Caramel Apple Cookies
Caramel apple cookies are a decadent treat that starts with easy cookie dough mix baked and then topped with quick homemade frosting, fresh apples, and a drizzle of caramel sauce.
Once in a while we receive a box of treats and goodies from our friends over at General Mills. This fall they sent us a box that had a pouch of caramel apple cookie dough mix with the suggestion to make these fresh apple topped cookies.
It felt like the perfect excuse to dig out my recipe for browned butter frosting to give this easy treat our own little spin.
My kids were downright giddy to have such a fun dessert one weekend. It took so little time to pull them together, why not spoil your family too??
Why This is the Best Recipe
I'm a big fan of quick and easy treat recipes. I think this is the best caramel apple cookie recipe because:
- Store Bought AND Homemade: This recipe uses several store-bought short cuts along with one super easy homemade frosting recipe. But honestly, you could use all store bought things if you needed.
- Epic and Memorable: All those layers on the cookie make a stunning presentation for a party. My kids' jaws dropped.
- Fresh and Easy: Can you chop an apple? You can totally do this.
Ingredients
This super sweet cookie recipe uses a few very simple ingredients but there is lots of room to play around:
- Cookie Mix: I used a package of Betty Crocker caramel apple cookie mix and it was very yummy. You could use any sugar cookie dough you love or even peanut butter cookies for a little salty spin.
- Prepared Frosting: I whipped up a batch of frosting in minutes. If you are even shorter on time grab a tub from the grocery store.
- Fresh Apples: I used honeycrisp but I think a tart Granny Smith would have been amazing.
- Fresh Lemon: This helps preserve the apple chunks.
- Caramel Sauce
Bake the Cookies
Bake the cookies according to the package directions. I popped ours right into the air fryer and they came out perfectly golden brown.
You can make the cookies bite-sized or larger, just depends on how many you're trying to serve. I used about 2 - 3 tablespoons of cookie dough to get them this size:
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Make the Browned Butter Frosting
My browned butter frosting recipe has a slightly nutty flavor that smells absolutely incredible. It is very easy to do and only takes a few minutes. I love how it tastes with fresh apples which is why I use it on my fresh apple cake with pecans.
However, if you don't have time to prepare the browned butter for the frosting, you might find my easy cream cheese frosting a better pick.
You could always just buy a cream cheese frosting tub from the store when you pick up your cookie dough, too.
Assemble the Cookies
Let the cookies cool completely before you attempt to frost them.
Spread the frosting fairly thickly over the top so that the apples have a place to stick.
Dice the apples small enough to scatter over the cookies.
Then squeeze some fresh lemon juice over the top so that they don't brown in the air.
Spoon some apples over the frosting and then finish off the cookie with a drizzle of caramel sauce over the top.
Variations
Our cookies were very sweet and my husband and kids loved them. If you wanted to tone down the sweetness a little, here are a few easy variations:
- Use Cream Cheese Frosting: The tangy cream cheese is a perfect balance.
- Use Granny Smith Apples: The tart apples with cream cheese will hold up well to the caramel.
- Add Salted Pecans: Chop up some toasted nuts for a salty balance. This gives them a taffy apple spin!
- Use Oatmeal Cookies: Instead of sugar cookies, try a chewy oatmeal cookie base. They'd taste very similar to an apple crisp cookie!
Make Ahead Tips
I recommend assembling the cookies as close to serving time as possible so that the apples stay fresh.
That said, I assembled a cookie and left it on my counter for 4 hours to see how it held up and the apples were still quite pretty. I just don't recommend leaving that creamy frosting out very long or it could spoil.
If you want to make the cookies in advance, I'd recommend baking the cookies and storing them separately from the frosting. You can prep the frosting and keep it in the fridge. Just decorate them and top with the fresh apples close to serving.
Serving Suggestions
These fun and festive fall cookies would be such a showstopper for a Halloween party or Thanksgiving potluck treat.
You could always serve them as a top your own cookie bar and leave all the individual toppings out in pretty containers and platters. Let your friends and family decorate their own cookies with mix-and-match nuts and tiny candies as desired!
More Easy Cookies
Looking for more easy cookie recipes? Don't miss these other delicious ideas:
📖 Recipe
Caramel Apple Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 (17.5 oz) package cookie dough mix baked according to package directions, see notes for more info
- 1 batch browned butter frosting or canned cream cheese frosting
- 2 honeycrisp apples diced
- 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
- Salted caramel sauce homemade or store bought
Instructions
- Bake the cookies according to the package directions and let them cool completely before attempting to decorate them.
- Chop the fresh apples into a small dice, no need to peel them first. Place them in a mixing bowl and squeeze the lemon juice over the top. Gently toss with a fork to coat the apples. This will help prevent them from browning.
- Spread the frosting in fairly thick layers over the tops of the cookies.
- Sprinkle the apples over the frosted cookies and then drizzle a bit of caramel sauce over the top in a pretty pattern. Serve immediately.
Recipe Notes
Cookie Recommendations:
You could use your favorite store bought sugar cookie mix for the base of this recipe. During the fall season, we love to use the caramel apple cookie mix from Betty Crocker.Save This Recipe to Your Recipe Box
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