Muffin tops & Apple bottoms.....

*If you followed my short-lived cookie themed blog, you have seen this recipe before*
The Holiday Season is upon us and along with whatever rituals you celebrate, comes the ever-popular Holiday Potluck. Every year it's the same thing, right? Somebody brings the 7 Layer dip, somebody makes those meatballs with the grape jelly that defy logic with their awesomeness, a lady will bring the same pasta salad she brought to the last 10 Holiday potlucks, and yet another dude will bring some pre-packaged cookies loaded with who-knows-what, frosted with what tastes like that paste you used to eat in kindergarten when the teacher wasn't looking. Oh, you know you did.
So, the question is: what are YOU going to bring to this year's shindig, huh? 
Some kind of apple pie you make with that stuff out of a can? Gross.
You are cooler and more original than that aren't you? Yeah, I thought so.
Here's an idea for you, my hip, unique friend: Apple Pie Cookies. 
You see, they're a nice little nod to tradition without actually being the usual, traditional fare.

Plus, they're more portable than pie (rad) and feed a lot more people (awesome), and you don't need plates or utensils, either. BONUS!
Just in case you're worried, these cookies are full of those cinnamon & apple flavors that bring back memories of the best apple pie you ever had. So, ya know, they're not too big of a leap.

This is a fluffy cookie, not hard or dense, almost like Elaine's famed muffin tops. 

And look at the apple chunks.....mmmm.......
Are you ready for the recipe?

Here it goes:

Ingredients-

1 C butter, softened (but not melted, never melted or your cookies will spread too thin)
1 cup dark brown sugar, packed (you can use light, I just happen to prefer the dark)
1/2 C granulated sugar
3/4 t baking soda
1/2 t salt
2 t cinnamon
2 eggs
1 t vanilla extract
2 1/2 C flour
2 cups pealed & diced apples (I used Golden Delicious)

Directions-
Preheat oven to 375

In a big bowl, beat butter until fluffy.
Add brown & granulated sugars & mix until combined (don't over mix!)
Beat in eggs & vanilla

In a small bowl, add flour, baking soda, salt & cinnamon.
Mix till well combined
Add 1/2  flour mixture to butter mixture & combine, then add in the rest.
Don't forget to scrape the sides
Add in diced apples & mix it up!

Drop cookie dough by rounded tablespoon onto un-greased cookie sheet (2 inches apart)
Bake 8-10 minutes
Cookies should be a light golden brown.
Cool on wire rack.
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You could serve these while still warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or if you're taking them on the road just let them cool & eat them by the handful. Whatever you want!  


*this recipe is my property. if you repost it, please link back here. i am the author of this original recipe!