Enjoy the delicious fall flavor of apples year-round with these Apple Cookies.
An apple a day may keep the doctor away, but an apple cookie each day is just going to make your life a whole lot sweeter! Wonderfully reminiscent of homemade apple pie, these lovely cookies with their warm spices and lovely apple flavor will become a family favorite in no time.
Soft, chewy, and buttery, with a slightly crunchy outside from the cookies being rolled in sugar before baking, these apple cookies are super delicious. They’re perfect for packing in school or work lunches, as an afternoon snack, to satisfy a late-night sweet craving, or even as a breakfast treat.
And making them is as easy as pie (sorry, I couldn’t help myself!). Actually, these apple cookies are easier to make than an apple pie because there are no apples in them, and there’s no need to make pastry! The wonderful flavor of apple that permeates throughout each cookie comes from the addition of apple butter.
You can buy apple butter in any grocery store, but here’s something I love to do when I have time: I make this caramel apple butter from The Perfect Cheese Plate With Caramel Apple Butter, which gives the cookies an even more intense flavor.
Secrets To Perfect Cookies
All cookies, including these apple cookies, have the best chance of coming out perfectly by adhering to some basic preparation techniques. Have all of your ingredients at room temperature, and measure everything out before you get started. That will save time. Sift the dry ingredients together. Sifting produces a lighter texture, helps eliminate clumping, and ensures an even distribution throughout the dough. Try not to overmix when combining the wet and dry ingredients. And don’t skimp on the amount of time the dough needs to chill in the refrigerator. It will make forming the cookies and rolling them in the sugar easier, as well as contribute to successful baking. And when you form your cookies, use a mini scoop or a spoon to make all of them the same size.
How Do I Store Leftovers?
Store the baked and cooled apple cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days, in the refrigerator for up to a week, or in the freezer for up to 3 months. Flash-freeze them first for 1 hour on a baking sheet before transferring them to a Ziploc bag.
Can I Prep This Ahead?
Yes. The unbaked cookie dough, wrapped tightly in plastic wrap, can be stored in the refrigerator for 2-4 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months. When ready to bake the cookies, let the (defrosted) dough sit on the counter for 10-15 minutes so that it will be nicely pliable.
Serving Suggestions
The size, shape, and texture of these apple cookies make them perfect for ice cream sandwiches. The apple flavor, enhanced with cinnamon and brown sugar, means that either No-Churn Salted Cinnamon Ice Cream or Brown Sugar Ice Cream is a great choice. You could even add in some slices of Oven-Dried Apples for more flavor and chewiness.
Another fun thing to do with apple cookies is to dip them into Caramel Sauce and serve them with a Copycat Starbucks Vanilla Spice Latte. Or in a true homage to autumn, dip them in Pumpkin Spice Syrup and serve them with a Copycat Starbucks Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew. You can even frost them with Maple-Cream Cheese Frosting and then drizzle some Spiced Maple Syrup on top. Yum!
Apple Cookies
Ingredients
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter room temperature
- 5 tablespoons apple butter
- 1/2 cup brown sugar packed
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 large eggs
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar for rolling
Instructions
- In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, salt, nutmeg, and cinnamon.
- In a separate large bowl, using a mixer, beat the butter, apple butter, brown sugar, and 1 cup granulated sugar until fluffy, about 3 minutes.
- Add vanilla extract to the butter mixture, then eggs one at a time, fully incorporating after each addition.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined. Let the dough chill in the refrigerator for about 10-15 minutes.
- Form dough into balls, roll in the remaining 1/4 cup sugar, and place on prepared baking sheets.
- Bake in a preheated 350°F oven for 12 minutes, or until edges are golden. Allow to cool on the baking sheet for 2 minutes before transferring to a wire rack.
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