Description
These Apple Cider Whoopie Pie Cookies with Caramel are a delightful fall treat that combines the flavors of apple cider, warm spices, and rich caramel sandwiched between two soft cookies.
Ingredients
Scale
Cookies:
- 1 cup apple cider
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground ginger
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ½ cup unsalted butter (softened)
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup light brown sugar (packed)
- 2 large eggs
- ¼ cup apple butter or unsweetened applesauce
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3 tablespoons melted butter (for coating)
- ¼ cup granulated sugar mixed with 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon (for coating)
- ½ cup caramel sauce (for drizzle or filling)
Caramel Buttercream Filling:
- ½ cup unsalted butter (softened)
- 1 ½ cups powdered sugar
- ¼ cup caramel sauce
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- pinch of salt
Instructions
- Reduce Apple Cider: Pour apple cider into a small saucepan and simmer over medium heat until reduced to ¼ cup, about 10–15 minutes. Let cool.
- Prepare Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg.
- Cream Butter and Sugars: In a large mixing bowl, cream together softened butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until fluffy. Beat in eggs one at a time, then mix in apple butter and vanilla.
- Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients: Stir in the cooled cider reduction. Gradually add the dry ingredients and mix just until combined.
- Bake Cookies: Preheat oven to 350°F (177°C). Drop batter by rounded tablespoons onto lined baking sheets. Bake for 10–12 minutes until set and springy. Cool on a wire rack.
- Coat Cookies: Brush tops with melted butter and coat in cinnamon-sugar.
- Make Filling: Beat butter until creamy, add powdered sugar gradually, then beat in caramel sauce, vanilla, and salt until smooth.
- Assemble Whoopie Pies: Spread or pipe filling onto one cookie, drizzle with caramel if desired, and sandwich with another cookie.
Notes
- Reducing the cider intensifies flavor and keeps cookies moist.
- For a richer taste, add a pinch of clove or use brown butter in the dough.
- The cookies can be made a day ahead and filled just before serving.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes (plus cooling time)
- Cook Time: 12 minutes per batch
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 whoopie pie
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 45 g
- Sodium: 180 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 11 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 70 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 65 mg
