Soft Apple Cinnamon Cookies

When it comes to desserts, fall flavors are probably my favorite.  Especially the apple cinnamon flavor combination.  I mean, who can resist a fresh apple crostata or warm apple crisp?  I certainly can’t!  And these delicious cookies are no exception.  I can eat them as fast as I can bake them!

Soft Cinnamon Apple Cookies

These apple cinnamon cookies will be your new favorite cookie of the fall season, but this recipe is so simple that you can enjoy delicious apple pie flavor any time of year!

The flavor of these cookies is all apple pie! Cinnamon, clove, and nutmeg combine with the sweet apples to give you that warm apple pie feeling.  

Moist and cakey are how I would best describe the texture of these cookies.

They are quick and easy to make, and they have a fantastic cinnamon apple flavor and fresh apple chunks in every bite.  

These cookies taste even better the next day, and you probably already have all the ingredients in your pantry! So, let’s get baking!

Ingredients

• Fresh Apples: Peeled and diced small so that you get small pieces of apple throughout the cookie. You can go ahead and use your favorite type of apples in this recipe.  I like Honeycrisp apples when I want a sweeter cookie and Granny Smith apples if I want a tart apple flavor.
• All Purpose Flour: No need for any special flour.
• Baking Soda: Gives the cookies a little rise, so make sure that it is fresh.
• Salt:
• Spices: Ground Cinnamon, Cloves, and Nutmeg.  You can also substitute apple pie spice.
• Light Brown Sugar:  Brown sugar provides just the right amount of molasses flavoring and color to the cookies. White sugar can be used instead.  The cookies will have a lighter color but will still taste great.
• Unsalted Butter or Shortening: Butter should be softened to room temperature but not melted.
• Egg: Bring the egg to room temperature.
• Whole Milk: Room temperature.
• Confectioners’ Sugar: For the sweet glaze frosting. Do not substitute granulated sugar here.
• Apple Juice and Vanilla Extract: Provide additional flavor to the frosting.

Step by Step Instructions for Making the Apple Cookies and The Apple Glaze

1.Cream the butter: In the bowl of a stand mixer or in a large bowl, if using a hand mixer, cream the room temperature butter and brown sugar until fluffy.  Add the egg and mix until thoroughly combined.

2. Combine dry ingredients with wet ingredients: In a separate bowl, sift the dry ingredients.  Add 1/2 of the flour mixture and the diced apple to the creamed butter and sugar mixture with low speed on the mixer.  Blend until the flour is absorbed, then add the remaining flour and milk.  Beat just until all of the ingredients are combined.  The dough will be soft and fluffy.

3. Bake the cookies: Use a teaspoon or a small cookie scoop to drop the dough in mounds about 2″ apart on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.  Bake for 10-12 minutes in a preheated oven set to 375 degrees F. The cookies should be golden brown when they are done.  Transfer the baked cookies to a wire rack to cool completely while you make the icing.

4. Frost the cookies: Combine all the ingredients in a medium bowl and whisk until the icing is smooth and pourable but not liquid.  If the icing is too thick, add a teaspoon or two of apple juice until you get the desired consistency.  Use a spoon to drizzle the icing on the tops of the cookies.  Only frost the cookies when they are completely cooled.

Baking Tips

• Ensure your ingredients are at room temperature so they combine easily.  This will help the butter to cream and the eggs to emulsify correctly.
• Measure the flour by spooning it into the measuring cup and leveling it off to avoid over-packing it and using more flour than you need.
• Don’t use more apples than the recipe calls for.  The apples add moisture to the batter, and too much will result in flat cookies.
• Don’t make the cookies too big.  These cookies will spread out too much if you make them too large.

Variations:

• Add extra cinnamon to really punch up the flavor!
• Use apple juice or apple cider in place of the milk in the cookie batter.
• Golden raisins and walnuts are delicious add-ins.
• White chocolate chips would be a decadent addition!

Storing the cookies

These apple cinnamon cookies can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for several days. If you want to layer them, I recommend putting wax paper between them. They can also be frozen for up to two months.