Description
These Caramel Apple Cookies are a delightful Crumbl copycat featuring a soft cinnamon-spiced cookie base, topped with a rich caramel cream cheese frosting, homemade streusel, fresh green apple chunks, and a luscious caramel drizzle. Perfectly sweet and spiced, they capture the essence of autumn in every bite.
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 cups 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 tbsp butter (softened)
- 3 tbsp caramel sauce (homemade or store bought)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 3/4 cup Imperial Sugar powdered sugar
Streusel Topping
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 tbsp Imperial Sugar granulated sugar
- 1/4 tsp cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1 1/2 tbsp butter (cold, cubed)
Toppings
- 1 green apple (sliced into cubes)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking and ensure even baking.
- Make Cookie Dough: In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter, granulated sugar, and dark brown sugar until light and fluffy. Add the egg, concentrated apple juice, and vanilla extract, mixing well to combine. In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, allspice, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, stirring until just combined to form your cookie dough.
- Prepare Streusel: In a small bowl, mix the flour, granulated sugar, cinnamon, and salt. Cut in the cold cubed butter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Set aside for topping later.
- Shape and Bake Cookies: Scoop the cookie dough onto the prepared baking sheet, spacing them evenly. Sprinkle the prepared streusel topping over each cookie. Bake in the preheated oven for approximately 12 minutes, or until the edges are golden and the centers are set.
- Make Caramel Cream Cheese Frosting: While cookies bake, beat together the softened cream cheese and butter until smooth and creamy. Add caramel sauce and vanilla extract, mixing to blend fully. Gradually add powdered sugar and beat until the frosting is fluffy and spreadable.
- Cool Cookies: Remove the cookies from the oven and allow them to cool completely on the baking sheet before frosting to prevent melting.
- Decorate Cookies: Once cooled, spread a generous layer of caramel cream cheese frosting on each cookie. Top with fresh green apple cubes and a drizzle of additional caramel sauce if desired to replicate the authentic Crumbl look and flavor.
Notes
- These Crumbl caramel apple cookies are a delicious copycat version, capturing the classic cinnamon apple flavor with a luscious caramel cream cheese frosting and buttery streusel topping.
- Use room temperature ingredients for best results, especially the egg and butter, to ensure a smooth dough and frosting.
- For a softer cookie, do not overbake. Remove from oven when edges are set and centers still soft.
- Fresh green apple chunks add a pleasant tart contrast; Granny Smith apples work particularly well.
- Caramel sauce can be homemade for a richer flavor or store-bought for convenience.
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
