AUTUMN CARAMEL APPLE COOKIES

Why I Love This Recipe
Ingredients You'll Need
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup (1 stick) margarine or butter, softened
1/2 cup shortening
1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
2 eggs
3 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
About 24 wooden sticks
Caramel Glaze (right)
CARAMEL GLAZE:
1 package (14 ounces) vanilla caramels, unwrapped
1/4 cup water
Directions
Heat oven to 400 degrees F. Mix sugar, margarine and shortening in large bowl. Stir in vanilla and eggs. Stir in flour, baking soda and salt.
Roll dough 1/4 –inch thick on lightly floured cloth-covered surface. Cut with 3-inch round or apple-shaped cookie cutter. Place on ungreased cookie sheet. Insert wooden stick horizontally into each cookie. Bake 8 or 9 minutes or until edges are light brown. Cool about 2 minutes; remove from cookie sheet. Cool completely. Spread top third of each cookie (opposite wooden stick) with Caramel Glaze. Hold cookie upright; allow glaze to drizzle down cookie. Makes about 2 dozen cookies.
CARAMEL GLAZE:
Heat caramels and water over low heat, stirring frequently, until melted and smooth. If glaze becomes too stiff, heat over low heat, stirring constantly, until softened.