Imagine biting into a soft cinnamon-spiced cookie topped with a luscious caramel cream cheese frosting, crunchy streusel, tart green apple chunks, and a decadent drizzle of caramel sauce. Irresistible, right? This recipe walks you through every delicious step of recreating these gourmet Caramel Apple Cookies at home. Get ready to impress your family, friends, and even yourself with this delightful dessert!

Ingredients You’ll Need for the Caramel Apple Cookies:

For the Cookies:

Butter: Softened butter is the base for the cookie dough, giving it a tender, chewy texture.
Granulated sugar: Granulated sugar adds sweetness and gives a slightly crispy edge to the cookies.
Brown sugar: Brown sugar adds moisture and richness to the dough, making it soft and flavorful.
Egg: The egg binds the ingredients together and adds moisture to the dough.
Apple Juice: Adds concentrated apple flavor to the cookie dough, enhancing the caramel apple theme.
Vanilla extract: Vanilla enhances the flavor and balances the sweetness.
All-purpose flour: Provides the structure for your cookies.
Baking Powder: Helps the cookies rise slightly for a soft and chewy texture.
Baking soda: Adds to the rise and texture, giving the cookies a bit more chew.
Salt: Balances the sweetness and elevates the flavor.
Cinnamon, Ginger & Nutmeg: Provide warm, spiced notes that complement the apple and caramel flavors, creating a cozy and festive taste profile.

For the Cream Cheese Frosting:

Cream Cheese and Butter: These are key for creating a fluffy and smooth frosting with a rich and tangy flavor to balance the sweetness of the cookies.
Caramel Sauce: Infuses the frosting with a deep, sweet caramel flavor, tying it to the caramel apple theme.
Vanilla Extract: Adds a subtle aromatic sweetness, enhancing the overall flavor of the frosting.
Powdered Sugar: Sweetens and thickens the frosting for the perfect spreadable consistency.

For the Streusel Topping:

All-purpose flour: Provides structure to the streusel topping.
Granulated Sugar: Sweetens the streusel and helps it caramelize slightly when toasted.
Ground cinnamon: Infuses the streusel with warm, spiced flavor, complementing the apple and caramel notes.
Salt: Balances the sweetness and enhances the flavors of the streusel.
Butter: Binds the streusel ingredients together and creates a crumbly texture.

Additional Topping:

Green Apple: Adds a fresh, tart element that contrasts beautifully with the sweetness of the cookie and frosting. The crisp texture also provides a delightful crunch.
Caramel Sauce: Drizzled on top as a finishing touch to enhance the visual appeal and provide an extra dose of rich caramel flavor.

You’ll need the following tools for making the Caramel Apple Cookies:

Mixing B owls: A large bowl for combining the cookie dough ingredients and a smaller one for measuring.
Measur ing Scale: To accurately measure all your ingredients in grams.
Han d Mixer or Stand M ixer: For creaming the butter and sugars, and mixing the dough.
Spa tula: To fold in the dry ingredients and combine the mixtures.
Baking Sheet: For baking the cookies.
Parchm ent Paper: To line the baking sheet, preventing the cookies from sticking.
Cookie Scoo p: To evenly portion out the dough.
Cooling Rac k: For allowing the cookies to cool evenly after baking.
Piping Bag: To add the frosting to the cookies.

Here is the full Recipe:

Ingredients:

Cookie Base:

113.5 g (½ cup) butter, softened
100 g (½ cup) granulated sugar
50 g (¼ cup) dark brown sugar
1 large egg, at room temperature
2 tbsp concentrated apple juice
1 tsp vanilla extract
250 g (2 cups) all-purpose flour
0.5 tsp ground cinnamon
0.13 tsp ground nutmeg
0.13 tsp ground ginger
0.13 tsp ground allspice
0.75 tsp baking soda
0.25 tsp baking powder
0.25 tsp salt

Cream Cheese Frosting:

141.75 g (5 oz) cream cheese, softened
56 g (4 tbsp) butter, softened
3 tbsp caramel sauce (homemade or store-bought)
1 tsp vanilla extract
90 g (¾ cup) powdered sugar

Streusel Topping:

31.25 g (¼ cup) all-purpose flour
1 tbsp granulated sugar
0.25 tsp ground cinnamon
0.25 tsp salt
1.5 tbsp butter, cold and cubed

Additional Toppings:

1 green apple, diced into small cubes
Extra caramel sauce for drizzling

Directions:

Preheat and Prep:

Start by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set it aside. This ensures your cookies bake evenly and don’t stick.

Make the Streusel:

In a medium skillet, melt the butter over medium heat.
Remove the skillet from the heat and stir in the flour, sugar, cinnamon, and salt. Mix until the ingredients are well combined and form small clumps.
Return the skillet to the heat and stir frequently until the streusel turns golden brown.
Transfer the streusel to a plate and let it cool completely.

Prepare the Cookie Dough:

Cream the softened butter, granulated sugar, and dark brown sugar together in a large mixing bowl until the mixture is light and fluffy. This step helps create a tender cookie texture.
Add the egg, concentrated apple juice, and vanilla extract, and mix until fully incorporated. The concentrated apple juice enhances the apple flavor in the dough.
In a separate bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients: all-purpose flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, allspice, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing gently until just combined. Avoid overmixing to keep the cookies soft and tender.

Scoop and Bake:

Using a large cookie scoop (approximately ¼ cup or 4 tablespoons), portion the dough into 10 equally sized balls. Place them on the prepared baking sheet, leaving enough space between each cookie to spread while baking.
Bake the cookies for 12 minutes, or until the edges are set but the centers are still soft. The cookies will continue to cook slightly as they cool.
Let the cookies rest on the baking sheet for about 5 minutes, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.

Make the Cream Cheese Frosting:

In a medium bowl, beat the softened cream cheese and butter together until smooth and creamy.
Add the powdered sugar, caramel sauce, and vanilla extract. Whip the mixture until it becomes light and fluffy. This frosting is the perfect sweet and tangy complement to the spiced cookie base.

Assemble the Cookies:

Once the cookies are completely cool, frost each cookie with a generous layer of caramel cream cheese frosting. Use a spatula or a piping bag for even coverage.
Top each frosted cookie with a sprinkle of the cooled streusel and a handful of diced green apple chunks. The tartness of the apple provides a refreshing contrast to the sweet and spiced flavors.
Finish with a drizzle of caramel sauce over the top. Feel free to go heavy on the caramel for an extra indulgent treat!

Tips & Tricks:

Tips for the Cookies:

Chill the Dough (Optional): Chilling the cookie dough for 30 minutes can help prevent spreading during baking.
Use Fresh Green Apples: Crisp, tart apples like Granny Smith work best for this recipe. They balance the sweetness beautifully.
Homemade Caramel Sauce: While store-bought caramel works fine, homemade caramel sauce takes these cookies to the next level.
Storing the Cookies: Store the assembled cookies in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Let them come to room temperature before serving for the best flavor.

Why You’ll Love These Caramel Apple Cookies

Soft and Spiced Base: The cookie is buttery and packed with warm spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger.
Creamy Frosting: The caramel cream cheese frosting is rich, sweet, and tangy, tying all the flavors together.
Crunchy Topping: The homemade streusel adds a delightful crunch that contrasts perfectly with the soft cookie and frosting.
Fresh Apples: Green apple chunks bring a bright, refreshing flavor and a touch of tartness to balance the sweetness.
Caramel Drizzle: The final caramel drizzle makes these cookies look bakery-worthy and taste extra indulgent.

These Caramel Apple Cookies are also great for sharing—wrap them up in a festive box, and they make a thoughtful homemade gift for family and friends

More Christmas Baking Ideas:

Grinch Crinkle Cookies – These bright green cookies are fun, festive, and finished with a sweet sugar heart, making them the perfect treat to spread Christmas cheer.
Santa Hat Cookies – Adorable and delicious, these Linzer-style cookies are filled with fruity jam and topped with icing for the perfect Santa hat look.
Melted Snowman Cookies – Fun and whimsical, these sugar cookies feature melted marshmallows and chocolate decorations for a snowman that’s sure to melt your heart.
Roasted Matcha Cookies – Add a sophisticated touch to your holiday spread with these earthy roasted matcha cookies, topped with a creamy layer and a sprinkle of cinnamon.
Cinnamon Stars (Zimtsterne) – A German Christmas classic, these star-shaped cookies are made with almonds, hazelnuts, and a sweet glaze, delivering a taste of tradition with every bite.

Watch the recipe video here. Let’s get to baking! Here is the full recipe:

Caramel Apple Cookies

Course: Cookies, Cookies with frosting

Servings

servings

Prep time

minutes

Cooking time

minutes

Total time

minutes

Featuring a spiced cinnamon cookie base, caramel cream cheese frosting, homemade streusel, fresh apple chunks, and a caramel drizzle, they’re the perfect treat for cozy days.

Ingredients

Cookie Base:
113.5 g (½ cup) butter, softened
100 g (½ cup) granulated sugar
50 g (¼ cup) dark brown sugar
1 large egg, at room temperature
2 tbsp concentrated apple juice
1 tsp vanilla extract
250 g (2 cups) all-purpose flour
0.5 tsp ground cinnamon
0.13 tsp ground nutmeg
0.13 tsp ground ginger
0.13 tsp ground allspice
0.75 tsp baking soda
0.25 tsp baking powder
0.25 tsp salt
Cream Cheese Frosting:
141.75 g (5 oz) cream cheese, softened
56 g (4 tbsp) butter, softened
3 tbsp caramel sauce (homemade or store-bought)
1 tsp vanilla extract
90 g (¾ cup) powdered sugar
Streusel Topping:
31.25 g (¼ cup) all-purpose flour
1 tbsp granulated sugar
0.25 tsp ground cinnamon
0.25 tsp salt
1.5 tbsp butter, cold and cubed
Additional Toppings:
1 green apple, diced into small cubes
Extra caramel sauce for drizzling

Directions

Preheat and Prep:
Start by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set it aside. This ensures your cookies bake evenly and don’t stick.
Make the Streusel:
In a medium skillet, melt the butter over medium heat.
Remove the skillet from the heat and stir in the flour, sugar, cinnamon, and salt. Mix until the ingredients are well combined and form small clumps.
Return the skillet to the heat and stir frequently until the streusel turns golden brown.
Transfer the streusel to a plate and let it cool completely.
Prepare the Cookie Dough:
Cream the softened butter, granulated sugar, and dark brown sugar together in a large mixing bowl until the mixture is light and fluffy. This step helps create a tender cookie texture.
Add the egg, concentrated apple juice, and vanilla extract, and mix until fully incorporated. The concentrated apple juice enhances the apple flavor in the dough.
In a separate bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients: all-purpose flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, allspice, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing gently until just combined. Avoid overmixing to keep the cookies soft and tender.
Scoop and Bake:
Using a large cookie scoop (approximately ¼ cup or 4 tablespoons), portion the dough into 10 equally sized balls. Place them on the prepared baking sheet, leaving enough space between each cookie to spread while baking.
Bake the cookies for 12 minutes, or until the edges are set but the centers are still soft. The cookies will continue to cook slightly as they cool.
Let the cookies rest on the baking sheet for about 5 minutes, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Make the Cream Cheese Frosting:
In a medium bowl, beat the softened cream cheese and butter together until smooth and creamy.
Add the powdered sugar, caramel sauce, and vanilla extract. Whip the mixture until it becomes light and fluffy. This frosting is the perfect sweet and tangy complement to the spiced cookie base.
Assemble the Cookies:
Once the cookies are completely cool, frost each cookie with a generous layer of caramel cream cheese frosting. Use a spatula or a piping bag for even coverage.
Top each frosted cookie with a sprinkle of the cooled streusel and a handful of diced green apple chunks. The tartness of the apple provides a refreshing contrast to the sweet and spiced flavors.
Finish with a drizzle of caramel sauce over the top. Feel free to go heavy on the caramel for an extra indulgent treat!