Brown Butter Apple Caramel Cookies

Embrace the essence of fall with these cookies that meld the nutty richness of brown butter with the classic, cozy taste of spiced apples and homemade caramel.

For the Homemade Caramel:

• 120ml heavy whipping cream
• 45ml water
• 200g granulated sugar
• 56.7g unsalted butter
• 1/4 tsp vanilla extract
• Optional: 1/4 tsp salt

For the Apple Mixture:

• 1 tbsp coconut sugar
• 1 1/2 cups Honeycrisp apples, diced
• 1/2 to 1 tsp ground cinnamon

For the Cookie Dough:

• 113g unsalted butter, browned
• 125g all-purpose flour
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 107g dark brown sugar
• 36g granulated sugar
• 1 large egg, at room temperature
• 2 tsp vanilla extract

Instructions:

1. Begin with the caramel. Warm the heavy cream in the microwave until lukewarm. Set aside.
2. In a saucepan, add water and sugar over high heat until the mixture starts to boil. Reduce to medium heat and let it bubble without stirring until it becomes a clear syrup.
3. Keep boiling until it turns golden. Swirl the pan for even coloring, then cook until it reaches a rich amber hue, about 5-7 minutes. Watch it closely to prevent burning.
4. Take the pan off the heat and slowly pour in the warm cream while stirring consistently. The mixture will bubble.
5. Stir in the butter, vanilla extract, and optional salt until smooth.
6. Transfer the caramel to a bowl, cover, and refrigerate. It can be stored for up to 3 weeks.
7. For the apple mixture, cook the diced apples with cinnamon and coconut sugar in a saucepan until the apples are soft. Let it cool.
8. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
9. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
10. In a separate bowl, mix the browned butter and sugars. Add in the egg and vanilla, then mix again.
11. Fold the flour mixture into the wet ingredients until just combined, then fold in the cooled apple mixture.
12. Using a cookie scoop, place dough balls on a parchment-lined baking tray. Bake for 10-12 minutes.
13. Let the cookies cool as they will be very soft when fresh from the oven.

Once cooled, the cookies will have a soft texture, rich with the flavors of brown butter and apple, and ready to be enjoyed with a drizzle or dip of homemade caramel. Enjoy the sweet, comforting flavors that these brown butter apple caramel cookies bring to any autumn day!