Why Make This Recipe
Salted Caramel Apple Pie Cookies are the perfect blend of two beloved desserts: apple pie and cookies. These treats bring the warm, comforting flavors of fall to any occasion. The combination of soft cookies filled with juicy apples, crunchy crumble topping, and sweet salted caramel is truly irresistible. Whether for a special occasion or just because, these cookies are sure to delight everyone who tries them.
How to Make Salted Caramel Apple Pie Cookies
Ingredients:
For the Cookie Dough:
- 1 cup salted butter, softened at room temperature (226 grams)
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup light brown sugar, packed
- 1 and 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 large eggs
- 3 cups all-purpose flour, spooned & leveled (390 grams)
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1 and 1/4 tsp cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp nutmeg
- 1/4 tsp allspice
- 1/8 tsp ground cloves
For the Apple Filling:
- 4 large apples, peeled and diced (775 grams or 27 ounces of diced apple)
- 1/4 cup salted butter, cubed (4 tbsp)
- 2 tbsp apple cider (or 1 tsp lemon juice)
- 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
- 1 and 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp nutmeg
- 1/4 tsp ground cloves
For the Salted Caramel Sauce:
- 1 cup granulated sugar (206 grams)
- 6 tbsp salted butter, cubed
- 1/2 cup + 1 tbsp heavy cream
- Pinch of flaky sea salt (like Maldon brand)
For the Crumble Topping:
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 2 and 3/4 tsp cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp nutmeg
- 1/8 tsp allspice
- 1/8 tsp ground cloves
- 1/4 cup salted butter, melted
- 1/4 cup light brown sugar, packed
- 1 and 1/2 tbsp granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup + 1 tbsp all-purpose flour
- 3/4 tsp cinnamon
- Pinch of salt
Directions:
Make the Cookie Dough:
In a large bowl, cream the softened butter with an electric mixer on medium-high speed. Add the granulated and brown sugars, mixing until combined, about 1 minute. Stir in the vanilla and eggs, mixing until just combined. Gradually add the dry ingredients and mix until a dough forms. Chill for 30 minutes.Make the Apple Filling:
Peel and dice the apples into bite-sized chunks. In a medium pan over medium-high heat, combine all the apple filling ingredients. Cook for 15 to 18 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the apples are tender. Let cool in a bowl.Make the Salted Caramel Sauce:
Prepare the salted caramel sauce using a simple 10-minute recipe. Let it cool at room temperature for about 20 minutes until thickened.Scoop & Chill the Dough:
Scoop the dough into 65-gram balls using a large cookie scoop. Place them in an airtight container and chill in the fridge for at least 4 hours or freeze for 2 hours.Make the Crumble:
Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Melt the butter in a bowl and mix in the other crumble ingredients until crumbly. Spread on a parchment-lined pan and bake for 12-14 minutes until golden brown. Let cool.Bake the Cookies:
Preheat your oven to 365°F (185°C). Line cookie sheets with parchment paper. Roll the dough balls in the cinnamon-sugar mixture before placing about 6 on each sheet. Bake for 10-12 minutes.Assemble Cookies:
Once cooled, spoon the apple filling into the centers of the cookies. Top with the crumble and drizzle with salted caramel sauce.Serve & Store:
Enjoy your cookies immediately! Store in an airtight container in the fridge for 4-5 days.
How to Serve Salted Caramel Apple Pie Cookies
These cookies are best served fresh. You can enjoy them as they are or warm them slightly in the microwave for a few seconds. They also pair wonderfully with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream on the side.
How to Store Salted Caramel Apple Pie Cookies
Store the assembled cookies in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4-5 days. Keep in mind that they may soften a bit due to the apple filling, so enjoy them fresh for the best texture.
Tips to Make Salted Caramel Apple Pie Cookies
- Chill the cookie dough properly to ensure easy rolling.
- Make the apple filling and salted caramel in advance for quick assembly.
- Use a variety of apples for a more complex flavor in the filling.
- If the cookies spread too much, try chilling the dough longer before baking.
Variation
You can add nuts, like chopped pecans or walnuts, to the crumble for some extra crunch. You may also experiment with different spices according to your taste preferences.
FAQs
1. Can I make these cookies ahead of time?
Yes! You can prepare the cookie dough, apple filling, and salted caramel sauce ahead of time. Just assemble and bake when ready!
2. Can I freeze these cookies?
Yes! You can freeze the unbaked cookie dough balls for up to a month. Thaw them in the fridge overnight before baking.
3. What type of apples work best for this recipe?
A mix of sweet and tart apples, such as Granny Smith and Honeycrisp, work well for a balanced flavor in the filling.
Salted Caramel Apple Pie Cookies
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Total Time: 70 minutes
- Yield: 24 servings
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
A delightful blend of apple pie and cookies, featuring soft cookies filled with juicy apples, crunchy crumble topping, and sweet salted caramel.
Ingredients
- 1 cup salted butter, softened (226 grams)
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup light brown sugar, packed
- 1 and 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 large eggs
- 3 cups all-purpose flour, spooned & leveled (390 grams)
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1 and 1/4 tsp cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp nutmeg
- 1/4 tsp allspice
- 1/8 tsp ground cloves
- 4 large apples, peeled and diced (775 grams)
- 1/4 cup salted butter, cubed (4 tbsp)
- 2 tbsp apple cider (or 1 tsp lemon juice)
- 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
- 1 and 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp nutmeg
- 1/4 tsp ground cloves
- 1 cup granulated sugar (206 grams)
- 6 tbsp salted butter, cubed
- 1/2 cup + 1 tbsp heavy cream
- Pinch of flaky sea salt
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 2 and 3/4 tsp cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp nutmeg
- 1/8 tsp allspice
- 1/8 tsp ground cloves
- 1/4 cup salted butter, melted
- 1/4 cup light brown sugar, packed
- 1 and 1/2 tbsp granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup + 1 tbsp all-purpose flour
- 3/4 tsp cinnamon
- Pinch of salt
Instructions
- Cream the softened butter with an electric mixer. Add sugars and mix until combined. Stir in vanilla and eggs until just combined. Gradually add dry ingredients and mix until a dough forms. Chill for 30 minutes.
- Combine apple filling ingredients in a medium pan over medium-high heat. Cook for 15 to 18 minutes until apples are tender. Let cool.
- Prepare salted caramel sauce and let it cool until thickened (about 20 minutes).
- Scoop the dough into 65-gram balls and chill in the fridge for at least 4 hours.
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Melt butter and mix crumble ingredients until crumbly. Spread on a parchment-lined pan and bake for 12-14 minutes until golden brown. Let cool.
- Preheat oven to 365°F (185°C). Line cookie sheets with parchment paper. Roll dough balls in cinnamon-sugar mixture, place on sheets, and bake for 10-12 minutes.
- Once cooled, spoon apple filling into cookies, top with crumble, and drizzle with caramel sauce.
- Store cookies in an airtight container in the fridge for 4-5 days.
Notes
Chill the cookie dough properly for easy rolling. Use a mix of apple varieties for complex flavor.