Description
Delight in these Caramel Apple Crumble Cookies, a perfect blend of soft, chewy cookie dough enhanced with buttery caramel bits and chopped dried apples, topped with a sweet cinnamon streusel crumble. They offer a flavorful twist on traditional cookies by combining the cozy flavors of apple crumble and caramel in every bite, baked to golden perfection for an irresistible treat.
Ingredients
Streusel Topping
- 3 tablespoons light brown sugar
- 3 tablespoons sugar
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ cup unsalted butter, melted
- ¾ cup all-purpose flour
Cookie Dough
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- 1 cup salted butter, softened
- 1 cup white sugar
- 1 cup light brown sugar, packed
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup caramel bits or squares, unwrapped
- 1 cup chopped dried apples
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit, ensuring it’s at the right temperature before baking.
- Make Streusel: Whisk together light brown sugar, sugar, cinnamon, salt, and melted butter until combined and sugar begins to dissolve. Stir in ¾ cup flour with a wooden spoon until the mixture resembles crumb-like dry sand consistency. Set aside.
- Prepare Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together 3 cups all-purpose flour, baking soda, baking powder, and sea salt to combine evenly.
- Cream Butter and Sugars: Using an electric mixer, beat softened salted butter, white sugar, and packed light brown sugar on medium-high speed for 5 minutes until light and fluffy.
- Add Eggs and Vanilla: Beat in eggs one at a time until fully combined, then add vanilla extract, scraping the bowl’s bottom and sides as necessary.
- Combine Wet and Dry: Gradually add the dry ingredient mixture to the wet mixture and mix until just combined to avoid overmixing.
- Incorporate Caramel and Apples: Gently fold in the caramel bits and chopped dried apples at low speed or with a spatula to evenly distribute.
- Shape Cookies: Scoop the dough using 2 to 3 tablespoon portions onto a baking sheet spaced at least 2 inches apart.
- Add Streusel: Spoon a generous amount of streusel topping onto each cookie dough scoop, pressing it lightly into the dough.
- Bake Cookies: Bake in the preheated oven for 8 to 10 minutes, or until just barely baked through and edges are set but centers remain soft.
- Cool and Serve: Allow cookies to cool completely on the baking sheet before removing to prevent breaking.
Notes
- Use dried apples instead of fresh to maintain texture and moisture balance in cookies.
- For best results, do not overbake; cookies should remain soft with slightly golden edges.
- Streusel topping can be adjusted in quantity depending on your preference for crumble.
- You can substitute caramel bits with chopped caramel candies if unavailable.
- Ensure cookie scoops are spaced well apart to prevent spreading into each other during baking.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
