This apple cider cookie are a peanut butter lover’s delight

A note from Jim Bailey: I am working on my second cookbook, tentatively titled Close Up. It is dedicated to breast cancer survivors and/or their spouses, siblings or family members who had to endure this life-altering disease. If you would like to share your story with me for inclusion in my book, please contact me at theyankeechef@aol.com. Now, for this week’s recipe!

By Jim Bailey
theyankeechef.blogspot.com

If you enjoy dipping wedges of apple into peanut butter, then you are going to love these cookies.

The instant cider mix is found in supermarkets everywhere this time of year, but you may need to order it online, but at least look at the grocery first. These cookies are so delicious, moist and packed with apple flavor, you won’t be able to put them down.

Apple dipper oatmeal cookies.

2 cups oats
2 cups flour
1 cup sugar
4 (.74-ounce) packets apple cider instant drink mix*
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon nutmeg
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 cup butter or margarine, melted
1/4 cup peanut butter, chunky or smooth
2 eggs, beaten with 3 tablespoons water

Preheat oven to 350-degrees F. In a large bowl, blend the oats, flour, sugar, apple cider mix, baking soda, nutmeg and cinnamon. Stir in the melted butter, peanut butter and egg mixture until well incorporated.

Drop by the tablespoon on an ungreased cookie sheet, leaving 2 inches between mounds, and bake 13 to 15 minutes. The cookies will be done when the underside is lightly browned and the edges are slightly crisp. The cookie itself will still be soft, making it hard to determine when to pull them from the oven. When the centers are soft, but not soupy,  they are ready.

Let cookies cool in the pan for 3 minutes before carefully transferring to plates to completely cool. The cookies will firm up once cooled.

Makes about 25 cookies

*I used Alpine Spiced Apple Cider Drink Mix but any variety can be used. If you would like, substitute 2 teaspoons apple extract, or flavoring, or even melt down some apple hard candies.

Schiffer Books of Pennsylvania has released Jim Bailey’s new book The Yankee Chef: Feel Good Food for Every Kitchen. It contains more than 550 traditional New England comfort-food recipes tweaked for today’s palates with hundreds of kitchen tips and food facts. The hardback book is 312 pages and contains 200 color images. Its ISBN is 978-0-7643-4191-5 and the cost is $34.99. The book can be ordered through Misty Valley Books, 802-875-3400.