Description
Luscious caramel apple cookies blend autumn’s sweetest memories with homemade comfort, marrying crisp apple chunks and rich caramel in a perfectly spiced dough. Warm cinnamon and gooey caramel swirls invite you to savor each delightful bite of seasonal bliss.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 2 cups (200g) firm tart apples, peeled and diced
- 1/2 cup (113g) unsalted butter, softened
- 113 cups (190g) all-purpose flour
- 1 large egg, at room temperature
Sugars:
- 1/2 cup (110g) dark brown sugar, packed
- 2 tablespoons (30g) dark brown sugar, packed
- 1/4 cup (50g) granulated sugar
Spices and Flavor Enhancers:
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon (5ml) pure vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
Instructions
- Craft a fragrant apple compote by simmering diced apples with dark brown sugar and cinnamon in a skillet over medium heat. Stir occasionally until apples become tender yet maintain their structure, approximately 5 minutes.
- Transfer the apple mixture to a separate container and allow it to cool completely, ensuring no residual heat affects the cookie dough.
- Using an electric mixer, whip softened butter, sugars, and vanilla extract until the mixture becomes light and fluffy, typically 1-2 minutes.
- Incorporate the egg into the butter mixture, blending until smooth and well integrated.
- In a separate bowl, sift together flour, baking soda, and salt, creating a uniform dry ingredient base.
- Gradually introduce the dry ingredients into the butter mixture, mixing until just combined to prevent overworking the dough.
- Gently fold the cooled apple mixture into the cookie dough, being careful to exclude any excess liquid that may have accumulated.
- If the dough appears too soft, refrigerate for approximately 20 minutes to firm up the consistency.
- Preheat the oven to 350°F and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Portion the dough using a medium ice cream scoop or two spoons, arranging mounds evenly on the prepared sheets.
- Bake for 12-16 minutes, monitoring the cookies’ color until golden around the edges and lightly bronzed on top.
- Allow cookies to rest on the baking sheet for 2 minutes before transferring to a wire rack for complete cooling.
- Enhance the cookies by drizzling with caramel sauce, adding a luxurious finishing touch to the delectable treat.
Notes
- Prevent apple browning by tossing diced apples with a splash of lemon juice before cooking to maintain their vibrant color and fresh taste.
- Control moisture by carefully draining excess liquid from cooked apples, ensuring cookies remain perfectly textured and not soggy.
- Enhance flavor complexity by using a mix of apple varieties like Granny Smith and Honeycrisp for a balanced sweet-tart profile.
- Create gluten-free version by substituting all-purpose flour with a 1:1 gluten-free baking blend to accommodate dietary restrictions.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 12
- Calories: 175
- Sugar: 12g
- Sodium: 150mg
- Fat: 8g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 24g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 20mg