Name: Caramel Apple Cookies Recipe
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 12 min
Total time: 1 h 27 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: ¾ cup unsalted butter, room temperature; ½ cup granulated sugar; ¼ cup brown sugar, dark or light; ¼ cup spiced apple butter; ½ teaspoon cinnamon; 2 teaspoons vanilla extract; ½ teaspoon salt; 2 ¼ teaspoons baking powder; 2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour; 3 tablespoons unsalted butter; ¼ cup heavy cream; ½ cup brown sugar, packed, dark or light; 1 ¼ cups confectioners’ sugar, divided; 1 teaspoon vanilla extract; 22 soft caramel candies; ½ cup dried apple chips, broken into small pieces; 1-2 tablespoons sprinkles

If you’re craving a treat that captures the warm flavors of autumn in every bite, you are going to adore this Caramel Apple Cookies Recipe. These delightful cookies bring together the cozy essence of spiced apple butter and the rich sweetness of caramel icing into a perfect, melt-in-your-mouth experience. They’re soft, tender, and bursting with fall vibes, making them an absolute favorite to share with family and friends on chilly afternoons or special gatherings.

Caramel Apple Cookies Recipe - Recipe Image

Ingredients You’ll Need

The magic of this Caramel Apple Cookies Recipe lies in its simple yet carefully chosen ingredients. Each element plays a vital role in creating the cookie’s tender crumb, lovely apple aroma, and luscious caramel finish. Let’s take a look at the essentials you’ll need to bring these goodies to life:

Unsalted butter (¾ cup, room temperature): Provides richness and a tender texture without overpowering sweetness.
Granulated sugar (½ cup): Adds subtle sweetness and helps with cookie structure.
Brown sugar (¼ cup): Brings moisture, chewiness, and a deeper caramel note.
Apple butter (¼ cup, spiced): The star flavor, giving that authentic apple and spice essence.
Cinnamon (½ teaspoon): Enhances warmth and blends beautifully with apple notes.
Vanilla extract (2 teaspoons): Lifts all flavors with a smooth, mellow depth.
Salt (½ teaspoon): Balances sweetness and intensifies taste.
Baking powder (2 ¼ teaspoons): Ensures a light, fluffy cookie texture.
All-purpose flour (2 ¼ cups): The base that holds everything together perfectly.
Butter (3 tablespoons, for caramel icing): Creates the luscious richness in the frosting.
Heavy cream (¼ cup): Adds smoothness to the caramel icing.
Brown sugar (½ cup, packed for icing): Offers the intense caramel flavor for the topping.
Confectioners’ sugar (1 ¼ cups, divided): Sweetens and thickens the frosting to the perfect spreadable consistency.
Vanilla extract (1 teaspoon for icing): A touch of flavor magic in your caramel topping.
Soft caramel candies (22, optional): Perfect for extra caramel drizzle and decoration.
Dried apple chips (½ cup, broken): Adds a delightful crunch and apple contrast on top.
Sprinkles (1-2 tablespoons, optional): A fun, colorful finish if you want to jazz them up.

How to Make Caramel Apple Cookies Recipe

Step 1: Creaming Butter and Sugars

Start by beating the room temperature butter with granulated and brown sugars using a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. This process creates a fluffy, airy base that’s essential for tender cookies with just the right amount of chew and moisture.

Step 2: Adding Apple Butter and Spices

Next, mix in the spiced apple butter, cinnamon, vanilla extract, and salt. This combination instantly fills your kitchen with autumn aromas and infuses every bite with that warm apple-pie charm we all love. Be sure to incorporate these evenly for that perfect blend.

Step 3: Mixing Dry Ingredients

Stir the baking powder and all-purpose flour together, then gradually add them to the wet mixture. This ensures your dough achieves the ideal balance of softness and structure without becoming dry or crumbly.

Step 4: Chilling the Dough

Cover your cookie dough with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least an hour. Chilling is key here; it helps the flavors meld and firms up the dough, which makes shaping and baking much easier and leads to beautifully thick cookies with tender edges.

Step 5: Shaping and Baking

Once chilled, scoop medium-sized dough balls (about 2 tablespoons each) onto a parchment-lined baking sheet, spacing them about 2 inches apart. Gently flatten each ball into a ½-inch thick disc — this step helps the cookies bake evenly and develop a perfect texture. Bake at 350°F for 10-12 minutes, watching carefully to avoid over-baking, as you want soft, moist cookies, not dry ones.

Step 6: Preparing the Caramel Icing

While your cookies cool, make your divine caramel icing by melting butter, heavy cream, and brown sugar in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir constantly until it bubbles gently, then remove from heat and whisk in vanilla and 1 cup of confectioners’ sugar. Let it cool to room temperature before adding extra confectioners’ sugar tablespoon by tablespoon until nicely spreadable.

Step 7: Frosting and Decorating

Spread the caramel icing generously over each cooled cookie. If you’re feeling fancy, melt soft caramel candies separately and drizzle over the frosted cookies, then sprinkle broken dried apple chips and sprinkles immediately for a dazzling, fall-inspired look. Let all the icing and caramel set completely before storing or serving.

How to Serve Caramel Apple Cookies Recipe

Garnishes

Enhance your Caramel Apple Cookies Recipe by adding a sprinkle of coarse sea salt atop the caramel drizzle to elevate the flavors with that irresistible sweet-and-salty contrast. Dried apple chips not only add texture but also a beautiful rustic touch that’s perfect for autumn-themed parties.

Side Dishes

Pair these cookies with a warm beverage like cinnamon-spiced apple cider, chai tea, or even a creamy latte. The comforting drinks complement the cookies’ flavors perfectly and make for a cozy snack or dessert time on a crisp day.

Creative Ways to Present

For gifting or parties, stack the cookies with parchment paper between each layer to keep them neat and prevent sticking. Arrange them on a wooden board garnished with fresh apple slices and cinnamon sticks for a charming autumn display that invites everyone to dig in.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Once cooled and iced, store your cookies at room temperature in an airtight container. To keep them from sticking together, separate layers with wax or parchment paper. Properly stored, they remain delicious for up to a week—perfect for preparing ahead of a gathering.

Freezing

You can freeze these cookies successfully by first freezing them in a single layer then transferring to a freezer-safe container or bag. For best texture retention, wrap pairs of cookies together in plastic wrap with the bottoms back-to-back, especially if they have caramel drizzle, to avoid mess and sticking.

Reheating

If you like your cookies slightly warm, gently reheat them in a microwave for 10-15 seconds or in a low oven (300°F) for a few minutes. This softens the caramel and frosting just enough to feel freshly made without melting all over the place.

FAQs

Can I use store-bought apple butter for this recipe?

Absolutely! Most store-bought apple butter is already spiced and sweetened, which works perfectly. Just choose a variety you enjoy since it will influence the cookie’s final flavor. If your apple butter is plain, you might want to add some apple pie spice for that classic fall taste.

What if I don’t have dried apple chips for decoration?

No worries at all! You can substitute with finely chopped, toasted nuts like pecans or walnuts for some crunch, or simply skip the topping. The cookies are delicious even without the extra garnish.

Can these cookies be made gluten-free?

While the original recipe calls for all-purpose flour, you can try a gluten-free flour blend with baking powder to replace it. Just be mindful some blends behave differently, so the texture might vary a bit. Testing a small batch first is a great idea.

How long do these cookies stay fresh?

Stored in an airtight container at room temperature, these cookies hold their best texture and flavor for up to 7 days. Beyond that, they may dry out or the frosting may lose its creaminess.

Is there a way to make the caramel icing less sweet?

To balance sweetness, a pinch of sea salt in the caramel icing or a bit of cream cheese added to the frosting can provide a tangy note that cuts through the sugar, making it more nuanced and less overwhelmingly sweet.

Final Thoughts

I truly hope you fall in love with this Caramel Apple Cookies Recipe as much as I have. It’s such a heartwarming, delicious way to savor the flavors of fall in cookie form. Whether for special occasions or a simple afternoon treat, these cookies will bring smiles and sweet memories. Go ahead and bake up a batch — yum and happiness guaranteed!

Caramel Apple Cookies Recipe

Print Recipe

★★★★★

5.1 from 28 reviews

Delight in these homemade Caramel Apple Cookies, featuring soft spiced cookie dough infused with apple butter and cinnamon, topped with a luscious caramel icing and optional caramel drizzle. Perfectly balanced with dried apple chips and festive sprinkles, these cookies offer a unique autumn-inspired treat that’s chewy, sweet, and full of comforting fall flavors.

Author: Ella
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 12 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 27 minutes
Yield: Approximately 22 cookies 1x
Category: Dessert
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American
Diet: Vegetarian

Ingredients

Scale

Cookies

¾ cup unsalted butter, room temperature
½ cup granulated sugar
¼ cup brown sugar, dark or light
¼ cup spiced apple butter
½ teaspoon cinnamon
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
½ teaspoon salt
2 ¼ teaspoons baking powder
2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour

Caramel Icing

3 tablespoons unsalted butter
¼ cup heavy cream
½ cup brown sugar, packed, dark or light
1 ¼ cups confectioners’ sugar, divided
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Decorating (optional)

22 soft caramel candies
½ cup dried apple chips, broken into small pieces
1–2 tablespoons sprinkles

Instructions

Prepare Cookie Dough: In a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the unsalted butter with granulated and brown sugars until smooth. Add apple butter, cinnamon, vanilla extract, salt, baking powder, and flour, mixing until just combined to form the dough.
Chill Dough: Cover the dough tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour or until firm enough to scoop.
Preheat Oven and Prepare Baking Sheet: Heat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper for easy cleanup and even baking.
Scoop and Shape Cookies: Using a medium cookie scoop (about 2 tablespoons), portion out dough balls and place them at least 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheet. Gently flatten the dough balls into ½-inch thick discs with your fingers or the back of a spoon.
Bake Cookies: Bake for 10-12 minutes. The cookies will not brown significantly but will deepen slightly in color when done. Avoid overbaking to keep them soft and moist.
Cool Cookies: Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely before frosting.
Make Caramel Icing: In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine butter, heavy cream, and brown sugar. Stir constantly until the mixture boils, then remove from heat. Stir in vanilla extract and 1 cup of confectioners’ sugar until smooth.
Adjust Icing Consistency: Allow the caramel mixture to cool to room temperature, then gradually add remaining confectioners’ sugar one tablespoon at a time until the frosting is spreadable.
Frost Cookies: Use a knife or spatula to spread caramel icing over the cooled cookies evenly.
Decorate Cookies: If desired, add sprinkles immediately over the wet icing. For a caramel drizzle, melt soft caramel candies in a microwave or double boiler, adding 1-2 teaspoons of cream if needed to thin. Drizzle melted caramel over frosted cookies and quickly sprinkle with broken apple chips.
Set and Store: Allow the icing and caramel drizzle to dry completely before storing. Store cookies at room temperature in an airtight container with wax paper between layers for up to 7 days.

Notes

You can use either store-bought or homemade apple butter. Note that store-bought apple butter often contains spices and added sugar; if you use homemade apple butter without spices, add apple pie spice to taste.
Do not overbake the cookies; they should only deepen slightly in color after 10 minutes to avoid dryness.
When shipping cookies in care packages, it’s best to skip the caramel drizzle to prevent mess. Use frosting alone or frosting with sprinkles.
For a salted caramel twist, sprinkle a pinch of sea salt over the caramel drizzle while it’s still wet.
Dried apple chips on top will soften within a day but remain delicious.
To store frosted cookies without caramel drizzle, double wrap pairs with bottoms together in plastic wrap, then place in an airtight container or freezer-grade bag.
For cookies with caramel drizzle, stack 2-4 with wax paper between them, wrap in plastic wrap, and store in an airtight container or freezer-grade bag.