• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • Recipes
    • Appetizers
    • Breakfast
    • Desserts
    • Drinks
    • Entrees
    • Lunch
    • Side Dishes
    • Snacks
    • Dog-Friendly
  • Life
    • Travels
    • Gift Guides
  • About
    • About Sues
    • Work With Me
    • Privacy Policy
  • Contact
    • Newsletter

We are not Martha logo

menu icon
go to homepage
  • Home
  • Recipes
  • Life
  • About
  • Contact
  • Where I've Been
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Home
    • Recipes
    • Life
    • About
    • Contact
    • Where I've Been
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • Γ—

    Home Β» Desserts Β» Apple Cider Cookies with Caramel

    Nov 1, 2017 Β· Modified: Oct 25, 2021 by Sues Β· This post may contain affiliate links, uses cookies, and generates income via ads Β· View privacy policy + disclosure statement linked in footer Β· 25 Comments

    Apple Cider Cookies with Caramel

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Apple Cider Cookies are soft, muffin-like cookies stuffed with a little caramel surprise. These fall cookies are best served with a glass of cold apple cider or a mug of hot cider!

    Head-on view of an apple cider cookie cut in half with caramel oozing out with a stack of more cookies and glass of apple cider in the background and recipe title at top

    (This recipe for Apple Cider Cookies was originally published in November 2011, but has been updated with new photos and content in 2018.)

    Raise your hand if you had candy for dinner last night. Or at least an excessive amount of candy after dinner. If your dinner involved any sort of vegetable, you're excused. Halloween comes but once a year, so you may as well enjoy it.

    Of course, if you have leftover candy or a large trick-or-treat haul, the holiday may be sticking around for quite some time.

    Last year, Chris and I had candy for like 8 months after Halloween. I blame it on the fact that he bought too much fruity candy (Laffy Taffy? Who did I marry??) and not enough chocolate.  I was in charge of Halloween candy this year and bought all chocolate. I also bought far too much due to the fact that I had a 20% and 30% coupon at CVS and I was nervous we'd run out.

    We didn't. And now I'm in a danger zone.

    So, with all that candy talk out of the way, let's talk cookies. I probably should have posted something healthy-ish today, but I figure that while everyone's sugar addictions are in full force, I may as well sneak these in. Muhahaha.

    I feel like Halloween totally starts eating season (my favorite season!), so now it's on and you should spend your first day of November making these Apple Cider Cookies with Caramel.

    Why You'll Love This Recipe

    I can't get enough apple cider in the fall and caramel is such the perfect complement to it. Honestly, I'd love these cookies as plain old apple cider cookies, but add in the caramel and it's fall heaven in dessert form.

    There's apple cider in the batter (duh) and a caramel stuffed in the middle of each cookie.

    These cookies are easy to make and are so perfect for enjoying all fall season long!

    Ingredients

    The first time I made these, I used those little square caramels that are such a pain in the butt to unwrap. But I could only find Werther's Soft Caramels this time, so I went with those instead.

    I almost cut them in half since they're a little larger than the squares (longer, but not quite as fat), but then I just decided to go with the whole thing. YOLO. It was PERFECT.

    Here are all the ingredients you need:

    • All-purpose flour
    • Baking soda
    • Salt
    • Cinnamon
    • Butter
    • Brown sugar
    • Granulated sugar
    • Egg
    • Apple cider
    • Wrapped caramels

    How to Make Apple Cider Cookies with Caramel

    This is a pretty standard cookie recipe... The only difference is, when you're plopping your cookie batter onto your baking sheet, you'll nestle in a yummy little caramel.

    To start, preheat your oven to 350 degrees and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

    In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon.

    In the bowl of your stand mixer (or in a large bowl, using a hand mixer or a wooden spoon), cream butter together with both sugars. Add egg and mix to combine. 

    Add half of the cider and half of the flour mixture to the bowl and mix until just combined. Repeat with the second half of the cider and remaining flour mixture. Take care not to over-mix.

    Apple cider cookie dough batter in mixing bowl

    Take about 1 Tbsp of batter and form a ball with it (batter will be a bit sticky). Place a caramel inside.

    Apple cider cookie dough on baking sheet with caramel pressed into it

    Roll the dough around it.

    Put cookies on parchment paper-lined baking sheet about 1 Β½ inches apart.

    Apple cider cookie dough balls on baking sheet

    Bake cookies at 350 degrees for about 10-12 minutes, until just starting to turn golden around edges. Let cool in pan for a few minutes before removing to rack to cool completely.

    Head-on view of five cookies stacked on each other with glass of apple cider in background and pile of wrapped caramels in front

    Since it hasn't been too chilly just yet (until literally last night when the weather decided to take a nosedive), I ate these apple cider caramel cookies alongside a nice cold glass of apple cider.

    They are such soft pillowy apple cider cookies; almost like muffins, which you can probably gather from some of the closeup shots. They're perfectly spiced and taste just how you think fall should taste. Minus the leaves.

    The caramel does sink to the bottom of the cookie, but it shouldn't come out of the cookie or make the cookies stick to your parchment or anything.

    Landscape close-up view of an apple cider cookie cut in half with caramel oozing out with stack of cookies, apple cider, and caramels in the background

    Can I Use Homemade Caramel for the Filling?

    I haven't tried it, but you definitely could use a little spoonful of real caramel (homemade or store-bought in a jar) instead of the whole caramels.

    I imagine it would make the the middles of the cookies more ooey-gooey and less caramel chewy.

    More Apple Cider Recipes

    If you're trying to make the most of apple cider season (I know I am!), check out some of my other favorite recipes that utilize the delicious fall drink:

    • Apple Cider Bourbon Slush
    • Apple Cider Chicken Wings
    • Apple Pie Ice Cream with Cider Caramel
    • Habanero Ginger Apple Cider Cocktail
    • Scallops with Apple Cider Glaze
    • Apple Cider Donuts (from Culinary Hill)
    • Cider Beer Brats (from Ways to My Heart)
    Head-on view of an apple cider cookie cut in half with caramel oozing out with a stack of more cookies and glass of apple cider in the background

    Want to hear something funny? I originally published this recipe on this very day of November way back in 2011 (I made a few edits to it here and obviously shot new photos and wrote new copy). Clearly, these Apple Cider Cookies are on constantly on my mind after Halloween.

    But back in 2011, it actually snowed on Halloween weekend... Like a blizzard! Chris and I almost got stuck driving home from our friend's Halloween party. It's hard to believe that was six years ago!

    So, for now, I am thankful it feels like fall and not winter. I'll cheers to that with a glass or apple cider and an apple cider cookie or two.

    Seriously though, how much candy did you eat last night?

    Head-on closeup view of an apple cider cookie cut in half with caramel oozing out with a stack of more cookies and glass of apple cider in the background

    Apple Cider Cookies with Caramel

    Apple Cider Cookies are soft, muffin-like cookies stuffed with a little caramel surprise. These fall cookies are best served with a glass of cold apple cider or a mug of hot cider!
    4 from 1 vote
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: American
    Keyword: Apple Cider Recipes, Caramel Desserts, Cookie Recipes, Fall Cookies
    Prep Time: 15 minutes
    Cook Time: 11 minutes
    Total Time: 26 minutes
    Makes: 14 cookies
    Author: Sues

    Ingredients

    • 1 Β½ cups all-purpose flour
    • 1 tsp baking soda
    • ΒΌ tsp salt
    • 1 tsp cinnamon, plus more for sprinkling
    • 6 Tbsp butter, room temperature
    • Β½ cup packed light brown sugar
    • ΒΌ cup granulated sugar
    • 1 large egg
    • Β½ cup apple cider
    • 14 wrapped caramels

    Instructions

    • Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
    • In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon.
    • In the bowl of your stand mixer (or in a large bowl, using a hand mixer or a wooden spoon), cream butter together with both sugars.
    • Add egg and mix to combine. 
    • Add half of the cider and half of the flour mixture to the bowl and mix until just combined. Repeat with the second half of the cider and remaining flour mixture. Take care not to over-mix.
    • Take about 1 Tbsp of batter and form a ball with it (batter will be a bit sticky). Place a caramel inside and roll the dough around it. Put cookies on parchment paper-lined baking sheet about 1 Β½ inches apart.
    • Bake cookies at 350 degrees for about 10-12 minutes, until just starting to turn golden around edges. Let cool in pan for a few minutes before removing to rack to cool completely.
    Share a Photo of Your Finished Recipe!Mention @wearenotmartha and share a photo if you've made the recipe!

    View Web Story for this recipe.

    Apple Cider Cookies with CaramelApple Cider Cookies with CaramelApple Cider Cookies with Caramel
    Tweet1
    Share6
    Pin202
    Yum26
    Share
    235 Shares
    « Mojito Cranberry Sauce
    Instant Pot Buffalo Chicken Pasta »

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Kelly says

      November 01, 2011 at 9:05 pm

      Those look tasty. I love the idea of using apple cider in a cookie. You're making me think it would be tasty to reduce it down for an even stronger cider flavor.

    2. Erica says

      November 01, 2011 at 9:17 pm

      Oh my gosh- what a yummy creation! I am an apple fanatic. My sister was without power for a few days-it finally came back mid day today

    3. Lauren @ Healthy Food For Living says

      November 02, 2011 at 7:19 am

      These cookies sound delicious! Perfect for fall... even though it felt more like winter this past weekend ;). I'm sorry to hear about your car - hopefully the damage isn't too severe!

    4. Melissa says

      November 02, 2011 at 10:11 am

      Oh YUM! I'm definitely making these next week! Sorry your car got squished, Sues! Brookline got let off the hook, I thought.

    5. sweeter salt says

      November 02, 2011 at 10:39 am

      I love the idea of the caramel in the middle - yum!

      Laura

    6. emily @ the happy home says

      November 02, 2011 at 11:51 am

      i don't have the same christmas willpower that you do, but i appreciate the apple-y goodness that's happening in these cookies!

    7. Erica @ In and Around Town says

      November 02, 2011 at 12:03 pm

      Love the caramel topper! Such a good surprise

    8. brandi says

      November 02, 2011 at 1:42 pm

      yes, please! you can mail these to me πŸ™‚ maybe they'll make my cold go away.

    9. Grubarazzi (@Grubarazzi) says

      November 02, 2011 at 2:24 pm

      the little hidden caramel makes these cookies perfect! Wow.

    10. Emily @ A Cambridge Story says

      November 02, 2011 at 2:32 pm

      Love the little caramel surprise in the middle!

    11. janetha says

      November 02, 2011 at 2:35 pm

      Ohhh--these are going directly onto my TO MAKE list!

    12. Michelle says

      November 02, 2011 at 2:45 pm

      I can relate to your parents as I didn't have power for a few days in Andover either!

    13. Anna says

      November 02, 2011 at 3:42 pm

      I just made these. They're TO DIE FOR.

      I used baking powder (it says baking powder in the ingredient list and baking soda in the directions). Turned out lovely.

    14. Sarah says

      November 02, 2011 at 4:36 pm

      As luck would have it there were bags of leftover Halloween caramels at the drugstore checkout and I have everything else at home. Can't wait to try these.

    15. vanillasugarblog says

      November 02, 2011 at 5:31 pm

      i would eat that whole plate! For I am a caramel & apple junkie. Love these girls!

    16. Susan says

      November 02, 2011 at 10:46 pm

      Aaah, sorry about your car! Also, those cookies look amazing.

    17. Anna` says

      November 06, 2011 at 11:00 pm

      I'm the Anna who made the cookies above.

      My boyfriend and I tried something different with the idea. We made the batter, but didn't put the caramel IN the cookie. Instead, we added butter to the caramels and melted them in a double boiler, then drizzled that over the baked cookies. Much better πŸ˜€

    18. Lexi @ Sempre Dolce says

      November 01, 2017 at 7:34 pm

      These cookies look so soft and perfect for fall! And we definitely have a candy crisis over here... thanks rainy weather! ;D

    19. Vaughn says

      November 01, 2017 at 11:34 pm

      5 stars
      love the caramel! and a new use for apple cider

    20. Tina Lindquist says

      November 01, 2017 at 11:52 pm

      5 stars
      Oh my heck! I'm in, 'nuff said;P That is really creative, thanks for sharing this.

    21. Emily says

      November 02, 2017 at 4:48 am

      5 stars
      These sound like the ultimate cookies for Autumn, saving this recipe!

    22. David @ Cooking Chat says

      November 02, 2017 at 7:15 am

      5 stars
      looks like a tasty fall treat! I'd take a homemade cookie like this over candy!

    23. Laura says

      November 02, 2017 at 7:17 am

      5 stars
      Great cookies for candy lovers, plenty of sweetness.

    24. Bianca @ Confessions of a Chocoholic says

      November 02, 2017 at 4:25 pm

      Love that these are stuffed with caramel! I'm stoked for eating season too πŸ˜‰

    25. Dawn - Girl Heart Food says

      November 03, 2017 at 7:22 am

      5 stars
      What a fun surprise in the middle of these cookies! So perfect for dunkin' πŸ˜‰ P.S. Fingers crossed for no snow!

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Meet Sues

    Hi and thanks for visiting! I started We are not Martha to show you how to make recipes that impress without stress, including easy weeknight dinners, delightful desserts, + lots of cocktails.

    Learn More...

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • Easter Recipes:

    • Cadbury Creme Egg Ice Cream
    • Easter Oreo Bark
    • Cadbury Mini Egg Scones
    • Chai Carrot Cake Scones
    • Jelly Bean Ice Cream
    • Apple Spice Glazed Ham

    Mother's Day Recipes:

    • Shaved Asparagus Salad
    • Strawberry Shortcake Cookies
    • Iced Lavender Latte
    • Strawberry Crepes
    • Lemon Pepper Asparagus
    • Strawberry Souffle

    Popular Now

    • Basil Chicken in Coconut Curry Sauce
    • Momofuku Milk Bar's Cornflake Chocolate Chip Marshmallow Cookies
    • Blueberry Vodka Lemonade
    • Chicken Dog Treats

    Footer

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
    • Twitter

    Footer

    ^ back to top

    About

    • About Sues
    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclosures
    • Web Stories

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact
    • Work with Me

    BE SURE TO CHECK OUT MY AMAZON SHOP TO DISCOVER SOME OF MY FAVORITE COOKING AND BAKING ITEMS THAT I USE IN MY OWN KITCHEN. WE ARE NOT MARTHA IS A PARTICIPANT IN THE AMAZON SERVICES LLC ASSOCIATES PROGRAM, AN AFFILIATE ADVERTISING PROGRAM DESIGNED TO PROVIDE A MEANS FOR SITES TO EARN ADVERTISING FEES BY ADVERTISING AND LINKING TO AMAZON.COM. ORDERING ANY PRODUCTS MENTIONED HERE ARE AT NO EXTRA COST TO YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!

    Copyright Β© 2022 WE ARE NOT MARTHA