Peanut Butter Ginger Apple Cookies, #SundaySupper

Did you see the classic film, E.T.

Quick synopsis – without a spoiler: An alien, E.T., is adopted by siblings, Elliot, Michael and Gertie (played by Drew Barrymore.) Their autumn experiences with E.T. teach them about love and turning on “Heartlight.” (The title song of the film.)



I'm in awe of Boulder, Colorado's autumn splendor.


Autumn is a time when green leaves transform into magnificent hues. (Hopefully, we human beings also mature with the changing seasons!) In pursuit of the true meaning of home during my summer and autumn in Boulder, E.T. slipped into my mind. (Quotes from the film such as “E.T. phone home” and “I’ll be right here,” have choked me up a bit.)



Bicycles and Boulder are synonymous...
Remember the classic shot of Elliot pedaling E.T. across the moon?


My calendar also prodded me to participate in a fabulous fall fest #SundaySupper at Twitter. (Please scroll down for your invite.) So, in honor of Elliot luring E.T. out of the forest with Reese’s Pieces (peanut butter candies), I made peanut butter ginger apple cookies. Apples and peanut butter are staples in almost every American child’s lunch box, n’est-ce pas?



Reese's Pieces lured E.T. from the woods.
Wonder how he'd like the Ninja Baker's
Peanut Butter Ginger Apple Cookies.


The crisp, sugary peanut butter cookie is tempered by a snap-to-attention ginger orange marmalade.  Organic Fuji apple crisps, more ginger orange marmalade and low-fat Neufchâtel cheese also bring in a luscious smooth contrast. Many thanks to my friend, the Cake Spy. She is a Pillsbury Bake-Off judge and this post on her blog inspired the recipe.



Little kid peanut butter cookies dressed up with
grownup ginger orange marmalade.


I hope you enjoy the peanut butter ginger apple cookies and find yourself tripping back home to your heartlight. (If you are a vegan, you might like my peanut butter vegan dreams.) 

Peanut Butter Ginger Apple Cookies

A conscious coupling of ginger orange marmalade and peanut butter combine to create a superb balance of yin and yang. The cookie is filled with a Neufchâtel cheese kissed with more ginger orange marmalade and Fuji apple crumbles.

Ingredients: 
  • Peanut butter cookies made with your favorite recipe
  • OR refrigerated peanut butter cookie dough
  • 10 tablespoons ginger orange marmalade for cookie tops
    + 1 tablespoon for the filling
  • 3 tablespoons sugar for cookie tops
  • 1 (8 ounce) package of Neufchâtel cheese, softened
  • 3/4 cup powdered sugar
  • 3 tablespoons (or more if desired) of dried Fuji apples
    food processed into crumbly bits (I used Bare Fruit)
  • 1/2 tablespoon milk
Directions: 

Bake your favorite peanut butter cookie recipe into thin crisps coated with ginger orange marmalade and sugar. OR drop refrigerated peanut butter cookie dough in rounded teaspoons onto parchment lined cookie sheets.

Flatten the cookies with a shot glass (or other small round-bottomed glass) dipped into ginger orange marmalade. Sprinkle with sugar.  Bake at 350 degrees for 10 to 12 minutes. Cool.

*Ninja Note: Freeze your peanut butter cookie rounds for 15 minutes or more. You can avoid cookies spreading and colliding into each other while baking.

Whip up the Neufchâtel cheese with 1 tablespoon of ginger orange marmalade with an electric mixer. Gradually beat in the apples and powdered sugar. Add 1 tablespoon of milk (or more) to achieve an ideal consistency for the filling. 

Slather the filling onto a cooled cookie. Top with another cookie to create a peanut butter cookie sandwich. Serve with Reese's Pieces (peanut butter candies) if desired.

Special thanks to Coleen of The Redheaded Baker and Conni of The Foodie Army Wife for hosting this fabulous fall foods Sunday Supper. Here are a few more delicious finds for your autumn dinner table.

Appetizers and Drinks

Soups, Stews, Chili, and Casserole

Salads and Side Dishes

Main Dishes

Desserts and Baked Goods

Sunday Supper MovementJoin the #SundaySupper conversation on twitter on Sunday! We tweet throughout the day and share recipes from all over the world. Our weekly chat starts at 7:00 pm ET. Follow the #SundaySupper hashtag and remember to include it in your tweets to join in the chat. To get more great Sunday Supper Recipes, visit our website or check out our Pinterest board. Would you like to join the Sunday Supper Movement? It’s easy. You can sign up by clicking here: Sunday Supper Movement.

Wishing you a happy heartlight glow.

The Ninja Baker

© ™ Watkinson 2012

The Ninja Baker has guest blogged and contributed recipes to numerous food sites. These additional recipes can be found here.

 

 

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