Name: No Bake Caramel Apple Cookies
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 5 min
Total time: 20 min
Yield: 36 cookies
Ingredients: 2 c. sugar; 3/4 c. butter; 2/3 c. evaporated milk; 1 tsp. vanilla; 3/4 oz. pkg. instant caramel pudding; 3 1/2 c. oats; 1 c. chopped dehydrated apples; 1/2 c. toffee chips (optional); 1 c. white chocolate chips (optional); sea salt (to taste)

Raise your hand if you are head over heals in love with caramel apples! If your hand is high in the air you’ve gotta try these No Bake Caramel Apple Cookies! There’s no need to waste all day dipping apples when you can whip up a batch of these cookies in no time at all!

Caramel Apples are perfect for fall!

Every year we take our boys to the Eastern Idaho State Fair. I’m not going to lie, the main reason we go to the fair is to eat the food! All of the food! Basically we eat food until we need to unbutton our pants and we have to waddle out of the gates. Even after chowing all that deep-fried goodness we always grab an ice cream cone to eat on our way home! Our bank gives us coupons for free ice cream and you better believe I’m not about to let that go to waste!

This has been a tradition for many years and we have it down to a science. We know which vendors are our favorites and which ones aren’t worth it.

Payson was dying to eat a caramel apple this year. Caramel apples aren’t a top priority at the fair because I can grab them at those fancy candy stores any day of the week, but Payson NEEDED one! I tried to talk him into getting sliced apples with caramel to dip in so we could all share. Of course he wanted to whole apple for himself and that’s exactly what he got!

Don’t misunderstand me, I love caramel apples! In fact I have really good intentions of making some fancy ones at home every year. Life happens, I give up and make Skinny Salted Caramel Apple Dip instead. It hits the spot minus all the effort!

Favorite No Bake Cookies

If you’ve spent any time at all wandering around my site you know I’m in love with no bake cookies! A busy mom just can’t go wrong with a few good no bake cookie recipes! If you find yourself short on time and know your kids are going to rush through the door like ravenous wolves on the hunt for some treats check out these favorites of mine! Be sure to add No Bake Caramel Apple Cookies to your fall no baking list! It’s the right thing to do and your kids will thank you!

Ingredients for No Bake Caramel Apple Cookies

What’s ingredients do you need to make no bake cookies? Well, most of them use pretty similar ingredients; oats, sugar, milk, cocoa and vanilla. Some varieties include peanut butter, coconut, and walnuts.

These caramel apple cookies aren’t exactly like traditional no bake cookie. This recipe uses instant pudding to give them a rich, golden brown caramel flavor. My favorite kind of apples to use in these cookies is dried apples. I wouldn’t recommend using fresh apples. Since the cookies aren’t baked they wouldn’t have a chance to soften. They would also make your cookies soggy. No soggy no bake cookies around here!

Be sure to measure and set aside the dry ingredients before you move on to the next step.

How long do I need to cook no bake cookies?

Does it matter how long you boil the butter, milk, and sugar? YES! The longer you boil this mixture the thicker it becomes and that means the cookies will be a little more dry and firm than if you boil the mixture for a shorter period of time.

For No Bake Caramel Apple Cookies you need to bring this mixture to a full rolling boil. What is a full rolling boil? It’s when the mixture comes to a boil and doesn’t stop boiling when stirred. Bring it to a boil over medium to medium high heat, stirring frequently.

As soon as the mixture comes to a full rolling boil remove it from the heat and add vanilla. Then add the dry ingredients. Stir to combine. Then let it sit for a few minutes to set a little bit. The cookies will be flat if you are impatient and scoop them before they have a chance to sit! That’s what happened to me! Don’t be like me!

Wait for the cookies to cool!

I’m pretty much the least patient person on Earth. My kids stand in one grocery line while I check out the rest of the check stands just to make sure I’m in the fastest line. It drives me crazy when I get in what I think is the “fast” line and the lady in front of me wants to use every coupon ever printed, or buy with three different forms of payment. Gah! How does that happen to me?

A few years ago I decided I’d pray for patience. Patience was the topic of my prayers for several years and I really didn’t notice myself getting any more patient. I finally got tired of waiting for patience to magically become a part of me so I quit praying for it. I know, I know I wasn’t patient enough to wait for the gift of patience! Since then I’ve moved on to trying to embrace the fact that I’m a mover and will always be in a hurry, and I’m trying to recognize when I need to just chill and relax! Oh, and those handy grocery pickups are definitely the way to go!

For you fellow chocolate lovers out there, you can add white chocolate chips to these cookies! I’m watching out for you! You’re welcome!

Add a sprinkle of sea salt to the tops of the cookies to balance out all that sweetness.

No Bake Caramel Apple Cookies might be a bit soft when you first scoop them onto baking sheets. Not to worry. They will set up after they cool off and sit for a while!

It wouldn’t be right if I didn’t direct you to my Caramel Apple Crisp Magic Cookie Bars either! I’m pretty much in love with them and didnt’ want to share with my ravenous wolf children! I did though, because I’m nice like that and because I don’t want them to search for my hidden stash of candy!

I hope you enjoy these caramel apple treats as much as we do!

Grab the No Bake Caramel Apple Cookies recipe right here!