Apple Butter Spice Country Ham Cookies

These thick, spiced apple cookies, topped with a sprinkle of salty country ham, taste like gathering around the fire on a crisp holiday evening — sweet, savory, cozy. Worth the effort.

Makes: 10 cookies, Prep time: 1 hr, Wait time: 2 hrs, Cook time: 11-13 minutes

Ingredients:

Country Ham:

Suncrest Farms Country Ham (We use Biscuit Pieces)

Cookies:

1/2 cup salted butter, room temperature
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup light brown sugar, packed
3/4 tsp vanilla extract
1 large egg
1.5 cups all-purpose flour, spooned & leveled
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
Slightly less than 1/4 tsp salt
3/4 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp nutmeg

Apple Topping (Choose one of options):

2 Medium apples (We use honey crisp) cut into 1cm slices
1 tbsp butter
3-4 tbsp Dutch Kettle Apple Butter
1 tsp lemon juice

2 Medium apples (We use honey crisp) cut into 1cm slices
Slightly less than 1/4 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup light brown sugar, packed
Heaping 1/4 tsp cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 tsp lemon juice
1 tsp corn starch
1 tsp water
1/4 tsp vanilla extract

Cinnamon Glaze:

1/4 cup powdered sugar
Slightly less than 1/4 tsp vanilla extract
pinch of cinnamon
1/2-1 tbsp milk (adjust for thickness)

Now Let's Make Cookies!

Step 1: Make the Apple Topping (Choose the same side as option above)

In a pan on medium-low heat, melt the butter. Add the sliced apples and sauté until starting to soften, 3-4 minutes
Squeeze in lemon juice
Stir in the Dutch Kettle Apple Butter and cook on medium-low for 5 minutes, stirring often, until the apples are tender and coated
Taste, add lemon or Apple Butter based on preference
Cool in the fridge

This can be stored in the fridge until ready to assemble cookies!

Add sliced apples, granulated sugar, light brown sugar, lemon juice, cinnamon, and nutmeg to a sauce pan over medium heat. Cook for 6 minutes & expect it to be bubbling!
Mix corn starch and water together separately, then stir into apples and remove from heat.
Add vanilla extract
Cool in the fridge

Step 2: Mix Up the Cinnamon Glaze

Mix all ingredients and adjust for taste and thickness, keep in fridge until ready to drizzle

Step 3: Make the Cookies

Mix softened butter until smooth
Add granulated sugar and light brown sugar to butter, lightly mix
Add egg and vanilla extract, mix until just combined
Add dry ingredients and stir until dough forms, massage with hands for 10 seconds
Wrap and chill in fridge for 20 minutes (to make forming balls easier)
After 20 minutes, measure out 2 oz, or 55-60 grams balls of dough
Place prepared dough balls in freezer for 2 hours, or in the fridge overnight

Step 4: Bake the Cookies

Preheat your oven to 350° F
Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper
Place cookie dough balls on sheet with about 2 inches of spreading room between
Bake cookies for 11 minutes and check, edges should be firm but not browned, and center should look slightly underdone. If needed, bake for another 1-2 minutes
Let cookies rest for 1-2 minutes, then press down centers with the back of a spoon to make an indent for the apples
Transfer to a plate or wire rack to cool completely

Step 5: Fix Country Ham

Heat up a pan with a drizzle of olive oil over medium heat, and after letting it heat up, place a couple slices of country ham into the pan
Cook 1-2 minutes on both sides, should be sizzling
Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate
Chop up into little pieces and set aside

Final Step: Assembly

Place 3 apple slices fanned out on top of each cookie, sprinkle on a generous helping of country ham pieces, and drizzle over with cinnamon glaze. Enjoy chilled or warm.

Store in fridge for up to a week... but expect them to be long gone before then!