Description
Enjoy the cozy taste of fall with these soft and chewy Apple Cider Cookies, featuring warm spices and fresh apple chunks. Perfect for any gathering, they can be savored as is or topped with a sweet apple cider icing for an extra treat.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup brown sugar, packed
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup apple cider (preferably fresh)
- 1 cup chopped apples (peeled and cored)
- ½ cup chopped walnuts or pecans (optional)
- 1 cup powdered sugar (for icing, optional)
- 2 tablespoons apple cider (for icing, optional)
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg, and salt. This will be our dry mixture.
- In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar using an electric mixer on medium speed. Beat until the mixture is light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes.
- Add the egg and vanilla extract to the butter-sugar mixture. Continue to beat until well combined.
- Gradually add the apple cider to the wet mixture while mixing on low speed to prevent splattering.
- Slowly add the dry mixture to the wet mixture, mixing until just combined. Avoid overmixing to keep the cookies tender.
- Gently fold in the chopped apples and nuts (if using) with a spatula until evenly distributed.
- Cover the mixing bowl with plastic wrap or transfer the dough to an airtight container.
- Refrigerate the dough for at least 1 hour, or up to 24 hours for enhanced flavor.
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Remove the dough from the refrigerator. Using a cookie scoop or tablespoon, drop rounded balls of dough onto the prepared baking sheets, leaving about 2 inches of space between each cookie.
- Optionally, sprinkle a little extra cinnamon sugar on top of each cookie before baking (mix 2 tablespoons of granulated sugar with 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon).
- Bake the cookies for 12-15 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden. The centers may look slightly underbaked but will continue to cook on the baking sheet.
- Let the cookies cool on the baking sheets for about 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar and 2 tablespoons of apple cider until smooth. Adjust the consistency as needed.
- Once the cookies are completely cooled, drizzle the icing over the top of each cookie using a spoon or piping bag.
- Allow the icing to set for about 15-20 minutes.
Notes
- For a more intense apple flavor, consider using a mix of different apple varieties.
- These cookies can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes