These irresistible cookies are the exact replica of salted caramel apples in flavor. They are pillowy soft with shredded apples hiding inside. These babies melt in your mouth and they’re topped with an easy, delicious caramel frosting. This salted caramel cookies recipe with apples is literally FALL wrapped up in a few bites!
Why This Recipe Works
Oh my goodness, these salted caramel apple cookies are dangerously yummy. I’d describe them as cakey, pillowy, large and totally irresistible. They are SUPER easy to make, frosting included. They taste just like a caramel apple in cookie form.
Recipe Ingredients
Apples – Granny smith apples make a good choice in these cookies as the tartness is perfect with the delicious sweet sea salt caramel. But any of your favorite brands will work (see below for a list of options)!
Apple juice – Be SURE that the apple juice is at room temperature (or slightly warmer) so it doesn’t harden the butter.
Egg – be sure to pull your eggs out 30 minutes before beginning this recipe
Apple pie spice – If you don’t have apple pie spice on hand, you can make your own. For 1 teaspoon, substitute 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon plus 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg, 1/8 teaspoon ground allspice, and dash ground cloves or ground ginger. In a pinch, just 1 tsp cinnamon works too!
How To Make Salted Caramel Cookies Recipe
Step 1
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside. In a large mixing bowl, combine the butter, brown sugar, egg, vanilla extract and apple juice (make sure the apple juice is room temp or warmer or it will cause the butter not to mix well). Mix on medium speed until creamy.
Step 2
Add the shredded apples pieces and stir until combined. In a separate bowl whisk together the dry ingredients: flour, baking soda, salt and apple pie spice (or cinnamon). Mix well and gradually add the flour mixture to the prepared batter, stirring until combined.
Step 3
Drop large spoonfuls of batter onto the prepared baking sheet and bake in the preheated oven for 13 – 15 minutes. Let cookies cool on a wire rack, then prepare the frosting.
Make The Frosting
Combine the brown sugar, butter and apple juice in a medium saucepan.
Cook over Medium heat until the sugar has dissolved. Remove from heat and stir in the powdered sugar. Stir until creamy and immediately spoon the frosting over the cookies, topping with a sprinkling of sea salt.
Recipe Notes
If you are a lover of nuts, this could be a nice crunchy addition to the top of your cookie, as well. Buy pre-chopped pecans and sprinkle over the top of the frosting right after applying it.
What Types Of Apples Are Good For Apple Cookies?
I recommend using a variety of apples and at the very least, use two kinds: one sweet and one tart. My favorite combo is Granny Smith and Honeycrisp apples.
Sweet/Softer Apple Brands
- Fuji
- Honeycrisp
- Red Delicious
- Golden Delicious
- Cortland
- Gala
Tart (or a little Sour) Apple Brands
- Granny Smith
- McIntosh
- Ida Red
- Braeburn
- Empire
- Jonathan
FAQ About Apples
Good news! Apples are very good for you! Apples are high in dietary fiber and pectin found in the peels of the apples. One medium apple contains approximately 95 calories.
Dogs can eat apples, as they are a nutritious snack for dogs. They are an excellent source of vitamin C, helping immunity and providing other benefits.
Apples do not align with a keto diet. One medium apple contains more than 20 g of carbs, making it too carb-heavy for this low-carb eating plan.
Apples can be frozen! They can be frozen whole for up to 9 months, or prepare applesauce, pie filling or entire pies and freeze them that way instead.
When baking with apples, use a variety of apples. At the very least, use two kinds: one sweet and one tart. My personal favorite combo is Granny Smith apples and Honeycrisp apples.
Fall Apple Recipes
- Appledoodles – These cookies are a fun twist on the classic snickerdoodles! Great way to use up apples in the fall!
- Crockpot Applesauce – A kid-worthy snack that is fun to prepare because it’s so easy to make. Use an assortment of green and red apples and you’ll have a flavorful snack you can enjoy!
- Homemade Apple Cider – Make Homemade Apple Cider in your slow cooker! It’ll warm you from the inside out with amazing flavors and it’s so delicious. It’s a must have fall drink and tastes so much better when you make it yourself.
- Apple Coffee Cake – This is the best Apple Coffee Cake recipe you’ll find. Enjoy as an indulgent breakfast treat or an any-time snack or dessert!
- Salted Chocolate Caramel Apples – Sprinkling of sea salt and a bit of chocolate turns Caramel Apples into an extravagant dessert.. Salted Chocolate Caramel Apples!
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Salted Caramel Cookies Recipe With Apples
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup butter softened
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1 egg egg at room temperature
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup apple juice at room temperature
- 2 1/2 cups flour
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp apple pie spice (substitution: 1 tsp cinnamon)
- 1 1/2 cups shredded apples (2 medium)
FROSTING
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 4 tbsp butter
- 3 tbsp apple juice
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 1 tbsp sea salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside. In a large bowl, combine the butter, brown sugar, egg, vanilla and apple juice (make sure the apple juice is room temp or warmer or it will cause the butter not to mix well). Mix until creamy.
- Add the shredded apples and stir until combined. In a medium bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, salt and apple pie spice (or cinnamon). Mix well and gradually add to the batter, stirring until combined.
- Drop large spoonfuls of batter onto the prepared baking sheet and bake in the preheated oven for 12-14 minutes. Let cookies cool, then prepare the frosting.
- Combine the brown sugar, butter and apple juice in a medium saucepan. Cook over Medium heat until the sugar has dissolved. Remove from heat and stir in the powdered sugar. Stir until creamy and immediately spoon the frosting over the cookies, topping with a sprinkling of sea salt.
Notes
- If you are a lover of nuts, this could be a nice crunchy addition to the top of your cookie, as well. Buy pre-chopped pecans and sprinkle over the top of the frosting right after applying it.
Could this be made with apple cider instead of apple juice? I have some on hand I’d like to use up.
Also, does the frosting set up enough for these to be stacked? Looking for something to take to a family gathering.
You most definitely could substitute for apple cider!
I would double the frosting recipe to have enough.
Let me know how it turns out!