Tessa’s Recipe Rundown
Taste: Caramel + apple + cinnamon = heaven.
Texture: These are definitely cakey cookies. They are a bit firm and chewy around the edges though. The caramel frosting sets beautifully for a thick, cracking texture.
Ease: Pretty easy. This recipe does make a lot of cookies, you could halve it if you wanted.
Pros: These cookies are perfect for practically any occasion.
Cons: None.
Would I make this again? Yes.
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Caramel Apple Cookies are soft, sweet, and full of spiced apple flavors and sweet caramel, perfect for the fall or winter.
I will never not love cookies. They’re easy, transportable, and almost always delicious. Plus they’re just perfect with a glass of cold milk.
These caramel apple cookies are not your traditional cookie. They’re definitely more cakey and the caramel frosting makes for an incredible overall mouth feel.
The cookies have applesauce in them but let’s not kid ourselves into thinking these are healthy in any way 😉
Sprinkle of Science
How to Make Caramel Apple Cookies
Sugar
I recommend sticking with granulated sugar here. Whatever you do, don’t reduce the sugar – it actually plays a big part in a cookie’s texture, doing so much beyond sweetening. Learn more about sugar’s role in baking here.
Butter Temperature
Ensure your butter is at a cool room temperature – about 67°F is perfect. This helps avoid greasy cookies that spread too much. Learn more about butter temperature in baking here.
The Spices
Make sure your spices are fresh and of high quality. If your spices no longer smell very aromatic, toss them and purchase new spices. The fresher the spice, the more flavorful it’ll be.
Avoid Overbaking
Bake these cookies until they just look dry on top, but are still pale at the edges. Overbaking will cause dry cookies.
How to Store Caramel Apple Cookies
Store Caramel Apple Cookies at room temperature inside an airtight container for up to 3 days. Store with a tortilla to keep them soft a little longer. Avoid stacking to maintain the prettiest appearance.
More Recipes You’ll Love:
- Caramel Apple Streusel Pie
- How to Make Caramel Sauce
- Caramel Brownie Cheesecake
- Apple Crisp Recipe
- Apple Galette
Caramel Apple Cookies
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Ingredients
For the applesauce cookies:
- 4 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking soda
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
- 2 sticks (16 tablespoons, 1 cup) unsalted butter, at cool room temperature
- 1 3/4 cups granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 2 cups plain applesauce
For the caramel frosting:
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup packed light brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 1/2 cups confectioners’ sugar
Instructions
For the cookies:
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line large baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats.
- In a medium bowl whisk the flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and cloves.
- In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat the butter and sugar at medium speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add the eggs, one at a time, until incorporated. Add the applesauce and beat until combined. Mixture will look slightly grainy. On medium-low speed, slowly add the flour mixture until incorporated.
- Drop 1-1/2 tablespoonfuls of batter onto prepared baking sheets. Bake for 8-10 minutes, or until cookies are set and slightly browned. Let cookies cool on pans for 5 minutes then remove cookies to a wire rack to cool completely.
For the frosting:
- In a medium saucepan set over medium heat, combine the butter, cream, and brown sugar. Heat until mixture just begins to boil, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla. Let cool completely then whisk in the confections’ sugar. Dip the cookies into the frosting. Let set at room temperature until caramel frosting is no longer sticky.
- Store cookies in one layer in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.
Recipe Notes
The Ultimate Cookie Handbook
Learn the sweet SCIENCE of cookie baking in a fun, visual way to customize your own recipes frustration-free. Plus, my best 50+ homemade cookies!
um, WOW! Gonna make these very soon! SO good!
That episode of New Girl cracked me up too!!
Thank you for sharing to us the procedure and recipe of this cookies. It really looks yummy and delicious for me. VZ 58
Holy yum, do those ever look good Tessa!! I need to try these asap.
Oh yum! I once tried making caramel apple cookies, but they didn't look half as good as these!!
I love the combination of apple, caramel, and cinnamon!
Oooh, these look so good. Love that frosting!
Those look soooo good! I just want to reach my hand into the computer screen and grab one! The frosting looks awesome!
I'm definitely a cakey-type of cookie girl. It's the only way to eat cookies!
And having these cookies on my kitchen table would really help me wake up and start my day. Looks great, Tessa!
mmmmmm I am so going to try these._
These cookies look awesome! And I totally agree with you about the New Girl episode, it was hilarious.