Caramel apple cookies embody all of the taste of a traditional caramel apple. They have just the right amount of apple cider, cinnamon, and of course caramel!
Serve them with a hot glass of mulled cider. Mmm just the thought of these cookies makes my mouth water!!
All Things Caramel Apple
Fall is in the air, apple cookie recipes are also on the rise. For me, apples go hand in hand with caramel. Lush, crisp apples with gooey caramel is a match made in heaven. Caramel Apple Cookies are the only solution!
There is a place for caramel apples, certainly, and I still love making them, but while absolutely delicious, the chewy, ooey, gooey crunchiness of a candied apple can be difficult to transport, messy to eat and is as filling as a whole meal.
But is there a cleaner, slightly more compact alternative? Why YES! Caramel apple cookies.
The bitter apple taste and chewy sweet caramel all in one dainty bite. The batter will literally tingle your tongue. The aroma of apple cider is almost overwhelming.
Why You’ll Love These Caramel Apple Cookies
Soft cookies with gooey caramel in the center of each cookie- what’s not to love!
- Full of fall flavors – Warm cinnamon, gooey caramel and sweet apple all combined into one delectable cookie.
- Easy to make – These apple caramel cookies are perfect for the fall season, and simple enough for the kids to help make!
- Caramel center – Not only are these cookies full of apple flavor, but arguably the best part is the melted caramel in the middle.
Ingredients
A lot of these simple ingredients might already be in your kitchen. If not, the rest are easily found at your local grocery store.
- Unsalted butter – You want this butter to be softened. It’s easiest to do this by leaving it out at room temperature for an hour or two.
- Sugar – We use this both in the cookie dough itself and also to roll the dough in before baking.
- Salt – If you are using salted butter, you can omit this altogether. This just helps bring out the flavors of this favorite fall treat.
- Instant Apple Cider Drink Mix – Don’t knock it till you try it! This drink mix if perfect for fall baking and full of that apple flavor you love. You can order it online or find it at the grocery store near the apple juice, in the baking aisle or sometimes on an endcap around the fall season.
- Eggs – Keep in mind that room temperature eggs do best when baking. Always assume a recipe is calling for large eggs.
- Vanilla – To keep on theme with the warm flavors, vanilla extract just adds a little something extra to these chewy cookies.
- Baking soda and baking powder – These act as both leaveners and add some rise to these soft cookies.
- Cinnamon – You can’t have an apple dessert without cinnamon, right? You can freshly grate your own or buy from the store.
- Flour – All purpose flour is what is going to hold these cookies together, and is the base for the dry ingredients.
- Caramels – Chewy caramel in the center of these cookies is what takes them to the next level!
- Pumpkin pie spice – If you don’t have this on hand, you can also use apple pie spice instead. They are very similar in flavor.
Variations
This time of year, there are plenty of ways to put your own fall spin on this caramel apple cookies recipe.
- Fresh apple – I have never made these cookies with fresh apple, but you could certainly add some in. Chopped granny smith apples mixed right into the dough would be a great addition.
- Caramel frosting – If you want to take them up a notch and make them more like the Crumbl cookies, try adding a swirl of caramel frosting on top of the cookie.
- Add ins – Into the actual cookie dough, you could mix in anything you’d like. White chocolate chips, peanut butter chips, Kraft caramel bits or apple chunks would be great.
- Caramel sauce – A homemade caramel sauce or even salted caramel sauce would be totally delicious drizzled on top of these delicious caramel apple cookies.
- Toppings – Sprinkle ginger, allspice, nutmeg, brown sugar or cinnamon on the top of the cookies.
How to Make Caramel Apple Cookies
You are going to love how easy it is to make this delicious cookie recipe.
- Sift dry ingredients. Sift together the baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon and flour so it is evenly distributed.
- Add wet ingredients. Cream together the butter and sugar in a medium bowl with electric mixer. Blend in the salt and vanilla. Slowly, one packet at a time to avoid an apple cider dust bomb, blend in the Apple Cider Drink Mix packets. Lastly, blend in eggs.
- Combine dry ingredients with butter mixture. Half and cup at a time, add in sifted flour mix. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1-2 hours.
- Prepare oven and baking sheet. Unwrap all of the caramels and put in a small bowl. Line the cookie sheets with parchment paper. Preheat the oven.
- Prepare cookie roll. In a small bowl combine the sugar and pumpkin pie spice for the cookie roll.
- Roll cookie dough. Spoon out a small amount of cookie dough, approximately 2 heaping teaspoons, roll into a ball and smash flat in the palm of your hand. Place a caramel in the center and roll tightly around to prevent any holes. Roll the dough ball in the spiced sugar and place 2 inches apart on the lined cookie sheet.
- Bake. Bake until cookies look slightly undercooked but golden brown. Allow to cool before transferring to a wire rack.
What to Serve with Caramel Apple Cookies
Of course, these cookies are delicious enough to eat all on their own. But you could pair them with other fun fall treats. Anything apple or pumpkin could do.
They would also taste great with ice cream. Vanilla ice cream, caramel ice cream or any other of your favorite flavors. Dip cookie into the ice cream and you’ve got a delicious treat.
Storage and Freezing
How to Store Caramel Apple Cookies
You can store any leftover caramel apple cookies in an airtight container. No need to refrigerate, you can store these at room temperature.
Can I Freeze Caramel Apple Cookies
You can also freeze these cookies if you’d like to. Freeze in an airtight container or freezer bag for up to three months.
More Easy Cookie Recipes
There’s nothing better than a fresh cookie right out of the oven. Here are a few of our favorites that we know you’ll love too.
Caramel Apple Cookie Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
Cookies
- 1 cup unsalted butter softened
- 1 cup sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 box Instant Apple Cider Drink Mix 10 packets, such as Alpine
- 2 eggs room temperature
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon Cinnamon
- 3 1/2 cups flour
- 12 caramels unwrapped, cut in half
Sugar Roll
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice
Instructions
- Sift together the baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon and flour. Set aside.
- Cream together the butter and sugar and then blend in the salt and vanilla. Slowly, one packet at a time to avoid an apple cider dust bomb, blend in Apple Cider Drink Mix packets (I'm telling you this from experience). Lastly, mix in the eggs.
- Half and cup at a time, add in the dry ingredient mixture. Cover with plastic wrap and chill for 1-2 hours.
- Unwrap all of the caramels and put in a small bowl, cutting in half using kitchen shears. Line the cookie sheets with parchment paper. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
- In a small bowl combine the sugar and pumpkin pie spice for the cookie roll.
- Spoon out approximately 1 tablespoon of cookie dough, roll into a ball and smash flat in the palm of your hand. Place 1/2 caramel in the center and roll tightly around to prevent any holes. Roll the cookie dough ball in the spiced sugar and place 2 inches apart on the lined cookie sheet.
- Bake for 11-14 minutes, cookies will look slightly undercooked. Allow to cool for 5 minutes before transferring to a cooling rack.
- If you've tried this recipe, come back and let us know if you liked them in the comments or star ratings!
Nutrition
your reciepe doesnt have butter listed, how much butter and what kind
One cup unsalted, happy baking!
thank you