Irresistible Apple Pie Cookies: Your New Favorite Fall Dessert!

Imagine the warm, comforting embrace of a classic apple pie – the tender, spiced apples, the hint of cinnamon, and that delicious baked aroma – all transformed into a delightfully soft and chewy cookie! These **Apple Pie Cookies** are exactly that: a fusion of one of the best kinds of pies and the beloved, portable cookie. They’re an absolute sensation, capturing the essence of autumn in every single bite, making them the perfect treat for any occasion, especially as the weather turns crisp.

The Inspiration Behind These Perfect Fall Cookies

My fiancé, Kal, has an undeniable soft spot for apple pie. I vividly recall a trip to visit my dad in South Carolina. We stopped at Walmart for a quick snack, and to my surprise, Kal emerged with an entire apple pie! He happily munched on it throughout our entire visit, a testament to his deep affection for this classic dessert. Seeing his pure joy over something so simple and comforting always stuck with me.

As the leaves begin to change and the air grows cooler, my mind naturally drifts to fall baking. These Apple Pie Cookies immediately came to mind as a “no-brainer.” I adore the creative challenge of taking a classic dish and reinventing it in a new form. What’s traditionally a hearty pie, often requiring a fork and plate, is now a convenient, handheld cookie. It’s the same beloved flavor profile, but with a fun, accessible twist.

And luckily for me, Kal is always eager to be my primary taste-tester for these culinary experiments. So, nothing ever goes to waste in my kitchen, because even if I occasionally deem a recipe a “bust,” he’ll still happily devour it! He truly is my own personal (and very appreciative) garbage disposal, always providing honest feedback and endless encouragement.

Why You’ll Fall in Love with Apple Pie Cookies

Beyond their delicious taste, these cookies offer several advantages over a traditional pie. They are:

**Effortlessly Portable:** Perfect for lunchboxes, picnics, potlucks, or simply grabbing a quick treat on the go.
**Individual Servings:** No need for slicing or plates – just grab and enjoy!
**Quicker to Bake:** Cookies generally have a shorter baking time than pies, getting you to deliciousness faster.
**Perfect for Sharing:** Easy to distribute among friends, family, or colleagues.
**Bursting with Flavor:** Each cookie delivers that quintessential apple pie experience – soft, spiced, and utterly satisfying.

They combine the tender texture of a soft-baked cookie with the warm, aromatic spices and juicy pieces of apple typically found in a homemade apple pie. The cinnamon shines through, perfectly complementing the sweetness of the apples and the rich butter in the cookie base. They’re truly a little bite of autumn happiness!

Gather Your Ingredients: What You’ll Need

Crafting these delectable apple pie cookies starts with a selection of fresh, high-quality ingredients. Using softened butter ensures a smooth, creamy dough, while fresh apples are key for that authentic, juicy apple pie flavor. For apples, varieties like Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, or Fuji work wonderfully due to their balance of sweetness and tartness, and how well they hold their shape during baking. Make sure to grate and peel them for the best texture in your cookies.

Apple Pie Cookies Ingredients:

1/2 cup (1 stick) of softened unsalted butter
1 cup of granulated sugar
1 egg
1 tbsp vanilla extract
2 cups of all purpose flour
a pinch of salt
1/4 tsp of baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
1 tbsp cinnamon
1 cup of apples, grated and peeled

Step-by-Step Guide to Baking Your Apple Pie Cookies

Follow these simple instructions to create a batch of these irresistible apple pie cookies. Precision in baking, especially with measurements and mixing techniques, will lead to the best results!

**Prepare Your Baking Environment:** Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a large cookie sheet with parchment paper. Parchment paper is essential here as it prevents sticking and promotes even baking, ensuring your cookies slide off easily. Set the prepared sheet aside.
**Cream Butter and Sugar:** In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened unsalted butter and granulated sugar together. Beat them until the mixture becomes light, fluffy, and pale in color. This creaming process incorporates air into the butter, which is crucial for achieving a tender, soft cookie texture.
**Add Wet Ingredients:** Mix in the egg and vanilla extract until well combined. Scrape down the sides of the bowl to ensure everything is incorporated.
**Combine Dry Ingredients:** In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, a pinch of salt, baking powder, baking soda, and a full tablespoon of cinnamon. Whisking dry ingredients separately ensures that the leavening agents and spices are evenly distributed throughout the dough, preventing pockets of unmixed ingredients.
**Gradually Add Dry to Wet:** Slowly add the dry flour mixture into the wet butter mixture, combining until all of the flour is just mixed in. Be careful not to overmix; overmixing can develop the gluten in the flour, leading to tougher cookies. Stop mixing as soon as no streaks of flour remain.
**Fold in Apples:** Gently fold in the peeled and grated apples. If your grated apples are particularly juicy, you might want to gently pat them with a paper towel before adding them to prevent excess moisture from affecting the cookie dough consistency.
**Scoop and Space Dough:** Scoop the dough into portions of about 1 to 1.5 tablespoons each. Place them approximately 2 inches apart on your prepared baking sheet. This spacing is important to allow the cookies to spread without touching each other during baking.
**Bake to Perfection:** Bake in the preheated oven for about 15-18 minutes. Look for the edges to be lightly golden, and the centers to appear set but still slightly soft. This indicates a perfectly baked, chewy cookie.
**Cooling:** Remove the cookies from the oven and immediately transfer them from the hot cookie sheet to a wire cooling rack. Cooling on a wire rack allows air to circulate around the entire cookie, preventing the bottoms from becoming soggy and helping them cool evenly.

Tips for Achieving the Best Apple Pie Cookies

**Choose the Right Apples:** As mentioned, Granny Smith offers a nice tartness, while Honeycrisp or Fuji provide a sweeter flavor with good texture. A mix can be lovely!
**Don’t Overmix:** Overmixing the dough after adding flour can make your cookies tough. Mix just until combined.
**Soften Butter Properly:** Room temperature butter creams easily with sugar, incorporating air for a lighter texture. If your butter is too cold, your mixture will be lumpy; too warm, and it will be greasy.
**Grate Apples Finely:** Finely grated apples integrate better into the dough and cook down perfectly without being too chunky.
**Evenly Sized Cookies:** Use a cookie scoop to ensure all your cookies are the same size, promoting even baking.
**Optional Glaze:** For an extra touch, whip up a simple glaze with powdered sugar, a splash of milk, and a tiny bit of vanilla or extra cinnamon. Drizzle it over cooled cookies.

Variations & Customizations

These Apple Pie Cookies are fantastic as is, but feel free to get creative with these delightful variations:

**Nutty Crunch:** Fold in 1/2 cup of finely chopped pecans or walnuts with the apples for added texture and a nutty flavor.
**Spice It Up:** Enhance the spice profile by adding 1/4 teaspoon of nutmeg or a pinch of allspice or cloves to the dry ingredients.
**Caramel Drizzle:** Once cooled, drizzle a store-bought or homemade caramel sauce over the cookies for a “Caramel Apple Pie Cookie” twist.
**Oatmeal Apple Cookies:** Substitute 1/2 cup of the all-purpose flour with quick oats for a chewier, heartier cookie.
**Streusel Topping:** Before baking, sprinkle a simple streusel (butter, flour, brown sugar, cinnamon) on top of each cookie for extra texture, mimicking the crumble topping of a pie.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What kind of apples are best for these cookies?: Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, Fuji, or Braeburn are excellent choices. They hold their shape well and offer a good balance of sweet and tart flavors. Avoid overly soft or mealy apples.
Can I use canned apple pie filling instead of fresh apples?: While technically possible, fresh grated apples provide the best texture and natural flavor. Canned filling can introduce too much moisture and might make the cookies overly sweet or soggy. If you must use it, drain it very well and chop the apple pieces finely.
How should I store these Apple Pie Cookies?: Store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3-4 days. For longer storage, refrigerate them for up to a week.
Can I freeze the cookie dough or baked cookies?: Yes! You can freeze the scooped cookie dough balls on a baking sheet until firm, then transfer them to an airtight freezer bag for up to 3 months. Bake from frozen, adding a couple of extra minutes to the baking time. Baked cookies can also be frozen in an airtight container for up to 1-2 months; thaw at room temperature.
Why are my cookies flat or spread too much?: This can happen for a few reasons: your butter might have been too soft or melted, your oven temperature might be inaccurate, or you may not have added enough flour (or too much leavening). Ensure your butter is softened, not melted, and measure ingredients accurately.

Yield: 24 – 28 cookies

Apple Pie Cookies

Ingredients

1/2 cup (1 stick) of softened unsalted butter
1 cup of granulated sugar
1 egg
1 tbsp vanilla extract
2 cups of all purpose flour
a pinch of salt
1/4 tsp of baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
1 tbsp cinnamon
1 cup of apples, grated and peeled

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350 and line a cookie sheet with parchment paper, set to the side.
In a mixing bowl, beat the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. Mix in the egg and vanilla. In a separate bowl, combine the flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda, and cinnamon. Slowly add the flour mixture into the batter and combine until all of the flour is mixed in completely. Fold in the peeled and grated apples.
Scoop the dough into about a tbsp and a half sizes. place them 2 inches apart on the baking sheet.
Bake in the oven for about 15-18 minutes. Remove from the cookie sheet immediately and place on a wire cooling rack.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

Serving Size:

1

Amount Per Serving:
Calories: 69Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 7mgSodium: 23mgCarbohydrates: 15gFiber: 0gSugar: 8gProtein: 1g

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Enjoy the Taste of Autumn!

These Apple Pie Cookies are more than just a dessert; they’re a celebration of fall, a delightful twist on a classic, and a truly heartwarming treat. Whether you’re baking them for your loved ones, a holiday gathering, or simply to enjoy with a cup of coffee on a crisp afternoon, they are guaranteed to bring smiles and satisfy that craving for comforting, home-baked goodness. The blend of tender cookie, spiced apples, and fragrant cinnamon will quickly make them a staple in your autumn baking repertoire.

Don’t wait for a special occasion – grab your ingredients and whip up a batch of these incredible cookies today. You’ll be amazed at how quickly they disappear!