Description
These Caramel Apple Cookies are a delicious Crumbl copycat featuring a soft cinnamon-spiced cookie base topped with creamy caramel cream cheese frosting, homemade streusel, fresh green apple chunks, and a luscious drizzle of caramel sauce. Perfectly balanced with warm spices and sweet-tart apple flavor, these cookies offer a delightful treat reminiscent of the popular dessert chain’s iconic recipe.
Ingredients
Scale
Cookie Dough
- 1/2 cup butter (softened)
- 3/4 cup Imperial Sugar granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup Imperial Sugar dark brown sugar
- 1 large egg (at room temperature)
- 2 tbsp concentrated apple juice
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 cup all-purpose flour
- 3/4 tsp cinnamon
- 1/8 tsp nutmeg
- 1/4 tsp ginger
- 1/8 tsp allspice
- 3/4 tsp baking soda
- 1/4 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 tsp salt
Caramel Cream Cheese Frosting
- 5 oz cream cheese (softened)
- 4 tablespoon butter (softened)
- 3 tablespoon caramel sauce (homemade or store-bought)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3/4 cup Imperial Sugar powdered sugar
- 1/4 cup flour
Homemade Streusel
- 1 tbsp Imperial Sugar granulated sugar
- 1/4 tsp cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1 & 1/2 tbsp butter (cold, cubed)
Other
- 1 green apple (sliced into cubes)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside to prepare for baking the cookies.
- Make the cookie dough: In a large bowl, cream together 1/2 cup softened butter with 3/4 cup granulated sugar and 1/4 cup dark brown sugar until fluffy. Beat in the large room-temperature egg, 2 tablespoons concentrated apple juice, and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract until well combined. In a separate bowl, whisk together 2 cups all-purpose flour, 3/4 teaspoon cinnamon, 1/8 teaspoon nutmeg, 1/4 teaspoon ginger, 1/8 teaspoon allspice, 3/4 teaspoon baking soda, 1/4 teaspoon baking powder, and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined to form the cookie dough.
- Prepare the streusel: In a small bowl, combine 1 tablespoon granulated sugar, 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon, and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Cut in 1 1/2 tablespoons cold cubed butter with a pastry cutter or fork until the mixture forms coarse crumbs resembling streusel.
- Shape and bake the cookies: Scoop the cookie dough onto the prepared baking sheet, spacing them evenly. Sprinkle the streusel topping evenly over each cookie. Add the diced green apple cubes on top of the streusel. Bake in the preheated oven for about 12 minutes or until the edges are lightly golden but centers remain soft. Remove from oven and let cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Make the caramel cream cheese frosting: While the cookies cool, prepare the frosting by beating together 5 ounces softened cream cheese and 4 tablespoons softened butter until smooth and fluffy. Add 3 tablespoons caramel sauce and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, mixing well. Gradually add 3/4 cup powdered sugar and 1/4 cup flour, beating to a spreadable consistency.
- Assemble the cookies: Once the cookies have cooled completely, spread a generous amount of the caramel cream cheese frosting over each cookie. Drizzle additional caramel sauce on top if desired for extra sweetness and decoration.
Notes
- These Crumbl caramel apple cookies capture the perfect balance of sweet, creamy, and spiced flavors reminiscent of the original.
- Use concentrated apple juice for deeper apple flavor without adding extra moisture to the dough.
- Ensure the cream cheese and butter are softened to room temperature for smooth frosting.
- For best texture, cool cookies completely before frosting to prevent melting.
- You can substitute homemade caramel sauce with store-bought for convenience without compromising flavor.
- Store cookies in an airtight container in the refrigerator to keep the frosting fresh.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 511 kcal
- Sugar: 43 g
- Sodium: 899 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 13 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 71 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 8 g
- Cholesterol: 68 mg
