Apple "Slice" Sugar Cookie Recipe and Tutorial!

DIY Apple Slice cookies: Recipe by Lindsey Krstic @linzhoo2u

I got inspiration for these cookies while trying to come up with a recipe to bring to my son's preschool class for "Apple Day". Other than apple pie, applesauce, and apple slices, there really wasn't anything I could think of to bring that was either child-friendly, nut-free or apple-related. So, after much thought I decided to get creative and make these apple slice cookies using ingredients that can be easily bought or made. I decided to be a bit "extra" and add some apple flavoring and cinnamon, but to be honest I don't think it made a difference to the kids as they were too excited about the cookies to notice. So, without further ado, I give you the tutorial for these adorable apple slice cookies, followed by a condensed recipe below:

Ingredients:

• 2 tubes of sugar cookie dough of your choice, or roughly two batches of homemade sugar cookie dough
• Bag of M&Ms in red, orange, yellow, brown, or green
• Bag of pretzel sticks
• Red and green food coloring
• 5-6 drops Apple candy flavoring (optional)
• 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon (optional)
• Flour, as needed

Helpful Items to Have Out:

• Large bowl + 2 smaller bowls for the dough
• Cookie sheet
• Parchment paper
• Plastic wrap
• Spoons for mixing
• Sharp knife
• Cutting board
• Wire cooling rack
• Oven mitts

Instructions:

To begin, preheat your oven to 325 and line a cookie sheet with parchment paper. 

Remove cookie dough from tubes and place in a large bowl. Remove roughly one-third of the dough and divide it equally between two smaller bowls. These will become the red and green outer layer. Using your food coloring, add enough drops into each small bowl to make a nice dark red and green color. If needed, add flour until dough becomes soft enough to roll, yet thick enough to stand up to being cut and handled.

In the large bowl, add apple flavoring and cinnamon (optional). Mix together and add additional flour if needed to make a thick dough.

Once dough is mixed, divide into 2 equal portions and roll into a thick tube that is roughly 1.5 inch in diameter. These will become the inner part of your cookies.

Remove one of the colored dough balls and roll out as thin as possible (no thicker than 1/4"). Trim edges to form a rectangle that is at least half the length of the tube you made in the previous step with enough of a width to wrap around the tube (mine was about 3.5"). Set aside and repeat for the second color.

Remove dough from freezer and place one tube on top of the colored dough. Using your fingers, very gently wrap the dough around the tube like a burrito. If it crumbles, don't worry!- just gently smooth the dough with your fingers until the colored portion completely cover the inside. Trim any excess. 

Wrap in plastic wrap and place to freezer to chill for a few minutes (5-10 roughly). Repeat for second color.

While dough is chilling, using a sharp knife gently cut each M&M candy in half and place in a small bowl. These will become your seeds.

Snap off about 1cm from each end of the pretzel sticks and place into another bowl. These will become your stems.

When dough has chilled briefly, remove from freezer and place on cutting board. Using a sharp knife, carefully slice the tubes width-wise about 1/4" thick. **It is important that the dough be chilled so that it can be sliced evenly.

Place slices on baking tray lined with parchment paper. Repeat for second color.

Using your fingers, shape each cookie into an apple shape by indenting at the top and bottom, and slightly pinching in the sides (see photo). 

Insert one piece of pretzel into the top of each cookie like a lollipop. You want the pretzel sticking in the cookie about half way for stability.

Place in oven and bake 11-13 minutes, checking on it about ten minutes in for doneness by inserting a toothpick into the center of the cookie and noting if there is any "wet" dough still sticking to the cookie.

When done, remove from oven and then immediately place two pieces of split M&Ms in the center of the cookie as shown. Allow to cool briefly, then transfer to a baking rack to cool.

That's it! Rejoice, because you are done! All that's left now is to place out on a cute plate and let the kiddos (or adults) enjoy. Thanks for reading! 

If you want to check out all the other things I do, feel free to follow me on Instagram @linzhoo2u or on pinterest at www.pinterest.com/linzhoo2u. Yes, it's an old nickname. Yes, I haven't changed it since college. Sorry. 

Apple "Slice" Cookies Recipe

By: Lindsey Krstic











Ingredients:

• 2 tubes of sugar cookie dough of your choice, or roughly two batches of homemade sugar cookie dough
• Bag of M&Ms in red, orange, yellow, brown, or green
• Bag of pretzel sticks
• Red and green food coloring
• 5-6 drops Apple candy flavoring (optional)
• 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon (optional)
• Flour, as needed

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees and line a cookie sheet with parchment paper
2. Remove cookie dough from tubes and place in a large bowl. Remove roughly one-third of the dough and divide it equally between two smaller bowls. These will become the red and green outer layer.
3. Using your food coloring, add enough drops into each small bowl to make a nice dark red and green color. If needed, add flour until dough becomes soft enough to roll, yet thick enough to stand up to being cut and handled.
4. In the large bowl, add apple flavoring and cinnamon (optional). Mix together and add additional flour if needed to make a thick dough.
5. Once dough is mixed, divide dough into 2 equal portions and roll each into a thick tube that is roughly 1.5 inch in diameter. This will become the inner portion of your cookie.
6. Remove one of the colored dough balls and roll out as thin as possible (no thicker than 1/4"). Trim edges to form a rectangle that is at least half the length of the tube you made in the previous step with enough of a width to wrap around the tube (mine was about 3.5"). Set aside and repeat for the second color.
7. Place one tube on top of the colored dough and very gently wrap the dough around the tube like a burrito. Wrap in plastic wrap and place to freezer on a flat surface to chill for a few minutes (5-10 roughly). Repeat for second color.
8. While dough is chilling, using a sharp knife gently cut each M&M candy in half and place in a small bowl. These will become your seeds.
9. Snap off about 1cm from each end of the pretzel sticks and place into another bowl. These will become your stems.
10. When finished, remove dough from freezer and place on cutting board. Using a sharp knife, carefully slice the tubes width-wise about 1/4" thick. Place slices on baking tray lined with parchment paper. Repeat for second color.
11. Using your fingers, shape each cookie into an apple shape by indenting at the top and bottom, and slightly pinching in the sides (see photo). Insert one piece of pretzel into the top of each cookie like a lollipop. You want the pretzel sticking in the cookie about half way for stability.
12. Place in oven and bake 11-13 minutes, checking on it about ten minutes in for doneness by inserting a toothpick into the center of the cookie and noting if there is any "wet" dough still sticking to the cookie.
13. When done, remove from oven and then immediately place two pieces of split M&Ms in the center of the cookie as shown. Allow to cool briefly, then transfer to a baking rack to cool.