Spicy Walnut and Apple Cookies

Another super easy cake mix cookie that is delicious and a great addition to a Christmas cookie assortment. Just the perfect touch of spice and fruit for the Holiday Season. They freeze well too.

Ingredients:

• 1 (2-layer size) box yellow cake mix
• 2 Tbsp.all-purpose flour
• 1/3 cup corn oil
• 1/3 cup applesauce
• 1 tsp. ground cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp. ground ginger
• 1/8 tsp. ground cloves
• 1 cup peeled and shredded apple (about 1 large)
• 1 cup chopped walnuts
• 1 large egg

Frosting:

• 1/2 cup vanilla frosting (purchased or make your own as I do)
• 1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon

Directions:

Heat oven to 375 degrees F. Line cookie sheets with parchment paper.

Sift cake mix and flour together with spices into a medium-size bowl. Set aside.

Beat eggs slightly and add oil and applesauce. Add cake-mix and flour mixture half at the time stirring in to blend well. Fold in shredded apple and walnuts.

Cover and cool in refrigerator for an hour or more.

Drop by tablespoons 2 inches apart on parchment lined cookie sheets. They will spread out.

Bake 11 to 13 minutes or until edges are light golden brown. Cool for 1 minute on pan. Remove to cooling rack.

Stir cinnamon into frosting and spoon into a freezer plastic bag. Seal bag and microwave for 5 seconds on HIGH (100% power).

Snip small tip off bag corner at one side of bottom. Squeeze bag to drizzle cooled cookies with frosting.

Sprinkle with very small amount of additional ground cinnamon if desired.

Source: Our dear friend Etta L. who was our neighbor in Michigan. We've cooked and baked many times together and enjoyed happy trips to apple orchards for freshly cooked donuts and sweet apple cider. Wonderful memories.

By Julia from Boca Raton, FL