Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Caramel Apples

Lately my home has been filled with the scent of warm vanilla and cooked sugar. I’ve been making every incarnation of caramel I can think of. I can’t help it. It’s something I love to enjoy during the fall months. I’ve been leaving a trail of crumpled wax paper squares everywhere I go. Why do I even bother wrapping homemade caramels, honestly?!

This is a caramel recipe that I’ve been dying to share. It makes the glossiest, most perfect caramel apples I’ve ever seen! And, as if that weren’t enough to soothe a fierce sweet tooth, I’ve added a layer of chocolate chip cookie dough.

I regret nothing.

Wrapping the caramel apple in cookie dough is easy. Just make sure the caramel is set before you start. I chose to leave part of the caramel exposed, but you could certainly wrap the entire apple in cookie dough.

Begin by rolling the cookie dough between sheets of wax paper. Chill the dough then cut  into strips. To get a clean line when cutting, don’t drag your knife through the dough – the chips will drag and make a very ragged edge. Instead, cut strait down with a sharp knife. This will cut through the chocolate chips and make a more precise edge.

Next, place the dough onto the caramel apple and press it on firmly. The dough will spread around the apple as you press. Tuck the excess dough under the apple.

Serve in cute cupcake papers. Refrigerate leftovers – that’s it!

Is it just me, or do these guys kinda look like they’re wearing leopard print?

Even if you’re not starry-eyed over the cookie dough coating, I hope you’ll try the caramel recipe for covering apples. It’s one of the tastiest I’ve tried!

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough-Covered Caramel Apples

[click for printable version]

Source: SprinkleBakes/ Vintage church fundraiser cookbook

Yield: 12-15 apples

Prep: 45 minutes, total 2 hours

Caramel apples

12 small apples

Ice pop sticks or Birchware forks (shown)

1 can/ 14 oz. sweetened condensed milk (not evaporated milk, these are sometimes confused)

2/3 cup/ 148g. heavy whipping cream

1 cup/ 310g. light corn syrup

1 cup/ 204g. dark brown sugar, lightly packed

1 cup/ 210g. granulated sugar

1/2 cup/ 113g. unsalted butter

1 tsp./ 6g. vanilla extract

Cookie dough

3 cups/ 418g. all-purpose flour

3/4 tsp./ 3g salt

1 1/4 cups/ 273g. light brown sugar, packed

3/4 cups/175g granulated sugar

1 cup/ 226g. unsalted butter, melted and cooled

1 1/4 tsp./ 7g. vanilla extract

1 cup/ 174g. mini chocolate chips

1/4 cup/ 52g. whole milk

  1. Place a large sheet of parchment paper on a work surface, or grease a large jelly roll pan with shortening. Set aside.
  2. Clean and dry the apples well.  Remove the apple stems and carefully punch a guide hole for the ice pop sticks with a knife or skewer.  Insert sticks into guide holes. Lift each apple to make sure each can securely be picked up. 
  3. For the caramel, stir together the condensed milk and heavy cream in a 4-cup measure with a spout. Combine corn syrup, dark brown sugar and granulated sugar in a large pot. Bring to a bubble over high heat. When mixture boils, add butter. Stir until butter is melted and reduce heat to medium-high. Add milk mixture in a small, steady stream while whisking continually so that the caramel keeps a slight boil. Reduce heat to medium and attach a candy thermometer. Bring to 250F. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla extract. Wait until bubbling subsides and the caramel has a smooth, glassy surface that is bubble-free. Tilt pan slightly so the caramel pools to one side. Dip apples and place them on parchment. Allow them to set completely, about 1 hour.
  4. For the cookie dough, stir together flour, salt, brown sugar and granulated sugar in a large mixing bowl. Pour in butter and vanilla extract. Mix until a dry dough forms. Add chocolate chips and mix on lowest speed. When chocolate chips are evenly dispersed, add milk 1 tablespoon at a time with machine on low speed. Turn the cookie dough out onto a large sheet of wax paper. Top with a same-sized piece of wax paper and roll dough to 1/4-inch (or as thinly as the chocolate chips will allow). Chill the dough for 20 minutes then cut  into strips. To get a clean line when cutting, don’t drag your knife through the dough – the chips will drag and make a very ragged edge. Instead, cut strait down with a sharp knife. This will cut through the chocolate chips and make a more precise edge.
  5. Next, place the dough onto the caramel apple and press it on firmly. The dough will spread around the apple as you press. Tuck the excess dough under the apple. Serve in cute muffin-sized cupcake papers. Refrigerate leftovers.

Note: the cookie dough application is a very forgiving process. If your dough tears or crumbles, simply pick up dough pieces and patch them onto the apple. The apples can be perfectly and seamlessly smoothed with your hands/fingers.

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Mallory @ Because I Like Chocolate
Mallory @ Because I Like Chocolate
10 years ago

All I can say is these look incredibly dangerous. Amazing but dangerous.

Theresa
Theresa
10 years ago

Could caramel apples get any better? I'm smitten!

Unknown
Unknown
10 years ago

These look great! But I don't know if I have the self control to let the cookie dough make it onto the apples…

Angie - Big Bears Wife
Angie - Big Bears Wife
10 years ago

Holy WOW! I am in love with these! Truly awesome!

Laura
Laura
10 years ago

This is a genius idea! Love that it's something a little fancier than your typical caramel apple.

cookies and cups
cookies and cups
10 years ago

Your caramel is perfection! This is out of control amazing!

Lindsay
Lindsay
10 years ago

I love you.

Rosa's Yummy Yums
Rosa's Yummy Yums
10 years ago

What a great idea and creation! Those caramel apples look amazing.

Cheers,

Rosa

Stacy | Wicked Good Kitchen
Stacy | Wicked Good Kitchen
10 years ago

This is so incredibly creative, Heather! I never would have thought of cookie dough to cover a caramel apple. Lovely styling and photos, as always. 🙂 Thanks for sharing, girl!

Vicki Wilde
Vicki Wilde
10 years ago

That's bananas! Love the idea. Damn these braces! Next year…

Unknown
Unknown
10 years ago

This is such a strange combo but is natural too! I have got to true these before apple season goes!

Chung-Ah | Damn Delicious
Chung-Ah | Damn Delicious
10 years ago

Wrapping this up in cookie dough is pure genius!

Claudia
Claudia
10 years ago

Oh, I wish I didn't have to tell you this, but flour is considered a raw food, and since it is grown in soil, it can be contaminated with e coli and other bacteria. Cookie dough has been implicated in infectious disease outbreaks of e.coli and salmonella; the most likely culprit is not the eggs, but the flour. I'd recommend you use a commercial cookie dough which is pasteurized for safety.
http://www.marlerblog.com/legal-cases/if-you-are-going-to-eat-cookie-dough-raw-do-not-eat-the-flour-unless-its-heat-treated/#.UkNUDz_iH-4

Katrina @ Warm Vanilla Sugar
Katrina @ Warm Vanilla Sugar
10 years ago

I don't know how you come up with this stuff, but you manage to blow my mind with pretty much every post! AWESOME idea!!

Heather Baird
Heather Baird
10 years ago

@Claudia – I consulted the writer of The Cookie Dough Lover's Cookbook (Lindsay Landis, also writer of Love and Olive Oil blog- she's fab!) when she attended my book signing in Nashville. She certainly did her due diligence on this issue and found the flour to be of equal safety as the raw foods and veggies we get from the produce section at the supermarkets. She recommends that if you're concerned about eating raw flour, then toast the flour at 350F in the oven for 4-5 minutes.

Karen
Karen
10 years ago

Amazing photos of the best looking caramel apples I've ever seen! My daughter's going to think she died and went to heaven. Thanks so much!

RecipeGirl
RecipeGirl
10 years ago

Best recipe EVER. Love it!!!

Unknown
Unknown
10 years ago

Love how you styled these, Heather! So pretty, and yes, they do look they're wearing leopard print! Can't wait to try out your caramel recipe. I've never seen one quite like it before. PS- Crushing on that vintagey, Corning-looking baking dish 😉

Tieghan
Tieghan
10 years ago

Oh wow!! Your caramel looks perfect!! And seriously? cookie dough?!?! GENIUS!

Unknown
Unknown
10 years ago

um, these look AMAZING! Yum yum yum!!

Unknown
Unknown
10 years ago

Do you mean that you eat raw cookie dough?

Unknown
Unknown
10 years ago

Do you mean that you eat raw cookie dough?

Anonymous
Anonymous
10 years ago

Where did you even get that idea?? It is just brilliant! Looks beautfiul and yummy!

challenge coins
challenge coins
10 years ago

wow!! Your caramel looks perfect!! And seriously? cookie dough?!?! GENIUS!

Rachel @ Baked by Rachel
Rachel @ Baked by Rachel
10 years ago

Ridiculously fun idea Heather! 🙂

Plain Chicken
Plain Chicken
10 years ago

crazy delicious!!!!

MissCandiquik
MissCandiquik
10 years ago

These look and sound amazing. And your photos?! Wow – perfection. Bravo.

Susan@LunaCafe
Susan@LunaCafe
10 years ago

OMG, these should be illegal. I'll have to eat one to make sure, before I call the anti-sugar league. 🙂

Anonymous
Anonymous
10 years ago

Sweet!!! as always

Colette (Coco)
Colette (Coco)
10 years ago

These are just so pretty. The cookie dough band is a great addition.
Love the step-by-step pics, Heather. xo

Lauren at Keep It Sweet
Lauren at Keep It Sweet
10 years ago

I am… obsessed! I love making caramel sauce but haven't made caramel apples from scratch before… but this, omg!

kelsey_the farmer's daughter
kelsey_the farmer's daughter
10 years ago

oh my word! these look absolutely HEAVENLY!!! and seriously, that is the most gorgeous caramel I've ever seen…I can't wait to try it out 🙂

Sienna D
Sienna D
10 years ago

How delicious do these look! Just in time for Halloween too, yum yum 🙂

Anonymous
Anonymous
10 years ago

This is great! I've added this to my "link I liked" post today: http://stayathomemomdoingnothing.com/2013/09/27/links-i-liked-this-week/?postpost=v2

Monica
Monica
10 years ago

I love the way your mind thinks! Always so creative…

Tora
Tora
10 years ago

I made these yesterday and the caramel was perfect, seriously! So incredibly delicious and chewy. It did come out a little thick, probably because it took a while before reaching the correct temperature. That didn't make it any less scrumptious, mind you. Thank you so much!

Lora
Lora
10 years ago

I desperately need these in my life. o.m.g.

Alycia Larson
Alycia Larson
10 years ago

Yum, this will be an awesome recipe to make for my Halloween Party i am planning next month.

Sue
Sue
10 years ago

You never cease to amaze me, Heather! The way your brain works is awesome:)

Jessica
Jessica
10 years ago

I live in france and can't get a hold of light corn syrup. Any substitutes?

Jessica
Jessica
10 years ago

Any substitutes for the light corn syrup? I'm in France and its not available here.
Thanks.

Heather Baird
Heather Baird
10 years ago

Hi Jessica! I haven't tried it, but TLC cooking suggests golden syrup as a substitution for light corn syrup. Hope this helps!

Amanda @ Once Upon a Recipe
Amanda @ Once Upon a Recipe
10 years ago

These are just ridiculous. In the very best way possible.

veronicabbee
veronicabbee
10 years ago

Just found your blog, and I'm already obsessed! This is going to be my next delicious project. And happy 4th blog-birthday! (I'm a little late to the party…)

Anonymous
Anonymous
10 years ago

In the cookie dough, it says to add brown and granulated sugars but granulated isn't listed in the ingredients! Help

Heather Baird
Heather Baird
10 years ago

Ah, thank you so much for the heads up! Added!