Caramel Apple Cookies

Fall is in the air, and these Caramel Apple Cookies are in my oven. With chunks of apple and gooey caramel in every bite, these cookies not only taste delicious, they will fill your house with all the wonderful scents of autumn.

I absolutely love the flavor combination of caramel apple. The way the crisp, slightly tart apples contrasts with silky sweet caramel is just so satisfying. But I have to admit I'm not a big fan of eating caramel apples. Not only are they a bit of a mess, the ratio of caramel to apple never seems quite right to me. When I was a kid, I suffered the disappointment of dropping many a caramel apple on the ground after only a couple of bites. 

Which is why I am so excited about this Caramel Apple Cookies recipe. You get all that wonderful classic caramel apple flavor in a totally convenient, easy-to-eat chewy cookies. And the best part? Each bite contains the perfect balance of apple and caramel. It's the perfect combination of fall flavors for this time of year.

Looking for other cookie recipes that will be a fall special treat? Try our Apple Butter Snickerdoodles, Candy Corn Cookies, Brown Sugar Walnut Shortbread, or our Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

WHY YOU'LL LOVE CARAMEL APPLE COOKIES

• They are super quick and easy to make! In less than 30 minutes, you can whip up a batch and indulge your caramel apple cravings.
• Delicious Caramel Apple Cookies are the perfect sweet treat for all sorts of fall activities. Take them to the school bake sale, bring them to soccer practice, and pack a batch for tailgating at the big game.
• The apple pie spice makes these cookies smell divine, and taste just like mini apple pies.

INGREDIENTS/SHOPPING LIST

• All-purpose flour
• Baking soda
• Baking powder
• Apple pie spice
• Light Brown sugar- if you would like a more molasses taste, use dark brown sugar
• Granulated white sugar
• unsalted butter, room temperature
• Vanilla extract
• Large eggs
• Diced dried apples
• Caramel bits
• Flaked sea salt, if desired 

HOW TO MAKE THIS CHEWY CARAMEL APPLE COOKIES RECIPE

This recipe is the perfect way to enjoy a caramel apple in cookie form!

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
2. In a large mixing bowl, combine your butter, sugars and apple pie spice and mix well with an electric hand mixer or stand mixer.
3. Mix in your eggs and vanilla on low.
4. In a separate mixing bowl, mix your dry ingredients by whisking your flour and baking soda into a large bowl.
5. Gradually add the flour mixture into the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed until just combined.
6. Stir in diced dried apples and caramel bits
7. Use a tablespoon to scoop your dough into your prepared baking sheets and bake for 10-12 minutes.
8. Sprinkle with flaked sea salt, if desired. 
9. Let cool and enjoy!

TIPS FOR MAKING CARAMEL APPLE COOKIES

• Even though it is apple season, don't be tempted to make these cookies with fresh apples. The water content in a fresh apple is too high and will make the cookie dough mushy. Using pieces of dried apples adds a ton of great apple flavor while keeping the cookies perfectly chewy and delicious. I like to use dried granny smith apples to counteract the sweetness in the caramel and cookie with the tart apple bits. You can also use freeze dried apple chunks.
• I typically use a regular tablespoon or cookie scoop to measure out and scoop my cookie dough. But a melon baller or a small ice cream scoop are also great tools.
• These caramel bits are the perfect size for adding to cookie dough. But be warned, they're pretty delicious all on their own, so you may need to pick up an extra bag. You can also use caramel squares and chop them into little bits.
• Try and make sure that the caramel bits are in the dough ball or on the top of the cookie dough ball. That way, when they bake and begin to spread, the caramel will not hit the pan and burn.
• Wanna be extra? Make the apple caramel cookies into a cookie sandwich! Spread the centers with apple butter, sweet salted caramel, or caramel frosting!

CARAMEL APPLE COOKIES RECIPE FAQS

WHAT IS APPLE PIE SPICE MADE OF?

While most all of us are familiar with pumpkin pie spice, you can buy premixed apple pie spice as well. It is made of cinnamon, nutmeg and allspice, whereas pumpkin pie spice includes ginger and cloves along with the three apple pie spice ingredients.

In addition to using it when baking apple pie, try adding apple pie spice to muffins, sprinkling it on top of oatmeal (so good!). And of course, using it to make these Caramel Apple Cookies. 

HOW DO YOU PREVENT SOFT CARAMEL APPLE COOKIES

While soft cookies are good, I absolutely love the golden brown edges and chewy centers of these cookies. To keep them fresh and chewy, store in an airtight container for up to 4 days. If you would like to make the dough in advance and bake later, roll out cookie dough balls and freeze on ungreased cookie sheets. Once frozen, place dough balls in a large ziploc bag and freeze for up to 3 months. Bake as directed, but increase baking time by 2-3 minutes.

WHERE TO FIND THE CARAMEL APPLE BITS

These bags of caramel bits usually begin to pop up around fall- just in time for apple picking. I find them at all the grocery stores or on amazon. If you can't find them, you can use chopped up pieces of caramel, or if you want a caramel center, wrap the caramel square in apple studded cookie dough and bake. The melted caramel will ooze out of the cookie in the most glorious way.

 

MORE PERFECT APPLE RECIPES

If you love these Caramel Apple Cookies, you'll want to check out my recipe for Caramel Apple Pie Cake, these Caramel Apple Cinnamon Rolls, and this recipe for Apple Cinnamon Cheesecake.

DON’T FORGET TO COME BACK AND LET ME KNOW HOW THIS CARAMEL APPLE COOKIE RECIPE TURNED OUT!