The flavor of caramel covered apples is amazing. Eating a caramel apple, not so much. The caramel-to-apple ration in my opinion, tends to be too low. I can’t abide those pre-made wrap around sheets, and making a good caramel is a bit of work. And in the end, the caramel tends to slide off the apple. Here’s the solution.
I’ve made these cookies for years, but not as often as their flavor warrants. I used the square caramel candies, and slogged through the process of unwrapping each one, then cutting them into small pieces with floured scissors or a knife. But I recently discovered caramel bits in the baking section. Basically, caramel pieces with all the work done. If you can’t find them, cut up the old squares. These are chewy from the caramel with a little snap from the apples.
Caramel Apple Cookies
½ cup butter, softened
1 ½ cups packed light brown sugar
1 egg
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon baking soda
Pinch of salt
2cups finely chopped green apples (about 1 large apple)
11 ounces caramel bits, or caramel squares cut into small
pieces
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
Cream the butter and brown sugar in a stand mixer until fluffy, about 7 minutes. Add the egg and beat until smooth. Add the flour, cinnamon and baking soda , bit by bit, beating until smooth. Fold in the apple pieces and the caramel bits until well mixed.
Using a 2 Tablespoon cookie scoop or spoon, scoop mounds of dough and inch apart on the prepared cookie sheets. Bake for 8 – 10 minutes until firm and puffed. Rotate the trays from the top shelf to the bottom shelf after 5 minutes. Cool on the trays until firm, then remove to a cooling rack. Some of the caramel may leak out and turn brown; those pieces will snap off.
Makes about 2 dozen cookies
Ooooh, this really sounds divine!
SO funny! I printed out a few versions of similar recipes to make tonight, but yours looks like the best! What great timing. I can’t wait to make these! 🙂 Thanks!
Enjoy!
Just making these now! The dough tastes fantastic! I justified it as breakfast on account of the apples. 😉
I was excited about making these, but had some problems. the dough did not hold together–very crumbly and I had to bake them about 20 minutes. They are very chewy (as you said they would be) but they ran into odd shapes and aren’t “cakey” at all–more like candy. And I couldn’t get them off the parchment until completely cooled. Maybe this is how they are meant to be. Just curious if I did something wrong…
I am so sorry these didn’t work for you. I have not had a problem with the dough holding together. Was the apple you used particularly large are juicy? I can only think that maybe too much moisture made the doung difficult and the cookies soft and runny. The cookies are chewy, but with a thin chocolate cookie texture. I wouldn’t say cakey. And if they stuck to the parchment, that may be the caramel that melts out of the cookie. Did you use the caramle bits or cut up larger ones? If you cut up larger ones, maybe use fewer caramels and cut them into very small pieces. Again, sorry you had problems and I wish I could solve the, easily.
Thanks for your response. They tasted great, so will definitely try again. I did have to cut up caramels (which was tedious!), so will try the bits next time. And maybe cut the apples into tinier pieces.
Will let you know the results next time. 😉
These were great! Mine were also really runny… I assume because I’m in Florida and things are a bit muggy. I tend to have to adjust the flour a bit, so I will try that in my next run. The flavor really hit the spot!
I just made these for a cookie social at church. Mine also spread out into idd shapes, but they were delicious. I got many compliments on them. Next time I’m going to use a silicon mini tart pan to bake them just to help them keep their shape. Can’t wait to make them again!
Made these last night and they turned out great. However, I packed them up last night and when I went to eat some today they had completely fallen apart and turned mushy. I’m guessing the liquid in the apples maybe did it? I put them back in the oven for another 15 minutes and they seem to be ok. Anyone else have this problem?
Sorry that I happened, I have never had that problem before, though they do get soft during storage.