covered surface. Cut with 3-inch round or apple-shaped cookie cutter. Place on ungreased cookie sheet. Insert wooden stick horizontally into each cookie.

Bake 8 or 9 minutes or until edges are light brown. Cool about 2 minutes; remove from cookie sheet. Cool completely.

Spread top third of each cookie (opposite wooden stick) with Caramel Glaze. Hold cookie upright; allow glaze to drizzle down cookie.

CARAMEL GLAZE:
1 package (14 ounces) vanilla caramels, unwrapped
1/4 cup water

Heat caramels and water over low heat, stirring frequently, until melted and smooth. If glaze becomes too stiff, heat over low heat, stirring constantly, until softened.

Makes about 2 dozen cookies.