If fall had a flavor, it would taste exactly like these Irresistible Salted Caramel Apple Pie Cookies. Imagine everything you love about classic apple pie — warm cinnamon apples, buttery pastry, sweet caramel — transformed into soft, handheld cookies with a gooey center. These cookies are the perfect blend of nostalgia, coziness, and indulgence.

Whether you’re baking for holiday gatherings, fall weekends, bake sales, or simply because you want your home to smell like heaven, these cookies deliver every single time. They have the warm, comforting flavor of baked apples, the sweetness of caramel, and the irresistible finishing touch of flaky sea salt. One bite and you’ll immediately understand why these cookies disappear almost instantly.

They’re easy to make, absolutely beautiful, and taste better than anything you’d buy at a bakery. And because they’re bite-sized, they’re perfect for gifting, sharing, or building a stunning fall dessert platter.

Why You’ll Love These Apple Pie Cookies

✔ Bite-sized apple pies in cookie form
✔ Gooey salted caramel drizzle
✔ Perfectly spiced apple filling
✔ Soft AND slightly crisp edges
✔ Make-ahead friendly
✔ Ideal for fall baking, holidays & cozy evenings

These cookies are everything you want in a fall dessert: warming, decadent, sweet, spiced, and deeply comforting.

The Magic Behind Salted Caramel Apple Pie Cookies

These cookies work because they combine multiple perfect textures:

1. The Cookie Base

A buttery, soft cookie that tastes like a cross between a sugar cookie and pie crust. It holds its shape yet stays tender enough to melt in your mouth.

2. The Apple Pie Filling

Diced apples simmered with butter, cinnamon, nutmeg, brown sugar, and vanilla until they become glossy and caramelized — but still have a slight bite. Think of it like a mini apple pie filling that adds warmth and richness to every bite.

3. The Salted Caramel Drizzle

Thick caramel sauce drizzled generously over each cookie, with a sprinkle of flaky sea salt to balance sweetness. The contrast between sweet caramel and finishing salt takes this dessert from “good” to unforgettable.

Ingredients Needed

For the Cookie Dough

Butter
Sugar
Brown sugar
Egg
Vanilla extract
Flour
Baking powder
Salt

For the Apple Filling

Apples (Honeycrisp, Gala, or Granny Smith)
Butter
Brown sugar
Cinnamon
Nutmeg
Vanilla extract
Cornstarch

For Topping

Soft caramel sauce
Flaky sea salt

Nothing complicated — just simple ingredients that transform into the most delicious fall dessert.

How to Make Salted Caramel Apple Pie Cookies

1. Make the Apple Filling

Dice apples small so they soften quickly. Cook with butter, sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla until glossy. Add cornstarch to thicken. Let cool completely — warm filling would melt the dough.

2. Prepare the Cookie Dough

Beat butter and sugars until fluffy. Add egg and vanilla. Mix in dry ingredients until it forms a soft dough.

3. Shape the Cookies

Scoop dough into balls and flatten slightly. Use your thumb or a spoon to create a shallow indentation for the apple filling.

4. Add Apple Filling

Spoon a small amount of cooled apple mixture into each cookie indentation.

5. Bake

Bake until the edges are set but not browned. Cookies should remain soft so the filling shines.

6. Drizzle with Salted Caramel

Once cooled slightly, drizzle caramel over the tops and finish with a pinch of flaky sea salt.

Irresistible Salted Caramel Apple Pie Cookies

Soft, buttery cookies filled with warm spiced apples and drizzled with rich salted caramel for the perfect cozy fall dessert.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 25

Cook Time 12

Total Time 37

Servings: 18 cookies

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Calories: 210

Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients

Apple Filling

2 apples peeled and diced small
2 tbsp butter
0.25 cup brown sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
0.25 tsp nutmeg
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp cornstarch to thicken

Cookie Dough

0.75 cup unsalted butter softened
0.5 cup granulated sugar
0.5 cup brown sugar
1 egg
2 tsp vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
0.25 tsp salt

Topping

0.5 cup caramel sauce
flaky sea salt for finishing

Equipment

Baking sheet
Mixing bowls
Saucepan
Whisk

Method

Cook diced apples with butter, sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla until softened.
Stir in cornstarch and cook until thickened. Cool completely.
Cream butter and sugars. Mix in egg and vanilla.
Add flour, baking powder, and salt to form cookie dough.
Shape dough into balls, flatten slightly, and create small indentations in the center.
Fill each indentation with cooled apple filling.
Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 10–12 minutes until edges are set.
Drizzle with caramel and finish with flaky sea salt.

Notes

Let the apple filling cool completely to prevent melting the cookie dough.

Tips for Success

Don’t Overfill

A little apple filling goes a long way. Overfilling can make the cookies spread too much.

Cool the Filling

Warm filling melts the dough — always cool before assembling.

Use the Right Apples

Apples that hold shape (Honeycrisp or Granny Smith) work best.

Bake Just Until Set

Soft cookies mimic apple pie texture beautifully.

Salt Sparingly

Flaky salt enhances flavor — but only a tiny pinch! Too much will overpower the sweetness.

Flavor Variations

Brown Butter Cookie Base

Adds extra nutty richness.

Chai-Spiced Filling

Add cardamom, ginger, allspice.

Maple Caramel Version

Use maple caramel for deeper autumn flavor.

Apple Cinnamon Roll Cookies

Add a cinnamon sugar swirl before baking.

Serving Ideas

Serve these cookies with:

A scoop of vanilla ice cream
Warm cider
Hot coffee or latte
Cinnamon whipped cream

They make a perfect dessert for:

Thanksgiving
Fall parties
Bake sales
Cookie exchanges
Weekend baking with family

Storage & Make-Ahead

Room Temp: 2 days
Refrigerator: 5 days
Freezer: Up to 3 months (before caramel drizzle)
Caramel drizzle can be added before serving for freshness.