Caramel Stuffed Apple Cider Cookies

I was watching Studio 5 on KSL a couple of weeks ago and they made these cookies. I had to try them and I am so glad I did. They are amazing, from the minute you poor the apple cider into the batter your mouth is watering. My kids don't like them, which leaves them all to my husband and I, too bad. The are best to eat warm so if they cook down just throw them in the microwave for 12 seconds and it softens the carmel perfectly. These are the perfect fall treat. Enjoy.

Ingredients:
1 c. softened butter
1 c.granulated sugar
1/2 t.salt
1 box (7.4 oz) Alpine Spiced Apple Cider Instant Original Drink mix -not sugar free- all 10
packets (this is about 1 cup)
2 eggs
1 t. vanilla extract
1 t. baking soda
1/2 t. baking powder
1 t. ground cinnamon
3 c. all purpose flour
1 bag

Method:

· Preheat oven to 350° F. Line cookie sheets with parchment. (You really need the parchment!)

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

· With your mixer (or an energetic spoon) cream together butter, sugar, salt and all 10 packages of apple cider drink mix powder, until light and fluffy.

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

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

· Refrigerate for about an hour. (If you're really impatient you don't have to do this, but it makes it so much easier to work with.)

· When you are ready to bake, unwrap your caramels.

· Scoop out cookie dough ball about the size of a walnut. (I used a rounded cookie scoop-full. My scoop holds about a Tablespoon.)

· 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. Place on parchment covered cookie sheets 2 inches apart.

· Bake 12-14 minutes, or until very lightly browned around the edges. Please don't over- bake! Once the cookies are done, slide the parchment off of the baking sheet right out onto the counter. 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 (either on the parchment or on a rack.) If you forget about them and they cool too much and stick to your parchment, put them into the freezer for a few minutes and they'll pop right off.

· Yield: about 4 dozen, depending on how large you make your cookies (or how many caramels have been snitched out of your bag before you begin.) Store in an airtight container. Kraft Caramels (14 oz)

Courtesy of: Studio 5 on KSL