Apple Cider Whoopie Pie Cookies with Caramel Recipe
Delight in these Apple Cider Whoopie Pie Cookies filled with a rich, homemade caramel filling. Featuring warm spices like cinnamon and nutmeg combined with the fruity tang of apple cider, these soft, sandwich-style cookies are perfect for cozy autumn gatherings or as a sweet treat any time of year.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: About 24 cookies (12 whoopie pies) 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Cookie Ingredients:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup apple cider
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Caramel Filling Ingredients:
- ½ cup unsalted butter
- 1 cup brown sugar
- ¼ cup heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) to prepare for baking the cookies.
- Prepare Dry Ingredients: In a bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg, and salt until evenly combined to ensure the spices and leavening agent are well distributed.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a separate large bowl, beat the softened unsalted butter and brown sugar together using an electric mixer or by hand until the mixture becomes fluffy and light in texture, which helps to create a tender cookie.
- Add Eggs and Cider: Mix in the eggs, apple cider, and vanilla extract into the creamed mixture, blending until the mixture is smooth and uniform.
- Combine Mixtures: Gradually add the dry ingredient mixture to the wet ingredients, stirring until just combined. Avoid overmixing to keep the cookies soft and tender.
- Scoop Dough: Drop rounded balls of the dough onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat, spacing them appropriately to allow for spreading.
- Bake: Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 12 to 15 minutes or until the edges turn golden, indicating they are cooked through but still soft inside.
- Make Caramel Filling: While the cookies bake, melt the butter for the filling in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir in the brown sugar and heavy cream, bring the mixture to a boil and let it cook for 3 to 5 minutes until thickened. Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla extract.
- Assemble: Once cookies have cooled completely, spread a generous amount of caramel filling on the bottom side of one cookie, then sandwich with another cookie on top to create delicious whoopie pies.
Notes
- Ensure the cookies are completely cool before assembling to prevent the caramel filling from melting.
- If you prefer, the apple cider can be reduced by simmering to intensify the flavor before adding to the batter.
- Store assembled whoopie pies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or refrigerate for longer freshness.
- For a festive touch, sprinkle a tiny pinch of sea salt on the caramel layer before sandwiching the cookies.
Keywords: Apple cider cookies, whoopie pies, caramel filling, spiced cookies, fall dessert, soft cookies, sandwich cookies
