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Caramel Apple Stuffed Gingerbread Cookies Recipe

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4.3 from 2 reviews

  • Author: Sara
  • Total Time: 40 minutes
  • Yield: 24 servings

Description

These Caramel Apple Stuffed Gingerbread Cookies are a delightful holiday treat featuring warm gingerbread cookie cups filled with a spiced caramel apple filling and topped with a luscious caramel cream cheese frosting. Perfect for parties or cozy gatherings, they combine the classic flavors of gingerbread, caramel, and apples in a unique stuffed cookie presentation.

Ingredients

Gingerbread Cookie Dough

  • 3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 1/4 cup molasses
  • 2 1/4 cups all purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking soda
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
  • 1 teaspoon nutmeg
  • 3/4 cup granulated sugar, for rolling

Caramel Apple Filling

  • 3 cups apples, peeled and chopped into small cubes
  • 1 Tablespoon unsalted butter
  • 1 teaspoon lemon juice
  • 3 Tablespoons brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
  • 1/4 teaspoon cloves
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/2 cup caramel tidbits

Caramel Cream Cheese Topping

  • 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
  • 1/4 cup caramel ice cream topping
  • 2/3 cup whipped cream

Instructions

  1. Preheat and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and spray a mini muffin pan with non-stick cooking spray to ensure easy removal of cookies later.
  2. Cream Butter and Sugar: In a stand mixer or with a hand mixer, beat together the softened butter and brown sugar until the mixture becomes creamy and smooth.
  3. Add Wet Ingredients: Mix in the molasses and the egg to the creamed butter and sugar, beating until fully combined.
  4. Mix Dry Ingredients: In a separate small bowl, whisk together all-purpose flour, baking soda, salt, ground ginger, cinnamon, ground cloves, and nutmeg.
  5. Combine Dough: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing until just combined to avoid overworking the dough.
  6. Shape Cookie Cups: Using a small ice cream scoop, portion out the dough into the mini muffin pan. Press the dough with the back of a spoon or your fingers into the muffin cups, forming bowls and creating a slight lip around the edges.
  7. Bake Cookie Cups: Bake in the preheated oven for 10 minutes until set but not fully browned.
  8. Create Centers: Immediately after baking, press the centers again with a spoon to maintain the cup shape for filling.
  9. Cool Completely: Allow the cookie cups to cool fully in the pan before carefully removing them to prevent breaking.
  10. Prepare Caramel Apple Filling: In a saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter. Add the peeled and chopped apples, lemon juice, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, ground ginger, and kosher salt. Stir well to combine.
  11. Cook Apples: Cook the apple mixture for about 5 minutes until the apples are fork-tender, adding a teaspoon of water if the mixture becomes too dry.
  12. Add Caramel Tidbits: Stir in the caramel tidbits and allow them to melt slightly into the warm apple mixture.
  13. Make Caramel Cream Cheese Frosting: In a stand mixer, whip the cream cheese until fluffy. Add the caramel ice cream topping and mix until blended. Fold in the whipped cream gently using a spatula for a light, airy texture.
  14. Assemble Cookies: Spoon or pipe the caramel apple filling evenly into each gingerbread cookie cup.
  15. Add Topping: Pipe or spoon the caramel cream cheese frosting over the apple filling.
  16. Optional Garnish and Serve: Sprinkle with cinnamon if desired before serving these festive stuffed cookies.

Notes

  • Use fresh, firm apples like Granny Smith for the best texture and tartness in the filling.
  • If you don’t have caramel tidbits, chopped caramel candies can be used as a substitute.
  • Allow cookie cups to cool completely before filling to avoid melting the frosting.
  • These cookies can be made a day ahead and stored in the refrigerator; bring them to room temperature before serving.
  • You can use canned whipped cream or make homemade whipped cream for the topping.
  • Prep Time: 20 minutes
  • Cook Time: 20 minutes
  • Category: Dessert
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American

Find it online: https://sarabaking.com/caramel-apple-stuffed-gingerbread-cookies-recipe/