These Apple Cider Cookies Are The Perfect Fall Treat
All the fall flavor packed into a delicious dessert. These apple cider cookies are soft in texture and drizzled with an apple cider glaze. Each bite wraps you up in a cozy blend of flavor.
Seasoned with cinnamon and nutmeg these apple cider cookies give you all the comforting tastes of autumn. The base of the cookie has a brown sugar, buttery taste, and the top is glazed with apple cider icing.
These cookies are a cozy dessert to whip up as the weather changes and come together in about 40 minutes since there’s no need to chill the dough. Packed with apple flavor they’re the perfect holiday cookie for any dessert table.
Ingredients For the cookies:
- 1/2 cup butter, room temperature
- 1/4 cup apple cider, reduced
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
Ingredients For the glaze:
- 1 tablespoon apple cider
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
Preparation time:
- Dough Preparation: 10 minutes
- Baking: 10-12 minutes
- Cooling on the Baking Sheet: 5 minutes
- Cooling on the Wire Rack: 10 minutes
- Glazing: 5 minutes
- Total Time: Approximately 40 minutes.
- Serves: 14 cookies
Directions
1. Reduce apple cider: In a small saucepan, heat about 1/2 cup apple cider over medium heat until reduced by half (1/4 cup). Allow to cool.
2. Prepare the dough: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
In a large bowl, cream together the room temperature butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until the mixture is smooth and creamy.
3. Add the egg and the reduced apple cider. Beat until well combined.
4. In the same bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
5. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until a smooth dough forms.
6. Shape the cookies: Use a #20 cookie scoop or a regular spoon to form balls of dough. Place them on a parchment-lined baking sheet, spacing them apart.
7. Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 10 to 12 minutes, or until the edges are golden and the centers look set.
8. Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
9. Prepare the glaze: In a small bowl, mix the apple cider with the powdered sugar until you have a smooth glaze.
10.Drizzle or spread the glaze over the cooled cookies.
Variations and Substitutions
Seasonings: Add in extra cinnamon, cloves, or even a dash of ginger to give the apple cookies a warmer flavor.
Extra apple: A great way to vary the texture and taste of the cookies is to add in some chopped dried apples to the batter.
Extracts: Adding in an apple extract will give the cookies even more fall flavor but an almond extract would be tasty as well and give the cookies a nuttier depth.
Crunch: Top the cookies or mix in some chopped pecans for a delicious, crunchy twist.
Cinnamon sugar: If you love apple cinnamon donuts, sprinkle cinnamon sugar on top of the cookies before you drizzle them with the apple cider glaze. Or roll the cookies in the cinnamon sugar before you bake them.
Caramel apple: In place of the apple cider glaze you could drizzle the cookies with a homemade caramel sauce.
How To Make The Best Apple Cider Cookies
Keep a close eye on the apple cider as you’re reducing it. Though reducing it does maximize the flavor, too much and it will be too caramelized to work with. You want it thick but still liquid.
Don’t overmix the batter. Overmixed cookies come out denser than they should. Only stir until everything is combined.
Room-temperature butter needs to be used so that it creams evenly. Cold butter could create lumps or cause the cookies to spread out too much.
Adjust your glaze as per your preference. Add more sugar if you want a thicker texture.
Keep a close eye on the cookies towards the end of cooking. They should be golden and spring back slightly when touched. They’ll cook a bit further as they cool.
Store the cookies once cooled in an airtight container on the counter for 3-4 days. If you’re storing the cookies after they’ve been glazed, make sure that the glaze has hardened before you stack the cookies.
Freeze the apple cider cookies without the glaze once fully cooled in a freezer bag for up to 3 months. When you need them, let them come to room temperature and add on the glaze before you serve them.
Apple Cider Cookies
Ingredients
Ingredients For the cookies:
- 1/2 cup butter room temperature
- 1/4 cup apple cider reduced
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp nutmeg
Ingredients For the glaze:
- 1 tbsp apple cider
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
Instructions
- 1. Reduce apple cider: In a small saucepan, heat about 1/2 cup apple cider over medium heat until reduced by half (1/4 cup). Allow to cool.
- 2. Prepare the dough: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). In a large bowl, cream together the room temperature butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until the mixture is smooth and creamy.
- 3. Add the egg and the reduced apple cider. Beat until well combined.
- 4. In the same bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
- 5. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until a smooth dough forms.
- 6. Shape the cookies: Use a #20 cookie scoop or a regular spoon to form balls of dough. Place them on a parchment-lined baking sheet, spacing them apart.
- 7. Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 10 to 12 minutes, or until the edges are golden and the centers look set.
- 8. Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
- 9. Prepare the glaze: In a small bowl, mix the apple cider with the powdered sugar until you have a smooth glaze.
- 10.Drizzle or spread the glaze over the cooled cookies.
Notes
- Reducing the Apple Cider: Reducing the apple cider concentrates its flavor, but make sure not to reduce it too much to avoid caramelization or burning. It should be thick but still liquid.
- Room Temperature Butter: For best results, ensure the butter is at room temperature, which helps create a uniform dough texture. If the butter is too cold, the dough may turn out lumpy.
- Additional Flavor: If you want a stronger apple flavor, consider adding a teaspoon of apple extract or apple cider extract along with the reduced cider.
- Glaze Adjustments: If you prefer a thicker glaze, add more powdered sugar until you reach the desired consistency.
- Additions: For a special twist, you can add chopped dried apples or nuts to the dough before baking.
- Storage: Store the cookies in an airtight container at room temperature to keep them fresh for about 3-4 days. If glazed, ensure the glaze is completely dry before stacking. These cookies freeze well. You can freeze them without glazing and add the glaze after defrosting for a fresh taste.
