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Irresistible Salted Caramel Apple Pie Cookies
Each bite of these Irresistible Salted Caramel Apple Pie Cookies captures everything wonderful about fall baking: warm cinnamon apples, buttery flaky crust, gooey caramel drizzle, and a finishing touch of flaky sea salt. They taste like a mashup of old-fashioned apple pie and soft chewy cookies—a dessert that delivers all the cozy autumn vibes in convenient handheld form.
These cookies are tender, sweet, salty, warm, and perfectly spiced. They’re ideal for holidays, bake sales, dessert bars, weekend treats, or simply when your kitchen needs that nostalgic apple-pie aroma. Despite looking bakery-level impressive, they’re surprisingly easy to make. Pre-made pie crust works beautifully, but homemade crust takes these cookies to a whole new level.
This article walks you through everything—from preparing the spiced apple filling to assembling, baking, drizzling, and storing your cookies. You’ll also find tips, substitutions, variations, and serving suggestions. Prepare yourself: these cookies disappear fast.
Why These Apple Pie Cookies Are So Good
✔ Taste like mini personal apple pies
✔ Salted caramel drizzle takes them over the top
✔ Perfect balance of sweet, warm, buttery, and lightly salty
✔ Kid-friendly, guest-approved, and holiday-ready
✔ Portable and less messy than slicing a pie
✔ Easier than making a full pie—but just as satisfying
If you love caramel apples, apple pie, and soft cookies, this recipe is a dream.
Ingredients You’ll Need
For the Apple Pie Filling
- 3 medium apples, peeled and diced (Honeycrisp or Granny Smith)
- 2 tbsp butter
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- 2 tbsp granulated sugar
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- ¼ tsp nutmeg
- 1 tsp lemon juice
- 1 tbsp cornstarch
- 1 tbsp water
For the Cookie Base
- 2 refrigerated pie crusts (or homemade pie dough)
- 1 egg, beaten (for egg wash)
- 2 tbsp coarse sugar (optional)
For the Topping
- ½ cup caramel sauce, warmed
- Flaky sea salt
Step-by-Step Instructions
1. Make the Apple Pie Filling
- Melt butter in a skillet over medium heat.
- Add diced apples, brown sugar, granulated sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and lemon juice.
- Cook 6–8 minutes until apples soften.
- Mix cornstarch and water, then stir into skillet to thicken the mixture.
- Cook 1–2 more minutes until glossy.
- Cool completely before assembling cookies.
2. Prepare Cookie Dough Discs
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Unroll pie crusts on a floured surface.
- Use a cookie cutter (2–3 inches) to cut out circles.
- Place half the circles onto a parchment-lined baking sheet.
3. Add Filling
- Spoon 1–2 teaspoons of apple filling onto each dough circle.
- Place another dough circle on top.
- Press edges with your fingers or a fork to seal tightly.
4. Add Egg Wash & Decoration
- Brush tops with beaten egg.
- Sprinkle lightly with coarse sugar.
- Cut a tiny slit or crisscross pattern for ventilation.
5. Bake
- Bake 15–18 minutes or until golden brown and crisp.
- Cool 10 minutes before topping.
6. Add the Signature Salted Caramel
- Drizzle cookies with warm caramel sauce.
- Finish with a sprinkle of flaky sea salt.
7. Serve Warm
- Enjoy while the caramel is sticky and the apple centers are warm.
Irresistible Salted Caramel Apple Pie Cookies
Warm, flaky mini apple pie cookies drizzled with salted caramel for the perfect sweet and salty fall dessert.
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Cook diced apples with butter, sugars, cinnamon, nutmeg, and lemon juice until softened.
- Mix cornstarch and water, then stir into apple mixture to thicken; cool completely.
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Cut circles from pie crusts and place half on a lined baking sheet.
- Add 1–2 teaspoons apple filling to each dough circle.
- Top with remaining dough circles and seal edges.
- Brush with egg wash and sprinkle with coarse sugar.
- Bake 15–18 minutes until golden brown.
- Drizzle warm cookies with caramel sauce and sprinkle flaky sea salt.
Notes
Cool filling to avoid breaking the dough seal. Freeze cookies before caramel for long-term storage.
Tips for Perfect Apple Pie Cookies
✔ Cut apples small
Small cubes bake more evenly and create smoother filling.
✔ Cool filling completely
Warm filling can ruin the seal and cause leaking.
✔ Don’t skip venting
Even tiny vents keep cookies from bursting.
✔ Salt is the secret
A small amount of flaky sea salt turns good caramel into an unforgettable flavor.
✔ Brush with egg wash
This is key for that golden, glossy bakery-style finish.
Best Apples for Apple Pie Cookies
- Granny Smith (tart + holds shape)
- Honeycrisp (juicy + naturally sweet)
- Fuji (soft + aromatic)
Avoid Red Delicious—they turn mushy.
Variations
1. Dutch Crumble Apple Pie Cookies
Top with cinnamon streusel before baking.
2. Maple Caramel Version
Mix maple syrup into the caramel sauce.
3. Brown Butter Apple Pie Cookies
Use brown butter instead of regular butter in the filling.
4. Apple Cranberry Cookies
Add dried cranberries for a festive twist.
5. Pumpkin Spice Apple Cookies
Add ½ tsp pumpkin spice in addition to cinnamon.
Serving Suggestions
- Serve warm with vanilla ice cream.
- Drizzle with extra caramel before presenting.
- Sprinkle with toasted pecans for crunch.
- Add powdered sugar for a bakery aesthetic.
These cookies shine on dessert boards, fall gatherings, and Thanksgiving menus.
How to Store
- Refrigerate: up to 3 days.
- Room temperature: 1 day (if cool).
- Freeze (before caramel): up to 2 months.
Reheat in the oven for best texture.
Why Salted Caramel and Apple Work So Well
Salted caramel enhances apple’s natural tanginess.
The salt cuts through the sweetness, creating a balanced, gourmet flavor.
The combination has become a fall baking classic because it hits every sensory note—sweet, salty, warm, buttery, fruity, aromatic, and comforting.