Apple Pie Cookies with Salted Caramel Frosting

apple cookieI try to keep my writing on this blog pretty lighthearted and entertaining, but some days are not like that.  Some days you want to curl up in a ball and listen to The Carpenters and eat Chubby Hubby.

I remember when Robb and I were first married, about 500 years ago, and I discovered that he knew how to make pie crust.  I had this idea in my head that pie crust was super complicated and fussy and hard to make, so I was impressed.  I liked it when he would make coconut cream pie with his homemade crust.  He would slice up the pieces of leftover crust and sprinkle them with cinnamon and sugar and bake them up.  It felt really comforting.

He’s really good at taking care of me when I’m listening to “Rainy Days and Mondays.”

Nowadays, I make the pie crust.  I’m pretty good at making a nice flaky crust, although I stink at making it look pretty.  And I make a mean apple pie, if I say so myself.  I’ve never been really big into fruit pies in general, {I’m more of a chocolate cream pie kind of girl} until I learned to make them myself.  Then, I liked them a lot more.  They’re still kind of fussy and time consuming to make though.

caramel apple

The solution?  Apple pie… in a cookie.  YES.

I thought it was brilliant as soon as I thought it up.  Of course, I think all my ideas are brilliant.  I don’t understand why Robb doesn’t, frankly.  I keep telling him that if he would agree with me, he would be right a lot more often.

apple cookie with caramel frosting

The other amazing culinary talent my husband has is making caramels.  He really only does it once a year, at Christmas, and we all look forward to it.  As much as I love baking, I’m not quite as big on candy making, so I’m quite content to let him do it.

This caramel frosting is a touch more work than the regular boring old buttercream, but let me tell you, it is worth it.  And don’t skip the salt on top.  TRUST ME.

apples with salted caramel cookies

This cookie is like my apple pie and Robb’s homemade caramels all in one bite.  With salt on top.  In other words, it’s basically like crack.  You’ll be “On top of the world looking down on creation.”  And when it’s gone, you’ll know you’re having another one.

5.0 from 4 reviews
Apple Pie Cookies with Salted Caramel Frosting
 
Cook time
Total time
 
A soft spiced apple cookie with salted caramel frosting.
Recipe type: Cookies
Serves: 3-4 dozen
Ingredients
FOR COOKIE:
  • 2 medium apples (*see note)
  • ½ lemon
  • ¼ cup water
  • ½ cup butter, softened
  • 1⅓ cups brown sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tsp. baking soda
  • ½ tsp. salt
  • 1 tsp. cinnamon
  • ½ tsp. cloves
  • ½ tsp. nutmeg
  • 1 cup buttermilk
  • 3 cups flour
FOR CARAMEL FROSTING:
  • 6 T. butter
  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • ⅓ cup cream
  • 1 tsp. vanilla
  • about 2½ cups powdered sugar
  • coarse sea salt to garnish
Instructions
  1. Remove apple cores, and finely dice apples. Place in saucepan with water and the juice from half a lemon. Remove the peel from the lemon half in large chunks and add that to the apples. Cook over medium heat a few minutes until mostly soft, but still slightly crisp. Remove from heat, drain water, remove lemon peel pieces, and set aside.
  2. Cream butter and sugar, add egg and mix well.
  3. Add salt, soda, and spices, and mix well.
  4. Add buttermilk alternately with flour, mixing just until combined.
  5. Fold in apple pieces.
  6. Drop spoonfuls of dough onto baking sheet and bake at 375 degrees for 9-12 minutes.
  7. FOR FROSTING:
  8. Melt butter over medium heat. Add sugar and cream and bring to a boil. Remove from heat and let cool for a few minutes.
  9. Add vanilla and powdered sugar.
  10. Frost cooled cookies, and quickly garnish with coarse sea salt.
Notes
I prefer a crisp, tart apple for baking. I used granny smith apples for this recipe. I did not peel them. To ensure a smooth frosting, sift the powdered sugar.

 If you enjoy this recipe, you might also enjoy:

Dulce de Leche Cookies from Jen’s Favorite Cookies

Apple Cookie Dough Cupcakes from Your Cup of Cake

Caramel Apple Cider Cookies from The Girl Who Ate Everything

This post linked up at: Lil’ Luna; Sugar and Dots; Gingersnap Crafts; Someday Crafts; Trendy Treehouse; Lady Behind The Curtain; Sew Much Ado; Miz Helen’s; Seven Alive; Dommesblissity; Five Little Chefs; Michelle’s Tasty Creations; Something Swanky; Home Maid Simple;

16 thoughts on “Apple Pie Cookies with Salted Caramel Frosting

  1. kitchenriffs

    Gosh, these look seriously good. i really need to get on the salted caramel bandwagon. Love the whole apple pie thing with the caramel. Kinda sorta throw a caramel covered candy apple in there, too! Good post – thanks.

    Reply
  2. Miz Helen

    Hi Jen,
    These are awesome cookies, I just love the salty and sweet combination. Hope you have a great weekend and thank you so much for sharing on Full Plate Thursday.
    Come Back Soon!
    Miz Helen

    Reply
  3. Michelle

    Jen,

    These look amazing! I have a few recipes for apple breads but none for cookies so I will definitely be trying this very soon. Thanks so much for linking up to Creative Thursday. Can’t wait to see what you share next week. Have a great weekend.
    Michelle

    Reply
  4. Carlo/Carlo At Your Service Productions

    Oh man… these cookies sound completely wonderfully delicious! I’ll vote for anyone with a fabulous “sweets” blog, like you, Jen. I’ve loved tooling around here, taking a look at everything. Now if I can just figure out how to make your recipes come out of Cyberdom right into my own home! Now wouldn’t THAT be great?

    Loved every minute of being here… Happy SITS Day to you!

    Reply
  5. Angi

    This looks too delicious not to try. Another good thing about cookies- I never have a hard time finding someone (tween-aged) willing to put the recipe together and whip up a batch. Happy SITS day!

    Reply
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  7. Val

    Made these today. Recipe turned out well. They are a soft cookie. I’m not a huge fan of that, but it’s a personal preference. Took these to a family gathering…everyone lived them. Great flavor combo!

    Reply
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