This is the time of year like no other for indulging in tasty cookies. I do like the baked apples with caramel and nuts and have tried to recreate that delicious flavour in these filled cookies. I think I have succeeded but let me know what you think.

Apple & Caramel Filled Cookies

INGREDIENTS

For the Dough

• 375g plain flour + some extra for rolling out the dough
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 120g ground almonds
• 200g caster sugar
• Pinch of salt
• 1 tsp vanilla essence
• 250g unsalted butter, cubed
• 1 large egg

For the Filling

• 2 tbsp caramel sauce
• 4 tbsp double cream
• 4 tbsp apple sauce
• 70g roasted ground hazelnuts
• 30g roasted chopped hazelnuts
• ½ tsp cinnamon
• 1 medium egg, lightly beaten
• Icing sugar to dust

METHOD

1. Place the flour, baking powder, almonds, caster sugar and salt in the bowl of your food processor and pulse until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs.
2. Add the vanilla essence and the egg and pulse until the mixture starts to come together.
3. Tip everything out onto your worktop and gently bring the mixture together with your hands.
4. Wrap the dough in clingfilm and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
5. While the dough is resting, make the filling.
6. Place the caramel sauce and cream into a small saucepan and gently heat, stirring until the mixture is amalgamated.
7. Add the apple sauce, ground and roasted hazelnuts and the cinnamon and stir to combine. Leave to cool.
8. Preheat the oven to 190C/ 170C fan. Line 2 baking sheets with baking parchment.
9. Roll out the dough on a lightly floured work surface to about 3mm thickness.
10. Using a 5cm round cutter cut out rounds, reshaping and rerolling the left over dough as you go.
11. Place half the cut out rounds onto the baking sheets and brush with the beaten egg.
12. Divide the filling between the cookie rounds on the baking sheets.
13. Cut a small star out of the remaining dough rounds and place over the filled dough rounds on the baking sheets.
14. Press lightly around the edges to seal in the fillings.
15. Bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes until golden.
16. Place the cookies on a baking sheet to cool.
17. Dust with icing sugar before serving.