Description
Do you love the warm, comforting flavors that fresh apples and gooey caramel bring to your favorite fall treats?
If so, you're in for a real treat with these Healthy Caramel Apple Cookies! Picture this: soft, chewy cookies filled with the tartness of Granny Smith apples and the rich sweetness of chewy caramel bits.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
- 1 1/4 cups of Whole Wheat Flour
- 1/2 Teaspoon of Baking Soda
- 1/4 Teaspoon of Sea Salt
- 1/2 Teaspoon of Ground Cinnamon
- 1/4 Teaspoon of Nutmeg
- 1/4 cup of Coconut Oil
- 1/4 cup of Unsweetened Applesauce
- 1/3 cup of Honey
- 1 Teaspoon of Vanilla Extract
- 1 Egg
- 1 cup of Chopped Apple
- 1/4 cup of Caramel Chips
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. Line a baking pan with parchment paper.
- Peel and chop 1 apple into small chunks.
- In a medium bowl combine your dry ingredients - Flour, Baking Soda, Salt, Cinnamon & Nutmeg - Mix well.
- In a large bowl combine your wet ingredients - Coconut Oil, Unsweetened Applesauce, Honey, Vanilla Extract and 1 Egg. Mix well.
- Combine the wet and dry ingredients and stir them together - add in the chopped apple and caramel chips - blend together.
- Use a cookie scoop or spoon to drop dough balls onto your parchment lined baking pan about 2 inches apart. Flatten slightly with a spoon and add a couple of caramel chip on top of the cookies.
- Bake 10-12 minutes until golden. Let cool on a wire rack.
- Optional - melt 1/4 cup of caramel chips in the microwave and drizzle over cookies. Ready to Eat!
Notes
- Start with Room Temperature Ingredients - Ensure your ingredients are at room temperature for smooth mixing and even baking, leading to soft cookies.
- Choose the Right Type of Apple - Opt for a tart apple like Granny Smith to balance the sweetness of the caramel sauce and enhance the apple flavor.
- Enhance Flavor with Apple Pie Spice - Add a dash of apple pie spice to the dough for a warm, autumnal flavor that perfectly complements the time of year.
- Use Date Caramel for a Healthier Twist - If you prefer a healthier option, try making date caramel as a filling or drizzle; it’s naturally sweet and pairs well with apples.
- Add Maple Syrup for Depth - A touch of maple syrup in the dough adds richness and enhances the overall apple flavor of the cookies.
- Achieve Perfect Soft Cookies - Don’t overbake; remove the cookies from the oven when they’re just turning golden brown around the edges to keep them soft in the center.
- Stuff with Caramel Sauce - For an indulgent treat, use an ice cream scoop to create cookie dough balls and stuff them with a spoonful of caramel sauce for a gooey center.
- Sprinkle Flaky Sea Salt - After baking, sprinkle a pinch of flaky sea salt on top of the cookies to balance the sweetness and elevate the caramel flavor.
- Experiment with Peanut Butter - For a fun twist, swirl some peanut butter into the dough for a sweet and savory contrast that pairs wonderfully with apples.
- Store in an Airtight Container - To keep your cookies fresh and soft, store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to five days.
- Create a Frosting Swirl - For added sweetness, top the cookies with a frosting swirl made from powdered sugar and a hint of apple pie spice.
- Incorporate Golden Brown Sugars - Use both light and dark brown sugar in the dough to achieve a deep, caramelized flavor and a moist, chewy texture.
- Use an Ice Cream Scoop for Even Sizes - To ensure uniform baking, use an ice cream scoop to portion out the dough, making sure each cookie is the same size.
- Customize with Different Apples - Experiment with different types of apples, such as Honeycrisp or Fuji, to create variations in apple flavor and texture.
- Bake During the Perfect Time of Year - These caramel apple cookies are ideal for fall, capturing the cozy flavors and making them a perfect seasonal treat for this time of year.
- Prep Time: 10 Minutes
- Cook Time: 12 Minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Oven
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 Cookie
- Calories: 106
- Sugar: 8.3 g
- Sodium: 89 mg
- Fat: 4.3 g
- Carbohydrates: 16.1 g
- Protein: 1.9 g
- Cholesterol: 12.5 mg