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    Cambrea Bakes » Recipes » Cookie Recipes

    Caramel Apple Pie Cookies

    Published: November 15, 2023 Modified: Nov 15, 2023 by Cambrea Gordon. This post may contain affiliate links. *If you want tips, step-by-step shots, and videos, be sure to read the whole post below!

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    Jump to Recipe
    Caramel apple pie cookie pinterest pin with text overlay.
    Caramel apple pie cookie pinterest pin with text overlay.
    Caramel apple pie cookie pinterest pin with text overlay.

    These buttery and flaky caramel apple pie cookies are bursting with sweet apple pie flavor! Made with 8 ingredients, store-bought puff pastry, and homemade apple pie filling, they're perfect fall treats- no forks required!

    Mini apple pie cookies drizzled with caramel sauce on a wire rack.

    Even as a trained pastry chef, investing hours into an apple pie can be overwhelming, especially during the holidays. Simplifying and elevating the classic, these apple pie cookies use frozen puff pastry instead of pie dough, delivering all the classic apple pie flavors in cookie form!

    Every bite is packed with flaky crust and warm flavors like cinnamon, caramel, apple pie spice, and fresh apples. They even look like mini apple pies- could they be any cuter?

    If you love these flavors, try our Apple Cinnamon Rolls with Apple Pie Filling or Apple Snickerdoodles next!

    Jump to:
    • Why We Love Apple Pie Cookies
    • Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
    • Best Apples to Use
    • Recipe Instructions
    • Tips for the Best Pie Cookies
    • FAQs
    • More Apple Recipes
    • Recipe 📖
    • Reviews

    Why We Love Apple Pie Cookies

    • No pie dough or cookie dough mixing, rolling, or scooping! Try our iced oatmeal cookies or coffee cake cookies instead!
    • They are easy to make and assemble with just 8 simple ingredients and no mixer required!
    • No lattice tops!
    • It's way easier to make than a traditional apple pie.
    • Perfect for the holidays- especially for Thanksgiving dessert or Christmas. We love serving them alongside our apple crumb cake!

    Ingredient Notes and Substitutions

    Ingredients needed to make apple pie cookies in bowls with labels.

    Puff pastry: The key to apple pie cookies without all the work! Use an all-butter puff pastry for the best flavor and a pie-crust-like texture. Ensure it's thawed in the fridge overnight for convenient assembly.

    Apples: Fresh are best, although you could use canned apple pie filling. You can also replace them with peaches (similar to peach cobbler cookies) or another fruit!

    Brown sugar: To replicate the traditional apple pie flavor, brown sugar is added to the stewed apples. Both light and dark brown sugar are suitable!

    Caramel: Making caramel from scratch is the way to go but you could also use store-bought caramel sauce in a pinch.

    Find the full ingredient measurements and instructions in the recipe card below!

    Best Apples to Use

    I've found that the best type depends on the apple dessert! Here are my favorites to use for these apple pie cookies:

    • Granny Smith- we used a mix of green and red apples for a not-too-sweet apple filling.
    • Gala
    • Honeycrisp
    • Envy

    Recipe Instructions

    Apple pie filling in a white bowl.

    Step 1: Make the apple pie filling. Cook chopped apples, brown sugar, apple pie spices, lemon juice, and vanilla extract in a pot until soft with a thick caramel-like syrup. Transfer to a bowl and set aside.

    Puff pastry dough on a wooden cutting board with a round cookie cutter cutting the dough.

    Step 2: Cut out the pastry rounds. Place the defrosted puff pastry sheet on a floured surface. Use a medium round cookie cutter to cut rounds, transferring them to two parchment-lined baking sheets with 2 inches between each.

    Puff pastry circles on a baking sheet.

    Step 3: Score the center of the pastry. Using a smaller cookie cutter, "score" the center of the puff pastry. You want to press it into the dough about halfway but not all the way where it separates from the pastry!

    Puff pastry rounds on a baking sheet brushed with egg wash and sprinkled heavily with cinnamon sugar.

    Step 4: Egg wash and bake! Use a pastry brush to egg-wash the tops. Then generously sprinkle with cinnamon sugar. Bake the first tray in the preheated oven until the pastry is puffed and golden brown. Allow it to cool on a wire rack while baking the second tray.

    Pie filled cookies on a baking sheet after baking.

    Step 5: Deflate and fill. Use the back of a spoon to crush the centers of the baked cookies, then fill the center of each cookie with the filling. 

    Apple pie cookies with caramel drizzled on top.

    Step 6: Drizzle with caramel. Drizzle the apple pie cookies with salted caramel sauce and enjoy!

    Tips for the Best Pie Cookies

    • Avoid excessive handling of the cut pastry rounds. Touching the sides can seal the edges and prevent them from puffing during baking. This won't affect the taste but may result in a less light and fluffy texture.
    • Cut the rounds as close together as possible; this will minimize waste as the scraps can't be rerolled.
    • Assemble on the prepared cookie sheet. As the dough sits at room temperature, it will soften and become hard to work with.
    • Serve with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for the ultimate apple pie experience!
    • Skip the caramel and sprinkle an oatmeal streusel crumble on top instead- it tastes just like an apple crisp!

    FAQs

    How long do apple pie cookies last?

    They will stay fresh for 1-2 days.

    Why did my pastry deflate after cooling?

    If the pastry is underbaked, it will deflate after baking. Make sure the pastry is nice and golden brown!

    Can apple pie cookies be frozen?

    I don't recommend freezing them. You can cut and freeze the puff pastry rounds though!

    What is the best way to store them once assembled?

    Store them in an airtight container at room temperature. To crisp them the next day, place them on a lined baking sheet and reheat them in the oven at 400 F/200 C until crispy, about 5-8 minutes.

    Can I make them ahead of time?

    Bake the puff pastry rounds and store them in an airtight container. The next day, reheat the pastry at 400 F/200 C for 5-8 minutes then add the filling. The filling can be made 3-4 days in advance and kept in the fridge until ready to use! You can make the entire assembled cookie one day in advance, but they will be softer even after crisping in the oven!

    Can I double the recipe?

    Yes! You can double the pie filling and use 2 sheets of puff pastry to easily serve a crowd.

    We hope you love these apple pie cookies! If you need more fall baking ideas, try our Savory Bread Pudding Casserole, Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies, Chocolate Chip Pecan Cookies, or Pumpkin Snickerdoodles!

    Two apple cookies stacked on top of each other with the top one missing a bite to show the flaky pastry layers.

    More Apple Recipes

    • an apple butter snickerdoodle with a bite taken out of it.
      Apple Butter Snickerdoodle Cookies
    • Slices of apple cake on a wire rack with vanilla glaze drizzled on top.
      The BEST Cinnamon Apple Cake
    • apple cider donut loaf cake sprinkled with cinnamon sugar on a wire rack.
      Apple Cider Donut Loaf Cake
    • Apple cinnamon rolls in a baking pan with cream cheese icing and apple butter swirled on top.
      Apple Cinnamon Rolls with Apple Pie Filling

    If you tried this or any other recipe on my website, please let me know how it went in the comments below, I love hearing from you! Also, please leave a star rating while you're there! You can also tag me on Instagram or Facebook so I can check it out!

    Recipe 📖

    Apple pie filled cookies with caramel sauce drizzled on top on parchment paper.
    5 from 8 votes
    Rate this Recipe Print Recipe Pin Recipe

    Apple Pie Cookies

    These buttery and flaky caramel apple pie cookies are bursting with sweet apple pie flavor! Made with 8 ingredients, store-bought puff pastry, and homemade apple pie filling, they're perfect fall treats- no forks required!
    Servings 18 cookies
    Prep 45 minutes mins
    Cook 10 minutes mins
    Total 55 minutes mins
    Course : Dessert
    Cuisine : American
    Author : Cambrea Gordon
    Prevent your screen from going dark
    Need Metric Measurements?Use the button options below to toggle between US cups and Metric grams!

    Ingredients 
     

    • 2 cups peeled and cored red apples diced
    • ½ cup peeled and cored green apples diced
    • ⅓ cup light brown sugar packed
    • 1 ¾ teaspoon apple pie spice
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
    • ½ teaspoon lemon juice
    • ¼ teaspoon fine sea salt
    • 14 ounces all-butter puff pastry
    • ½ cup granulated sugar
    • 1 tablespoon cinnamon
    • 1 egg whisked
    • ¼ cup caramel for drizzling on top

    Instructions

    • Before you start. Preheat the oven to 400F/200 C and line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
    • Make the apple pie filling. In a pot, cook the chopped apples, brown sugar, lemon juice, spices, salt, and vanilla over medium heat until the apples are tender and the sauce is thick like caramel and bubbly, about 20-25 minutes. Transfer to a bowl to cool and set aside.
      2 cups peeled and cored red apples, ½ cup peeled and cored green apples, ⅓ cup light brown sugar, 1 ¾ teaspoon apple pie spice, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, ½ teaspoon lemon juice, ¼ teaspoon fine sea salt
    • Cut out the cookies. Lay the defrosted puff pastry on a lightly floured cutting board. Use a 2 ¼-inch round cookie cutter to cut out 18-20 puff pastry rounds and transfer them to the prepared baking sheets. You can save the scraps to bake off later!
      14 ounces all-butter puff pastry
    • Indent the centers for filling. Use a small 1 ½-inch round cutter to “score” the inside of each round. It should make an indent but not cut all the way through.
    • Sprinkle with cinnamon sugar and bake! Egg wash the tops then generously sprinkle with the cinnamon sugar. Bake until the pastry is puffed up and golden brown, about 10-13 minutes. Cool on a wire rack while you bake the second pan. You can bake off the puff pastry scraps! Brush them with egg wash, sprinkle with cinnamon sugar, and bake until golden brown.
      ½ cup granulated sugar, 1 tablespoon cinnamon, 1 egg whisked
    • Fill the center of the cookies. Once cool, use the back of a spoon to push down the center of the puff pastry. Then fill it with the apple pie filling.
    • Drizzle with caramel. Garnish with a drizzle of caramel and enjoy!
      ¼ cup caramel
    • Store the cookies in an airtight container at room temperature. After the first day, they will soften from the moisture in the filling. To crisp them up, place them on a lined baking sheet and reheat them in the oven at 400 F/200 C until crispy, about 5-8 minutes.

    Video

    Notes

    Avoid excessive handling of the cut pastry rounds. Touching the sides can seal the edges and prevent them from puffing during baking. This won't affect the taste but may result in a less light and fluffy texture.
    Cut the rounds as close together as possible; this will minimize waste as the scraps can't be rerolled.
    Best apples to use: Gala, Envy, Granny Smith, or Honeycrisp are great options. You can also use a variety of a few!
    Making ahead: While they are best made and enjoyed the day of, you can still prepare them ahead of time. Bake the puff pastry rounds and store them in an airtight container. The next day, reheat the pastry at 400 F/200 C for 5-8 minutes then add the filling. The filling can be made 3-4 days in advance and kept in the fridge until ready to use! You can make the entire assembled cookie one day in advance, but they will be softer even after crisping in the oven!

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1serving | Calories: 170kcal | Carbohydrates: 22g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Sodium: 89mg | Potassium: 41mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 12g | Vitamin A: 11IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 13mg | Iron: 1mg

    The calorie information provided for the recipe is an estimate. The accuracy of the calories listed is not guaranteed.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Jody says

      November 21, 2023 at 2:41 pm

      5 stars
      These were delicious! I’ve loved all of your recipes so far!

      Reply
    2. Jamie says

      November 16, 2023 at 8:51 am

      5 stars
      What a unqiue and fun idea! Cant wait to make these next week, my husband is already drooling!!

      Reply
      • Cambrea Gordon says

        November 16, 2023 at 8:53 am

        I'm so happy to hear that! Let me know how they turn out! 🙂

        Reply
    3. Molly says

      November 15, 2023 at 2:10 pm

      5 stars
      Genius hack with the puff pastry! I’ve always been intimidated by the lattice apple cookies, it just seems like so much work and I’d rather just make a whole pie!

      Reply

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    Hey, I'm Cambrea!

    Cambrea is a professionally trained pastry chef and food photographer. Here you'll find bakery-worthy sweet and savory kitchen-tested recipes that are unique twists on classics. Cambrea has been featured on Fox News, Shoutout Arizona, The Feed Feed, Domino Sugar, and more.

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