Description
These Caramel Apple Cookies combine tender, cinnamon-spiced dough with sweet chunks of apple and gooey caramel bits, creating a perfect balance of fruity and rich flavors. Ideal for fall or any time you crave a comforting, delicious treat.
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Wet Ingredients
- 3/4 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
- 1 cup packed brown sugar
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Add-ins
- 1 cup peeled, diced apples
- 1 cup caramel bits or chopped soft caramels
Instructions
- Preheat and prepare baking sheets: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line two baking sheets with parchment paper to prevent sticking and ensure even baking.
- Mix dry ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, ground cinnamon, and salt until well combined. Set this mixture aside.
- Cream butter and sugars: In a large mixing bowl, beat the room-temperature unsalted butter with the brown sugar and granulated sugar until the mixture becomes light and fluffy, which helps incorporate air for a tender cookie.
- Add egg and vanilla: Mix in the egg and vanilla extract until fully blended to ensure the dough is moist and flavorful.
- Combine dry and wet ingredients: Gradually add the dry ingredient mixture into the wet ingredients, mixing just until combined to avoid overworking the dough which can lead to tough cookies.
- Fold in apples and caramel bits: Gently fold in the peeled and diced apples along with the caramel bits, distributing them evenly throughout the dough for bursts of flavor.
- Scoop dough onto baking sheets: Drop rounded tablespoons of dough onto the prepared parchment-lined baking sheets, spacing them well apart to allow for spreading.
- Bake cookies: Bake for 12-15 minutes until the edges are golden brown while centers remain soft, an indication of perfectly baked chewy cookies.
- Cool cookies: Let the cookies cool on the baking sheets for about 5 minutes to firm up, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely to avoid sogginess.
Notes
- You can substitute Granny Smith apples for a tart contrast or Fuji apples for a sweeter taste.
- For extra gooey caramel, add a few caramel bits on top of each cookie before baking.
- Chilling the dough for 30 minutes before baking may help prevent excessive spreading.
- Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or freeze for longer storage.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 12-15 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 12g
- Sodium: 100mg
- Fat: 7g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 20g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 1g
- Cholesterol: 20mg
Keywords: caramel apple cookies, fall cookies, apple dessert, caramel dessert, cinnamon cookies
