Recipe: Caramel Apple Candy Bar Oatmeal Cookies

Because my candy collectors kids didn't get as much candy as I might like in my post-Halloween candy bowl while out Trick-or-Treating, I decided to hit up the post-Halloween clearance candy.  I got a bag of these fun-size Caramel Apple Milky Ways.  The Hubby and I tasted them and decided that we didn't love them as candy... but that they might be delicious in oatmeal cookies!

I had signed up to make baked goods for a school event, so I thought I would use the opportunity to my advantage.  I found this recipe for Candy Bar-Oatmeal cookies, and I modified it only slightly to incorporate the Caramel Apple Milky Ways.

The resulting cookies may not win any beauty contests, but they are very very yummy.  I'd say it's worth buying the candy in order to make the cookies.  You could use plain milky ways, but the slight apple flavor certainly adds a little something.

Caramel Apple Candy Bar Oatmeal Cookies

1 c brown sugar, packed
1/2 c sugar
1/2 c butter, softened
1/4 c unsweetened applesauce
1 Tbsp milk
1 tsp vanilla
2 eggs
2 1/4 c King Arthur Flour Self-rising flour (or 2 1/4 c all-purpose flour + 1 tsp baking soda)
2 c rolled oats
1 small bag (about 2 c) fun-size Caramel Apple Milky Way candy bars

Remove candy from wrappers and freeze for at least 1 hour before making the cookies.

When ready to make the cookies, preheat oven to 350 F.  Cream together sugars and butter.  Add applesauce, milk, vanilla, and eggs and beat until well combined.  Slowly add in the flour and oats.

In a food processor, pulse the frozen candy bars until they have broken up into small pieces.  You don't want them pulverized, but if they are too big, they will melt strangely and your cookies will be deformed. (You can also chop them carefully with a sharp knife, but a food processor is much quicker and easier).  Fold the candy pieces into the cookie dough.  Drop with a small cookies scoop onto parchment lined baking sheets, about 2" apart.  Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until lightly browned.  Allow to set on the baking sheet for about 2 minutes after baking before removing to wire racks to cool completely.  Enjoy.

 Even if they are ugly..