Description
Irresistible Caramel Apple Cookies are a delightful treat that combines the sweet, caramel goodness of a fairground favorite with the crisp, tart freshness of autumn apples. These soft, chewy cookies are packed with juicy apple chunks and drizzled with decadent caramel, perfect for fall baking or any cozy occasion.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
- 1 cup packed light brown sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1 1/2 cups finely diced peeled apples (about 2 medium apples)
- 1 cup caramel bits or chopped caramel candies
- 1/2 cup chopped pecans or walnuts (optional)
- Caramel sauce for drizzling (store-bought or homemade)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until light and fluffy.
- Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the vanilla extract.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined. Do not overmix.
- Gently fold in the diced apples, caramel bits, and nuts (if using) until evenly distributed throughout the caramel apple cookie dough.
- Drop rounded tablespoons of the cookie dough onto the prepared baking sheets, leaving about 2 inches between cookies. For irresistible caramel apple cookies, ensure an even distribution of apple and caramel.
- Bake for 9-12 minutes, or until the edges are golden brown and the centers are still slightly soft. These are your chewy caramel apple cookies.
- Let the cookies cool on the baking sheets for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. This helps achieve the perfect soft caramel apple cookies texture.
- Once cooled, drizzle the cookies with caramel sauce for extra caramel apple cookie goodness. For the best caramel apple cookies, let the drizzle set slightly before serving.
Notes
- For apple cider caramel cookies, you can reduce the liquid in the recipe slightly and add a tablespoon of apple cider.
- Salted caramel apple cookies can be made by sprinkling a little sea salt over the caramel drizzle.
- If you prefer gooey caramel apple cookies, slightly underbake them.
- Ensure your apples are finely diced for even baking and distribution in the caramel apple cookies.
- Store these easy caramel apple cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes per batch
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 25g
- Sodium: 80mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 35g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 45mg