Apple Crisp Cookies

Caramelized apples paired with a buttery cookie base and drizzled with a sugar glaze; these apple crisp cookies are the best part of autumn. Made from scratch with this cookie recipe you have all the comfort of fall in each bite.

With a buttery, cinnamon sugar taste, and sweet, juicy apples, these apple crisp cookies are perfect for any occasion. The apples are caramelized to perfection in butter and sugar before being folded into cinnamon and vanilla cookie dough.

Baked until golden the cookies are then drizzled with glaze to finish them off. They’re the perfect recipe to kick off fall and will have you making them again and again.

Use these apple crisp cookies for Sunday night family dinners or make a big batch for Thanksgiving. They’re all the best flavors of traditional apple crisp rolled into individual cookie form.

Ingredients for Apple Crisp Cookies

For the Caramelized Apples:

• 2 1/4 cups green apples, peeled and diced into small cubes
• 4 tablespoons butter
• 1/4 cup sugar
• For the Dough:
• 1 cup butter (2 sticks)
• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 3 cups rolled oats
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• A pinch of salt

For the Glaze:

• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 1 tablespoons water

Serves: 30 cookies

Preparation time:

• Caramelizing Apples: 6-7 minutes
• Mixing Dough: About 7 minutes
• Chilling Dough: At least 1 hour
• Forming Cookies: About 10 minutes
• Baking: 15-20 minutes
• Cooling: Until completely cool

How to Make Apple Crisp Cookies

1. Prepare the Caramelized Apples: In a skillet over medium-high heat, add
the diced apples, 4 tablespoons of butter, and 1/4 cup of sugar.

Cook, stirring occasionally, until the apples are golden and caramelized, about
6 to 7 minutes.

Remove from heat and let cool.

2. Prepare the Dough: In a large bowl, beat 1 cup of butter with 1 cup of
packed brown sugar and 1/4 cup of sugar until creamy, about 3 minutes.

Add the eggs and vanilla extract, beating for another minute until well
combined.

In another bowl, mix the rolled oats, flour, cinnamon, baking soda, and salt.

Add the dry ingredients to the butter and sugar mixture, mixing well.

Fold in the caramelized apple cubes until well distributed.

Cover the dough and refrigerate for at least one hour.

3. Form and Bake the Cookies: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
Using a #20 cookie scoop, form dough balls and place them on a baking
sheet lined with parchment paper, leaving space between them.

Bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until the cookies are golden.

Remove from the oven and let cool on a wire rack.

4. Prepare the Glaze:
In a small bowl, mix the powdered sugar with 1 tablespoon of water.

Gradually add more water until the desired glaze consistency is reached.

Drizzle the glaze over the cooled cookies in decorative patterns.

Variations and Substitutions

Apples: The apples you choose will alter the flavor of the cookies. Since the apples are caramelized, choosing a tart apple like Granny Smith works best. For a very sweet profile, opt for something like a Gala or Honey Crisp.

Crunch: To add some texture to your apple crisp cookies, mix in some pecans or chopped almonds to the caramelized apples.

Glaze: Already topped with a sugar glaze, you can substitute that for a drizzle of homemade caramel sauce for a different, indulgent flavor.

Fruit: These cookies work well with other firm fruits like pears too.

Lemon: If you want a bright and fresh flavor, add a dash of lemon juice to the glaze for a burst of sunshine.

Seasoning: Adding in more cinnamon, a pinch of cardamom, or nutmeg can give the apple crisp cookies a tasty unique flavor.

Tips To Make The Best Apple Crisp Cookies

You want lots of apple flavor in each bite, so make sure to dice the apples into small, uniform cubes so that they mix evenly. Likewise, when you add them in, mix gently to avoid breaking them up.

Stir the apples frequently as they caramelize. This prevents sticking and ensures the liquid evaporates and the apples thicken. You may need to adjust the heat though to ensure they don’t burn.

Make sure your butter is at room temperature before you begin mixing the dough.

When creaming the butter and sugars, whip until it gets fluffy and light. This makes it so that the cookies have a softer texture.

The dough must chill for a full hour before you use it. This helps the moisture come out a bit and it firm up which makes it easier to form the cookies.

You want your glaze thick enough to drizzle it but not too runny that it melds together. Adjust the water in it to achieve the best consistency.

Store cooled apple crisp cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for 3 days. They can be stored for up to a week in the fridge but will firm up. Let them come back to room temperature before you serve them again for the best texture.

All the flavors of fall in a new, delicious form. These apple crisp cookies take caramelized apples and pair them with a buttery, cinnamon cookie that’s then drizzled with glaze to finish it off.