🍪 Caramel Apple Cookies 🍎
Ingredients
2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
¾ cup (1½ sticks) unsalted butter, softened
¾ cup packed light brown sugar
½ cup granulated sugar
1 large egg
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 ½ cups finely diced peeled apples (about 1 medium apple; Granny Smith recommended)
¾ cup chopped soft caramel candies or caramel bits
Instructions
Prep & Preheat: Position a rack in the center of your oven and preheat to 350°F (175°C). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone mats.
Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg until evenly combined. Set aside.
Cream Butter & Sugars: In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar with an electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy (about 2–3 minutes).
Add Wet Ingredients: Beat in the egg and vanilla extract until fully incorporated, scraping down the bowl as needed.
Incorporate Dry Mix: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing on low speed just until no flour streaks remain. Avoid overmixing.
Fold in Apple & Caramel: Gently stir in the diced apples and caramel pieces using a spatula until evenly distributed throughout the dough.
Scoop & Bake: Drop rounded tablespoons of dough onto the prepared baking sheets, spacing them about 2 inches apart. Bake for 10–12 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden and the centers appear set.
Cool: Let cookies rest on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.