PREHEAT oven to 375ºF.
THE apple butter and Neufchatel cheese mixture MUST be made first. With a hand mixer, mix PHILADELPHIA Neufchatel Cheese, 3 Tbsp. butter and apple butter. Slowly add powdered sugar and mix until smooth. Place in the refrigerator immediately. Mixture needs to become more solid for easier spreading.
TO make the cookies, start by mixing 1/3 cup of butter in a large bowl. Add brown sugar, granulated sugar, baking powder, baking soda and cinnamon.
ONCE mixed, beat in egg and vanilla. Beat in flour. Stir in oats and apples.
DROP cookie dough onto an ungreased cookie sheet (12 per batch= 2 batches). Bake for 8-10 minutes. Allow to cool.
ONCE cooled, remove the apple butter and Neufchatel cheese mixture from the refrigerator. Spread mixture on the bottom side of one cookie, making a sandwich with another.
