Apple Cookies

Here’s a fun apple cookie to make for back-to-school (and/or Rosh Hashanah). I was curious to know what an apple had to do with heading back to school. When I googled the question, initially all I was able to find were the back-to-school Apple iPad sales. Times sure have changed! After digging around a bit, here’s what came up: According to Gourmet, in the 1700s, poor families in Denmark and Sweden gave teachers baskets of apples as payment for their children’s education.

YOU WILL NEED:

• your favorite sugar cookie recipe
• red and green food coloring
• mini chocolate chips

1. Remove approximately one-quarter of the dough and set aside.
2. Roll out remaining dough into a log or logs about 2 inches (5 cm) in diameter.
3. Cut out a small v-shaped indentation from the top and bottom of the log.
4. Take the dough you set aside and color approximately one-quarter of it green and the rest red. Since the colors get lighter once baked, use plenty of food coloring.
5. Roll out the red dough and wrap it around the log. Use a knife to re-indent the indentations.
6. Roll the green dough into a thin log and place on top of the top indentation.
7. Freeze 4–5 hours until solid.
8. Slice the logs. Place mini chocolate chips face down in the middle of each cookie, representing the pits.
9. Bake according to your recipe directions.

(Originally featured in Family Table, Issue 707)