I know what you’re thinking: apple fritters and cookies? Has she lost her mind?
The short answer is no, it’s been MIA for a long time.
The long answer is no, you guys just hafta trust me on this one. Say it with me: Apple Fritter Turtle Cookie Bars. It’s lovely, right? And it tastes even lovelier!
You see, THIS happens to be one of my all-time favorite Domestic Rebel Recipes on the blog. It was created purely on a whim when I went to the store and bought some oatmeal cookie mix and then happened to wander into a donut shop where I picked up a couple extra jelly doughnuts. Crazy, right? But the result is so sinfully delicious I can’t even handle it… so I eat every last bar 🙂
But since it’s Apple Fritter Week (seriously, can we get this trending as #AppleFritterWeek?!!) I knew I had to recreate those bars but with apple fritters! And since I was going full-crazy on the switcheroo, I figured whyyyyy not use turtle cookie dough? Apples pair swimmingly with caramel and chocolate, and they definitely mesh well with pecans sooo… YOLO, am I right?
And dude, if we only live once, I am so making these for the rest of my days. Oh mah gawwwwwww.
*adapted from my Oatmeal Cookie Peanut Butter and Jelly Donut Bars recipe
- 2 pkg (24-count) refrigerated turtle cookie dough (I used the kind by Nestle), room temperature
- 4-5 medium-sized apple fritters
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line an 8x8" pan with foil, extending the edges of the foil over the sides of the pan. Mist the foil liberally with cooking spray.
- Open one package of the cookie dough and gently press the entire plane of cookie dough into the prepared pan in an even layer, pressing together any gaps. You can also tear and press pieces of dough together, almost like a puzzle, until the entire bottom of the pan is covered.
- Top the first layer of cookie dough with the apple fritters in a single layer, tearing fritters to fit in the corners and small nooks and crannies, if need be.
- Repeat with the remaining package of cookie dough, covering the apple fritters as best as you can. Bake for approx. 20-25 minutes or until the center appears mostly set (without being overly jiggly) as it will continue to cook up and firm up at room temperature. Do not over-bake. Allow the bars to cool completely before cutting into squares. Serve with caramel sauce or dust with powdered sugar, if desired.
Two ingredients, people! You are TWO super-easy ingredients away from having the most decadent bars of your life! The apple fritters retain their spiced, sweet flavor and texture in the middle of those soft-baked turtle cookies. And with the pockets of gooey caramel, rich milk chocolate and salty, crunchy pecans, it’s basically heaven on earth.
Have a fantastic day! Stay tuned for more Apple Fritter Week recipes!
xo, Hayley
Kayle (The Cooking Actress) says
I seriously just LOVE the way your mind works!
Teresa says
These look even more scrumptious than your Apple Fritter Cake. Yum.