These buttery, lightly spiced apple cookies with candied walnuts remind me of snacking on fresh walnuts from the tree in my grandma’s garden. Walnuts are delicious right out of the shell but even better toasted and simply irresistible when they’re candied. I always wanted to add my favorite candied walnuts into a cookie, and these apple cookies were the perfect choice. The apples are cooked on the stovetop briefly which adds flavor and helps to prevent soggy spots in the cookies while keeping the crisp edges and soft centers They also make your kitchen smell like the flavors of autumn.
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cookies
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Ingredients
Candied Walnuts
- 1/4 cup (50g) packed brown sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 pinch fine sea salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 1/2 cups (165g) walnut halves
Cooked Apples
- 1 tablespoon (14g) butter
- 1 cup (113g) chopped apples 1/4-inch pieces
- 1 tablespoon (13g) granulated sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
Ingredients
Candied Walnuts
Cooked Apples
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Instructions
Candied Walnuts
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. In a medium-size non-stick skillet, cook the sugar, water, cinnamon and salt until melted, about 1 minute. Stir in the vanilla and walnuts. Cook until the liquid is evaporated and the walnuts start to caramelize, about 2-4 minutes.
- Spread the walnuts out in a single layer onto the baking sheet. Allow to cool completely. Coarsely chop enough walnuts to equal 3/4 cup (80g). These will be stirred into the cookie dough. Reserve the remaining walnut halves for the tops of the cookies,
Cooked Apples
- Melt the butter in small skillet over medium heat. When the butter starts to bubble, add the apples, sugar, cinnamon. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the apples are tender, about 3-5 minutes.
- Remove the apples from heat and let cool completely. Drain any excess liquid from the cooled apples.
Recipe Notes
*To find whole nutmeg, click here.