caramel stuffed apple cider cookies

i may or may not have an obsession with "secret hidden" things in food, like the caramel hidden in the middle of these cookies. it's a secret between you and the cookie that only you two know about. y'all mfs just got on a deeper plane of existence. 


auditory pairing: the black keys - tighten up

caramel stuffed apple cider cookies
yields ~3 dozen cookies
from scrambled henfruit and the cooking photographer


1 c salted butter, softened
3/4 c granulated sugar
1 box (7.4 oz) instant apple cider mix
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cinnamon
3 c all purpose flour
1 (14 oz) bag kraft caramels
GLOVES (oh how you need gloves)
parchment paper


1. in a small bowl whisk together flour, baking soda, baking powder, and cinnamon
2. in a mixer, cream together butter, sugar, and all packets of apple cider mix powder, until light and fluffy
3. beat in eggs, add vanilla
4. gradually add flour mixture to butter mixture, mix just until combined
5. refrigerate for an hour (this step can be skipped if pressed for time)
--
6. preheat oven to 350 F
7. unwrap caramels
8. put gloves on and scoop out walnut-sized cookie dough balls
9. roll into a ball, then flatten. place an unwrapped caramel in the center, and seal the dough around it
10. place on parchment-lined cookie sheets 2 inches apart
11. bake 12-14 minutes, until VERY lightly browned around the edges. try not to over-bake.
12. once done, slide parchment sheet off cookie sheet and onto counter
13. once cooled a little more, twist off cookies and flip them over to cool some more
14. if some are hard to twist off, placing them in the freezer for a bit will help twist them off


serve warm! <3
if cookies aren't warm any more, putting them in the microwave for a few seconds softens the middle enough to give you 20 mouthgasms, not 19.