Caramel Apple Cookies

I'm breaking one of my own rules.  Do not post two desserts in a row.  Sorry.  Fall has taken me under her wing and I'm running with it.  I couldn't imagine you not seeing this super fun easy fall cookie on this beautiful fall Saturday.

At least it is beautiful here, I hope it is in your town too.

Speaking of fall, I thought I'd list my Top 10 favorite things about fall.  Feel free to tell me your favorite things about fall in the comments.

• Cool weather - after a summer of extreme heat, it is welcomed by me.
• Anything pumpkin - I cannot get enough of that darn stuff, and I have a really fun recipe using it coming up.
• Sweatshirts, hoodies and sweatpants - there is nothing better than bundling up.
• Homemade soups simmering in the crock pot all day - my ideal fall meal.
• Pumpkin patches and apple orchards - a great way to get the family out in nature.
• Hot chocolate - I feel like I can starting drinking it again.
• Football - there is nothing better than a cool, crisp day and watching football.
• Tailgating - on that same note, a great excuse to make cute finger food and eat ALL day long.
• Leaves changing - I don't usually get too hung up on nature, but leaves changing colors gets me every time.
• Time changes - I know!  I'm probably the only one who likes to hunker down inside when it gets dark at 5 p.m.

So, with fall clearly upon us, I decided to also send this recipe over to the local family website I have started contributing to, QC Family Focus.  It's a site in Eastern Iowa focused on what it says...family.  I am always looking for ways to do more freelancing or become a contributor to a site that I feel does a great job at what I enjoy - food and family.  My strawberry cake mix cookies are featured on their right now.

And sometimes you just have to have the guts to ask.  I did.  And they accepted me.  So each month I'll be sending some homemade recipes for their website.  Maybe now, I can also put "food writer" on my resume, right next to marketing professional?

We'll see.

Caramel Apple Cookies
{Printable Recipe}
3 c. flour
1 t. baking soda
1 t. salt
1 1/2 c. sugar
1 1/2 t. cinnamon
1 t. vanilla
2 eggs
1/2 c. canola oil
2 apples, grated
 
Frosting
4 T. butter
1/2 c.  brown sugar
1 t. cinnamon
2 T. milk
1/4 t. vanilla
1 1 1/2 c. sifted powdered sugar
 
In a stand mixer or hand mixer combine eggs and sugar until light in color and creamy.  Add in oil and vanilla.  Sift together dry ingredients - flour, baking soda, salt and cinnamon.  Combine with wet ingredients.  Gently fold in grated apples (juice included).  Dough will be slightly running, compared to most cookie dough.  Place in the fridge to harden a bit, at least 1 hour, or in the freezer for 20 minutes.
 
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  On a parchment paper lined cookie sheet or greased cookie sheet, drop cookie scoop sized balls of batter on sheet.  Bake for 10-12 minutes until golden brown.  Remove from pan to cool on a wire rack.
 
To make the frosting: In a saucepan, melt butter over low heat.  Add in brown sugar, vanilla and cinnamon, stirring until smooth.  Remove from the heat and sift in powdered sugar, stirring until desired consistency.  Add more powdered sugar if you like a thicker frosting.  When cookies are cool, frost.  Store in an airtight container.

What is your favorite fall recipe?

Mine?  Probably a toss up between chili, pumpkin pie and anything in the crock pot.