Thursday, October 22, 2009

Searching for Oatmeal Cookies with Apple Filling - Can you help?




I need your help.  When I was a child, I remember eating an oatmeal cookie with apple filling.  It was the kind of cookie they put right at the register at the perfect height for children to exclaim to their mother or father "I HAVE to have this" while clutching it to their chest.  (Sidenote: I don't have children so I can't help but smile whenever I see this act in a store.  No matter what the object, the child instantly realizes that it is the answer to all their prayers.)  Lately I've been craving that cookie but can't find it.

I thought maybe it was a Grandma's Cookie. 



But when I went to the website, no apple oatmeal cookie.  So I decided to try to re-create it.  And since I'm a child of the 80s, I decided to go to a cookbook from the 80s for inspiration.  It is ironically titled "New Cook Book" from Better Homes and Gardens.  Love this book.  My mother gave it to me when I got my first apartment.  Jellymolds, fondue and 22 different recipes for fruit salad (ambrosia - gag me with a spoon) aside, I've found most of the recipes to stand the test of time.  And, there was a recipe for Apple-Filled Oatmeal Cookies.  Perfect! I made some slight adjustments to make it sweeter and omitted nuts and raisins in the filling.  Do we have a winner?
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Apple Oatmeal Cookies
Adapted from Better Homes & Gardens New Cookbook (circa 1981)

Cookie
1 cup all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup butter (room temperature)
1/2 cup packed brown sugar (I used light because that's what I had on hand)
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 egg (room temperature)
1/4 cup milk
3/4 cup rolled oats

Filling
1 1/2 cups finely diced peeled apple
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
2 tablespoons water

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  Grease a cookie sheet.  (I don't think people used slipmats and parchment paper in 1981.)
Make Filling - Cook apple, sugar, cinnamon and water on medium/low until sauce is thick and apple is tender.



In small bowl, combine flour, baking powder, spices and salt with whisk or spoon.  Set aside.
Beat butter for 30 seconds; add both sugars and beat until fluffy.  Add egg; beat well.
Add dry ingredients and milk alternatively, beating after each addition.  Stir in oats.
Drop cookies on cookie sheet.   Make a depression in the center of each and fill with apples.



These cookies are not the cookies I remember from my childhood but they are so good.  The cookie is soooo chewy and not too sweet.  They definitely hit the spot and are super easy to make. 

Have you tried to recreate a store bought treat from your past?  Does anyone know what cookie I'm talking about?

1 comment:

  1. Great way to recreate one of your childhood's comfort food! They look delicious :)

    ReplyDelete