Apples were on the counter beside a mandoline. Three baking sheets lined with parchment were by the oven. The project to make dried apple slices started with great hope. Then glitches started to appear. The apples were wider than the mandoline. Raised sides prevented them from contact with the blade. Sides were sliced to make them fit. Soon there were uniquely shaped slices spread on the parchment. Into the oven they went to become dry and crispy. A few hours later it was evident the chips were a failure. Some were soft and the rest were over-done. Into the trash they went and I was off to the store to get a bag so I could make apple walnut cream cheese cookies.
Making apple chips seemed like a great idea. How difficult can it be? Perhaps it is my nemesis in the baking world. Such a simple thing to go so wrong. Oh well, it’s all good. The crispy ones from the store did nicely. They crushed up perfectly in my food processor. Those crushed up bits are a great substitute for nuts. My goal was to have a subtle apple flavor added to walnut cream cheese cookies. They turned out exactly as I imagined. If you want more apple flavor, increase the amount of crushed apple chips and decrease the amount of walnuts in the dough.
These cookies have one feature I really enjoy. The dough is made, shaped into logs, and frozen. This means you can keep it in the freezer for weeks (or perhaps longer if wrapped well with layers of plastic wrap or foil). It’s handy when you want fresh cookies but don’t have the time to make the dough. This is way better than any slice and bake cookies you get at the store. Just be ready for them to disappear shortly after baking. Oh the buttery, apple-y, nutty, cream cheese goodness!
Do you enjoy baking cookies? The Creative Cookie Exchange is a group of bakers and bloggers who shares recipes each month based on a theme. CCE is hosted by Laura of The Spiced Life and Rebecka of At Home With Rebecka. And this month’s theme is apples. You can join in the fun too. Scroll down to see the details and find links to more great cookies.
Apple Walnut Cream Cheese Cookies
Ingredients
- 4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 1/4 teaspoons kosher salt
- 2 cups unsalted butter 4 sticks, at room temperature
- 6 ounces cream cheese at room temperature
- 1 1/4 cups sugar
- 2 tablespoons vanilla extract
- 2 1/2 ounce bag dried apple chips finely chopped makes 3/4 cup
- 1 3/4 cups walnuts 3/4 cup toasted and coarsely chopped, 1 cup finely chopped, divided
Instructions
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Whisk together flour and salt in a bowl.
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In the bowl of a mixer fitted with a flat beater, add butter and cream cheese. Mix on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes, scraping down the sides as needed.
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Add sugar and vanilla, and mix until well combined.
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Add flour and mix on low speed until just combined (do not over mix).
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Stir or mix in apple chips and toasted walnut pieces.
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Transfer dough to a work surface and divide in half. Shape each half into a log, 8 1/2 inches long and 2 inches in diameter.
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Wrap each log in parchment paper and freeze overnight or up to 2 weeks.
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Position oven racks in the upper and lower thirds of the oven. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
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Take out one log from the freezer and let it set out for 30 minutes. Unwrap the log and roll it in the remaining chopped walnuts, coating completely.
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Slice into 1/4-inch rounds. Space 1 in apart on baking sheets lined with parchment paper or non-stick liner.
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Bake cookies for 18 to 20 minutes, rotating halfway through, until golden around the edges.
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Let cookies cool completely on the baking sheets on wire racks. (Do not remove cookies from baking sheet until completely cooled).
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Repeat with remaining log and walnuts. Store cookies in a airtight container at room temperature up to 3 days.
Recipe Notes
Total time does not include time for freezing the cookie dough. These cookies have a subtle apple flavor. You can increase the amount of dried apples for more apple flavor (remember to equally reduce the amount of chopped walnuts).
Want to join in the Creative Cookie Exchange fun? Here’s how:
1. Write a blog post with recipe and original photo (please include some language here specific to that month’s theme). We would like the recipe to be one you’re making for the first time, and photos must be original.
2. Post the Cookie Exchange logo somewhere on your blog post so others can join in the fun:
3. Make a good faith effort to visit and comment on the other cookies in the Linky party. We all love cookies so that should be easy!
4. LIKE the Creative Cookie Exchange Facebook Page
5. FOLLOW the Creative Cookie Exchange Pinterest Board
6. LINK your blog post below using the Linky tool
You can also just use us as a great resource for cookie recipes–be sure to check out our Facebook page, our Pinterest Board, and our monthly posts. You will be able to find them the first Tuesday after the 15th of each month! Also, if you are looking for inspiration for this month’s theme, check out what all of the hosting bloggers have made so far:
- Almond Apple Cider Snickerdoodles from If I Ever Owned A Bakery…
- Apple Butterscotch Cookies from Noshing With The Nolands
- Apple Walnut Cream Cheese Cookies from Magnolia Days
- Brandy Apple Bars from KarenTrina Childress
- Browned Butter Applesauce Bars from Food Lust People Love
- Butterscotch Apple Pie Cookies from At Home With Rebecka
- Caramel-Stuffed Apple Cider Spice Cookies from All That’s Left Are The Crumbs
- Cider Snaps from Cookie Dough & Oven Mitt
- Fuji Apple Cookies from NinjaBaking.com
- Ginger Sandwich Cookies with Apple Butter Cream Filling from A Baker’s House
- Iced Apple Drop Cookies from Karen’s Kitchen Stories
- Salted Caramel Apple Popcorn Cookies from It’s Yummi!
- Streusel Topped Apple Oatmeal Bars from The Spiced Life
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Lora @cakeduchess says
I’ve never experimented in making apple chips before. I am always cooking them a little to add to a pie or cake. Now I am curious to make these cookies with some chips because they look fantastic, Renee!
Renee says
Thanks Lora. I think I’ll try to do the apple chips again. I do want to overcome the failure of the first try.
Paula @ Vintage Kitchen Notes says
I see apple chips all the time here, but never know what to use them for. These are stunnig Renee! Adding cream cheese is wonderful, I can’t wait to try them!
Renee says
Thanks Paula. I think most people use the chips for snacking however I like incorporating them into baked goods.
Carla says
I love the addition of apple chips! Funny how something that seems so simple homemade doesn’t work out. Oh well. I’m glad you didn’t give up on these cookies 😉
Renee says
Thanks Carla
Stacy says
My sister used to own a dehydrator and she made apple chips in it. It never occurred to me that i could use a regular oven, although your experience would seem to indicate that I can’t.
What lovely buttery cookies, Renee! I can just imagine the cream cheese with all that butter and the crispy apples. And the toasted walnuts! I’d love to have a roll of this dough in my freezer at all times.
Renee says
I’m sure it is possible to use a regular oven but perhaps the temperature was off plus I have different baking sheets. The different sheets probably caused the uneven results.
Tara says
I would really like to get a dehydrator too but where do you keep all the million small appliances??
I love that these are log cookies and that you can have them in the freezer, that is so handy for fresh baked cookies!! I love that at Christmas time too!
Your cookies look so good and I adore walnuts!!
Renee says
I don’t have room for more appliances like a dehydrator. I’ll keep attempting making them in the oven.
The Ninja Baker says
Your idea of baking apple slices in the oven is ingenious, Renee. Guess the dehydrator is the equipment for the task. Who knew? At any rate, your cookies look and sound dee-luscious! They appear to have the perfect crumble and the perfect compliment to a cup of tea =)
Renee says
Thanks so much Kim
Rebecka says
I really appreciate you sharing a failed attempt at a recipe! We all have those experiences in the kitchen one time or another but we don’t often share them with our readers. I just recently made caramel with my tried and true recipe and it bombed horribly. I don’t know if it was the cold weather or operator error, all I know is the caramel was a mess!
Thank you for co-hosting the Creative Cookie Exchange and sharing your gorgeous photos, and recipe!
Renee says
I’m an open book about my successes and failures. I believe it’s more real to share what actually happens.
Susan says
What a creative idea to get apples into cookies, this is something I would have never thought of but I love it and they sound lovely.
Renee says
Thanks Susan
Dina says
I don’t think I’ve heard of apple cookies either. yummy idea!
Renee says
There a lots of different apple cookies and I’m enjoying this apple theme with the Creative Cookie Exchange to see all the different ones.
Anita at Hungry Couple says
I love how these cookies look and how thick they are. Oh, and just the thought of the mandolin… 🙂
Renee says
Some may be a little thicker than others. It’s a matter of how you slice them. And a mandoline can be quite tricky if you are not careful.
Holly says
Gosh, I am on the same wavelength as you! Just today I tried for the first time to make apple chips in the oven. It was a so-so result. I think they are lacking much taste but for a change my husband liked something I made and thought they were just fine. So the jury is out on apple chip making here but I KNOW that I’d love your cookie!
Renee says
Oh how interesting you were attempting apple chips too. At least I’m not the only one with not so great result. Good thing your husband enjoyed them.
kathyj says
Apple chips
Thinly slice on a mandoline. Plain or sprinkle with a little cinnamon sugar or even better a little salt/sugar/cinnamon. Bake on a parchment lined baking sheet at 275 for 1 hour 20 minutes. Flip over halfway through. Makes perfect crispy luscious chips that will last absolutely no time at all.
Renee says
Thanks Kathyj. I’ll have to try your method next time. I think I had the oven temp lower which could have been what caused the poor results.
[email protected]'s Recipes says
Indeed a very unique cookie recipe! Love the use of cream cheese in these fall flavoured cookies.
Renee says
Thanks Angie and cream cheese in cookies is wonderful for any season.
Bill says
These cookies look so delicious, Renee! I’m loving the apples this fall and these cookies are a perfect way to use them. Thanks for sharing a great recipe. I love that they can be made ahead of time and frozen. Great post!
Renee says
Thanks Bill
Karen @ Karen's Kitchen Stories says
Those cookies look amazing and I love your apple chip story. =)
Renee says
Thanks Karen
Miranda says
I’ve never taken notice of apple chips! This is a wonderful idea for a cookie. This would be a perfect cookie for me since I can slice off a couple of cookies and throw the rest back in the freezer. My husband is a party pooper when it comes to anything that’s possibly healthy such as fruits, vegetables, nuts.
Renee says
I found the bag of apple chips in the produce section at my store. There are several flavors however I went with the original ones.
[email protected] and More says
I love apple chips but I’d rather have these cookies any day!
Renee says
Thanks Joan
Felice/All That's Left Are The Crumbs says
I just happen to have a very large bag that my girls talked me in to buying from Costco, and now I have a great recipe to use some of them in. I love the idea of cheese, apple and walnut in a cookie. Kind of savory-sweet, and delicious.
Renee says
Oh good! I’m glad I could help you use up the bag of apple chips.
Greenthumb says
These sound really good, yum apple and cream cheese.
Renee says
Thanks and the apple and cream cheese are wonderful together.
Laura says
I love these cookies! I love slice and bakes, and I love the cream cheese with the apples.
How high of a heat did you try to dry the apples on?
Renee says
I don’t remember exactly what the temperature was but I know it was like 200 or 225 degrees for several hours.