Our backyard pear tree is a special attraction to the neighborhood wildlife. The deer like to pull down the fresh pears right out of the tree. The squirrels take a pear in their little jaws and one by one, they tote them across the electric lines in a careful balancing act and then go leaping over into the forest to their secret hiding place. The crows are often found up in the tree nibbling and munching away. That good ole pear tree produces enough fruit to make everyone around here happy.  Pears: delectable, soft, and sweet: and oh so versatile. They are wonderful in  Pear Rum Dum Cake, or Slow Cooker Pear Cider .  Recently, I started  envisioning tiny chunks of pears mixed with caramel bits in a buttery cookie then rolled in a sugar/cinnamon mix.  I bounced this idea off of a fellow cookie lover, and they replied, ” You better get cracking”. Without a doubt, all the flavors really do compliment each other.  They are just Pear-fect!! I will make them again and again and so will you.  Don’t wait any longer; you better get cracking!

Caramel Pear Snickerdoodles

A perfect treat made with fresh pears, caramel and dusted in cinnamon and sugar!

Ingredients

Cinnamon Sugar Mix

  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 1 teaspoon ground sugar

Cookie Dough

  • 3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons cream of tarter
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 cup butter (2 sticks), softened
  • 1 1/3 cups granulated sugar
  • 1 large egg, room temperature
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1 cup pears, peeled and diced very small
  • 16 caramels, (such as Kraft) cut into small bits

Instructions

Cinnamon Sugar Mix

  1. In a small bowl stir together sugar and 3 teaspoons cinnamon and set aside.

Cookie Dough

  1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees and lightly grease or line two large baking sheets with parchment paper. Set Aside

  2. In a medium bowl, combine the the flour, cream of tartar, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt together.

  3. In a large bowl, use a hand mixer to cream together butter and sugar. Beat on high speed for about 2 minutes

  4. Add the egg and vanilla extract and mix well

  5. Slowly add in the dry flour ingredients a little at a time. continue to mix on medium speed until all the flour is combined. Then add the pears and caramel. Stir until incorporated into the dough.

  6. With a cookie scoop or a tablespoon, form dough balls and then roll each ball in the cinnamon-sugar mixture, then place on prepared baking sheet at least 3 inches apart.

  7. Arrange 3 inches apart on the baking sheets.Bake cookies for 10 minutes. The cookies will be very puffy and soft. When they are still very warm, lightly press down on them with the back of a spoon or fork to help flatten them out. Allow cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 10 minutes and transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.Cookies remain soft & fresh for 7 days in an airtight container at room temperature.

  8. Bake for 8-10 minutes. Allow to cool for 5-10 minutes on the baking sheet (they will continue to cook a little). Then transfer to a cooling rack to cool completely.

  9. Store at room temperature in an airtight container up to 5 days.

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