Caramel Stuffed Apple Cider Cookies

These are easily my favorite fall cookies. Apple cider mix in the dough, and the dough wrapped around a caramel. What could be better? These cookies were taste tested by multiple people before hitting the blog, and they've come out with rave reviews! Now it's your turn to give them a try!

Caramel Stuffed Apple Cider Cookies

ingredients:

• 1 cup softened butter
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 box Alpine Spiced Apple Cider Instant Drink Mix (10 packets)
• 2 eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 3 cups all purpose flour
• 1 bag Kraft Caramels (14 oz)

directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line cookie sheets with parchment
2. In a small bowl whisk together flour, baking soda, baking powder and cinnamon. 
3. With your mixer cream together butter, sugar, salt and all 10 packets of drink mix, until light and fluffy. 
4. Beat in eggs one at a time. Add vanilla and mix well.
5. Gradually add flour to butter/egg mixture. Mix until just combined and refrigerate for about an hour.
6. Roll a ball of dough in your hand and flatten it. Press the unwrapped caramel into the center of your dough and seal the dough around it, covering it completely.
7. Place on parchment 2 in apart. Bake 12-14 minutes, or until very lightly browned around the edges. 
8. Once the cookies are done, slide the parchment sheet onto a cooling rack. When cookies are cool enough to be firm, but still warm, gently twist them off the parchment and allow them to cool upside down. And enjoy!

Tip: Heat up the cookie right before eating! The heat melts the caramel a little and makes for a perfect, warm treat! Also, you could try chopping up the caramel instead of wrapping the dough around it to have the caramel more even dispersed within the cookie!

-Kylie