A mind-blowing, seasonal cookie recipe! Stuffed Caramel Apple Cookies are gluten-free, vegan, and allergy-free! Warm, big, soft cookies loaded with fresh chopped apples and stuffed with vegan caramel! The flavors of the fall season all in one decadent, but healthy, dessert treat!
We are about to get crazy up in here! Caramel apples are a seasonal must, but man, are they hard to eat! Let's take our favorite fruity treat and transform it into a decadent, big, ooey, gooey cookie instead! And let's just not infuse the flavors of caramel and apple into a cookie, let's take it one step further. Fresh, chopped apple strewn throughout the cookie with a hidden surprise stuffed in the middle...CARAMEL!
I had always assumed making a stuffed cookie would be difficult, but I've come to learn otherwise. So before you get scared away by this baking endeavor, let's walk through the process!
Cookie ingredients you'll need
- Gluten-Free Baking Flour
- Certified Gluten-Free Rolled Oats
- Baking Powder
- Brown Sugar (sugar-free or not)
- Flax Egg
- FRESH Chopped Apple (I suggest Honey Crisp)
- Applesauce
- Vanilla
- Cinnamon
- Allspice
- Vegan Caramels
Best vegan caramels to use
You don't want caramel sauce, you want an actual caramel candy to stuff inside these insanely delicious cookies! This is where Cocomels come in! Coconut milk and coconut sugar-based caramels that are vegan and top allergen-free so we can all enjoy that buttery, mildly sweet goodness! They're totally dairy-free, plant-based, and organic. You know most of my recipes are sugar-free (sans something like natural sugar in fruit), but these Cocomels only have 2g of sugar per piece!
How to make caramel stuffed cookies
- Go about mixing all the cookie ingredients together as you would with any cookie.
- With your cookie batter mixed, gather 2 tablespoons of batter and form 10 big cookie mounds on a prepared baking sheet.
- Now take 1 vegan caramel per cookie, smoosh it into a ball with your finger and press the caramels into the center of each cookie, covering over the hole you made with the cookie batter that was pushed aside. Don't push the caramel in too far, otherwise, it will spill out of the bottom of the cookie!
- Bake the cookies for about 14-15 minutes, remove them from the oven, and let those babies cool on a wire rack.
- Now you can add a simple icing drizzle if desired to make them look complete.
Warm them up!
I said to cool these on a wire rack as any good baker knows to do with baked goods, BUT that's only to help the optimal icing drizzle set. You MUST eat these caramel stuffed apple cookies WARM! The moment you bite into (or break in half for that #instaworthy pic) the warm gooey caramel just oozes out of the soft apple-packed cookie! I'm not saying eat these the second you remove them from the oven (you'll end up burning your mouth on the oozing caramel!), but warmed for a few seconds in the microwave after they've come to room temperature is key!
How to store them
When it comes to gluten-free, vegan baked goods, the best way to preserve quality is by storing them in the fridge. At room temperature in a closed container, they'll last 4-5 days. In the fridge they'll last for at least a week. I don't recommend freezing these cookies. When you're ready to eat them, warm them in the microwave for about 30 seconds or pop them in the toaster oven for a few minutes if you don't have a microwave.
A healthier Fall treat to warm you up
After a busy, chilly fall (or winter) day, what's the best treat to warm you up and end the night with? These cookies! If you want to get wild, these could be a great breakfast cookie, afternoon snack, or dessert, warm and cozy with a mug of hot chocolate, coffee or tea! They're perfect for the family, any fall gathering, or just yourself (I mean, come on!)
These LOADED caramel apple cookies are:
- Gluten-Free
- Vegan
- Allergy-free (Dairy-Free, Soy-Free, Egg-Free, Nut-Free, Peanut-Free, Wheat-Free, Sesame-Free, Corn-Free)
- Oil-Free
- Low in Sugar
- Kid-Friendly
- Fun to Make, Bake, and Eat!
Stuffed Caramel Apple Cookies
Stuffed Caramel Apple Cookies (Gluten-Free, Vegan, Allergy-Free)
A mind-blowing, seasonal cookie recipe! Stuffed Caramel Apple Cookies are gluten-free, vegan, and allergy-free! Warm, big, soft cookies loaded with fresh chopped apples and stuffed with vegan caramel! The flavors of the fall season all in one decadent, but healthy, dessert treat!
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 10 Cookies 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Bake
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- 1 ΒΎ Cup Gluten-Free Baking Flour
- Β½ Cup Certified Gluten-Free Rolled Oats
- Β½ Tsp Baking Powder
- ΒΎ Cup Brown Sugar Style Erythritol (or preferred light brown sugar)
- 1 Prepared Flax Egg (1 TB Milled Flax Seed + 2 TB Water)
- Β½ Cup Fresh Chopped Apple (peeled)
- 4 oz Unsweetened Applesauce (scant Β½ Cup)
- Β½ Tsp Pure Madagascar Bourbon Vanilla Extract
- Β½ Tsp Cinnamon
- Β½ Tsp Ground Allspice
- 10 Vegan Caramels (balled)
Optional Icing Drizzle:
- 1 Cup Powdered Erythritol (or preferred powdered sugar)
- Water (to desired consistency)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350Β°F.
- Mix together the flax egg and set aside to gel while you prep the rest of the batter.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, oats, baking powder, brown sugar, spices, and whisk together.
- Add the flax egg, chopped apple, applesauce, and vanilla. Mix together to combine (if needed you can add 1 tablespoon of water if the dough is dry).
- On a baking sheet lined with a Silpat or parchment paper, drop 10 2-tablespoon-sized balls of cookie dough, eveny spaced.
- Take 1 balled up vegan caramel piece per cookie and press it into the cookie blobs. Cover the hole with the cookie dough so the caramel is hidden.
- Bake the cookies for 14-15 minutes in the preheated oven.
- Remove and let cool on a wire rack while you prepare the optional icing drizzle.
- To make the drizzle: Combine the powdered sweetener with a few teaspoons of water at a time. You want a thick icing, but enough liquid that you'll be able to take a spoon and give each cookie a rough drizzle.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 Cookie
Keywords: stuffed cookies, loaded cookies, caramel apple, caramel, apple, cookies, caramel cookies, apple cookies, gluten-free cookies, vegan cookies, gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, allergy-free, dairy-free, egg-free, soy-free, nut-free, peanut-free, coconut-free, sesame-free, oil-free, kid-friendly
More Awesome Apple Recipes:
- Caramel Apple Granola
- Crustless Apple Pie
- Apple Cider Doughnuts
- Apple Butter Bundt Cake with Cinnamon Glaze
- Apple Poppy Seed Pancakes
Go big, or go home! These caramel stuffed cookies may just be your favorite thing you bake this season! Wow your friends, wow your family, and wow yourself! You may even want to melt some vegan caramels and drizzle them over the cookies instead of icing! Or, just keep them plain for an even "healthier" treat!
So tell me:
+ Have you ever made stuffed cookies?
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Nina
Yum! These are so wonderful!
★★★★★
Rebecca Pytell
So glad you enjoyed them, NINA!
Miz Helen
Your cookies will be amazing for a Thanksgiving dessert!
★★★★★
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Hope you enjoy!
Chris
These are amazing!
★★★★★
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Glad to hear!
Aarika
I've never seen anything like this before! What a delightful recipe. It looks scrumptious and perfect for Fall. Yum!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Thanks.
Jasmine Watts
Love it and looks delicious! Been a vegan for quite some time now.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
A must-try for you then!
Rachel
These look so good and totally meet my dietary needs. I can't wait to try them.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Perfect fall treat for everyone!
Lisa
Now my mouth really is watering, those cookies look so good!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Thanks!
roxy
Oh wow! What a fun treat when you take a bite. Not gonna lie, I'm craving these right now!!
★★★★★
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
All that warm oozy caramel!
Kileen
These cookies look so amazing and so yummy! I will definitely makes these this season!! I love finding new cookie recipes!!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
We can never have too many cookie recipes!
Mila Clarke Buckley
These are an excellent treat!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Perfect seasonal goodie!
Melissa
OMG this recipe looks amazing! I love caramel apple cookies. I need to try these!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Can't beat that classic fall combo!
Krystin
These look amazing, and I love that they're vegan! Thanks for sharing!
★★★★★
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
A perfect fall cookie for you!
Aurora Azon
They look delicious! Thanks for sharing the recipe!!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Glad you think so!
Beth Ann
OMG. I think I need to excuse myself while I lick my screen right now, that looks SO GOOD! Get in my belly!
The first few pictures, I'm like "ooh, yeah I could eat that!" then you see the STUFFING INSIDE THE COOKIE?!?!? and I'm like "GET IN MY MOUTH I MUST EAT YOU!"
Needless to say, I'm bookmarking this beautiful cookie and making sure it gets into the rotation. yumyumyum
★★★★★
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Haha, they are a must-make! Hope you make them soon π
Bella
Yummy this looks so goof im gluten free and vegan! I need to try.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Hope you enjoy the goods!
trent peek
Oh my! Just reading this made me drool a bit. This looks like something i need to try ASAP!
★★★★★
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Yes you do!
Craige Hardel
Ohh god. These look so delicious. Bookmarked the recipes.
Thanks for this
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Haha, hope you enjoy!
Patty
WOW! I've never had a stuffed cookie like this but I think I'll have to give this recipe a try! Thanks for sharing!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
They are going to be your Fall baking must!
Rocio
Thanks for sharing. This is easy, healthy and yummy
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Enjoy!
Katie
Yum! These cookies sound amazing- I may have to test them out this weekend!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
They are so fun to make!