Description
These Apple Pie Cookies are a delightful twist on classic apple pie, combining tender spiced apple filling with a soft cinnamon sugar cookie base, topped with rich salted caramel. Perfect for cozy afternoons or special occasions, these cookies are bursting with classic autumn flavors and a gooey caramel finish.
Ingredients
Scale
Apple Pie Filling
- 1 large gala apple (150 g, peeled, cored and thinly sliced)
- 15 g butter
- 25 g dark brown sugar
- 1 tsp lemon juice
- 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- Pinch of salt
Salted Caramel
- 45 g granulated sugar
- 1 1/2 tsp water
- 10 g butter
- 50 g heavy cream
- Pinch of salt
Cookies
- 110 g butter (melted and cooled)
- 100 g granulated sugar
- 100 g dark brown sugar
- 1 large egg (about 56 g with shell)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 230 g all-purpose flour
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 50 g granulated sugar (for rolling)
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon (for rolling)
Instructions
- Prepare Apple Pie Filling: Rinse, peel, and core the gala apple. Slice the apple thinly. Add apple slices to a large pan with butter, dark brown sugar, lemon juice, cinnamon, vanilla extract, and a pinch of salt. Cook over medium heat for 8-9 minutes until apples are tender and coated in a thick sugar glaze. Transfer to a bowl and cool to room temperature or refrigerate.
- Make Salted Caramel: In a small saucepan, melt granulated sugar and water over medium heat, swirling occasionally, until caramel turns a golden brown color. Remove from heat, stir in butter until melted, then cautiously add heavy cream a little at a time while stirring—caramel will bubble vigorously. Continue stirring for 1 minute until smooth. Add a pinch of salt, stir well, then transfer to a shallow bowl to cool to room temperature or refrigerate.
- Prepare Cookie Dough: Melt butter gently without bubbling; cool to room temperature about 20 minutes. In a large bowl, mix cooled butter with granulated sugar and dark brown sugar for 1 minute using a spatula or stand mixer paddle. Add egg and vanilla extract, mixing until combined. In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt. Gradually add dry ingredients to wet mixture, folding until just combined.
- Shape and Chill Cookies: Using a medium 2-ounce cookie scoop or ¼ cup (55 g), scoop dough into 11 balls. In a small bowl, mix 50 g granulated sugar and 1 tsp cinnamon. Roll each dough ball in cinnamon sugar mixture. Place on baking sheet lined with baking paper. Chill cookies in the fridge for 30 minutes to set.
- Bake Cookies: Preheat oven to 180ºC (355ºF). Arrange 6 cookies on one baking tray and 5 on another, baking one tray at a time. Bake for 10-11 minutes until edges are set but centers are soft. Immediately after removing from oven, press a ¼ cup or tablespoon measure into the center of each cookie to create an indent.
- Cool and Assemble: Let cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a cooling rack to cool completely. Once cooled, fill each cookie indent with prepared apple filling and drizzle generously with salted caramel. Store any leftover caramel in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 weeks.
Notes
- Use tart or sweet-tart apples like gala or Fuji for best flavor and texture.
- Ensure butter is melted but not overheated to retain moisture in the cookie dough.
- Pressing an indent immediately after baking helps hold the filling and prevents the cookies from cracking.
- Cookies can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days, or refrigerated for longer freshness.
- Salted caramel can be reheated gently before drizzling if it becomes too thick.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 220
- Sugar: 18 g
- Sodium: 110 mg
- Fat: 11 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 28 g
- Fiber: 1.5 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 40 mg
Keywords: Apple pie cookies, salted caramel cookies, autumn cookies, cinnamon cookies, apple dessert
