Easy Caramel Apple & Spice Cookies 🍏

These simple & delicious chewy cookies
have a wonderful flavor ❤❤

Ingredients:

1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature

1 cup packed brown sugar

1/2 cup granulated sugar

2 eggs

1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract (or 1 teaspoon vanilla extract & 1/2 teaspoon caramel extract)

2 1/2 cups flour

1 teapoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt or pink Himalayan salt

1 teaspoon apple pie spice*

4 tablespoons caramel sauce**

1 1/4 cups diced tart apple (1 small/medium granny smith or fugi apple peeled and cored), optional***

Method:

In a large mixing bowl, use an electric mixer, at medium speed. to blend together the butter and sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy. (about 3 to 5 minutes) Add the eggs and extract(s). Mix on low until combined.

In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, soda, salt and spice. Gradually, in 4 portions, add the sifted ingredients to the butter mixture. Scrape down the sides of the bowl after each addition. Mix just until combined.

Add the chopped apple (if using) and drizzle the caramel sauce over the dough. Gently stir into the dough. Cover and refrigerate foe 30 to 60 minutes.

Preheat oven to 350*. Line baking sheets with parchment paper. Scoop 2 tablespoons of dough, 2 inches apart, onto the prepared baking sheets. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes or until the cookies are lightly golden. Allow to cool for 10 minutes on the baking sheet and then carefully transfer to a wire rack to finish cooling. Store cooled cookies in an airtight container in the refrigerator, with sheets of waxed or parchment paper in between layers of cookies. Makes about 4 1/2 dozens.

*To make your own apple spice mixture, stir together 4 teaspoons cinnamon, 1 teaspoon nutmeg and 1/2 teaspoon allspice. Store in an airtight container or jar.

**If you would like to make your own caramel sauce, here is a link to a simple recipe:

https://carriekitchencreations.blogspot.com/2025/02/super-simple-homemade-salted-caramel.html

***The apples are entirely optional, some people prefer them and some do not. 😃

Note: My husband wanted flatter cookies, so I didn't refrigerate the dough. (I prefer the dough refrigerated, or even frozen, which produces a thicker cookie.)