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A stack of three delicious Apple Pie Cookies with a lattice crust and cinnamon sugar topping, presented on a small white plate.
Linda

Apple Pie Cookies

Chewy, spiced cookies packed with tender apple bits and topped with a sweet glaze, tasting just like your favorite apple pie in a handheld form.
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 12 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings: 24 cookies
Course: Dessert, Snack
Cuisine: American
Calories: 180

Ingredients
  

For the Cookies
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 0.5 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 0.5 cup unsalted butter 1 stick, softened
  • 0.5 cup granulated sugar
  • 0.5 cup light brown sugar packed
  • 1 large egg room temperature
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 medium apple such as Granny Smith or Honeycrisp, peeled, cored, and finely diced
For the Glaze
  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • 2 tbsp milk or more, as needed

Equipment

  • Large Mixing Bowl
  • Electric mixer (stand or hand)
  • Baking Sheets
  • Parchment Paper
  • Wire cooling rack

Method
 

Prep and Mix Dry Ingredients
  1. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, and ground cinnamon. Set aside.
Cream Butter and Sugars
  1. In a large bowl, using an electric mixer, cream together the softened unsalted butter, granulated sugar, and light brown sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes. Beat in the large egg and vanilla extract until well combined, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed.
Form the Cookie Dough
  1. Gradually add the dry ingredient mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed until just combined. Be careful not to overmix! Gently fold in the finely diced apple until evenly distributed throughout the dough.
Bake the Cookies
  1. Drop rounded tablespoons of dough (or use a 1.5-inch cookie scoop) onto the prepared baking sheets, leaving about 2 inches between cookies. Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden and the centers are just set. They might look slightly underdone, but they'll firm up as they cool.
Cool and Glaze
  1. Let the cookies cool on the baking sheets for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. This helps them set and prevents breaking.
  2. While the cookies cool, prepare the glaze. In a small bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar and 2 tablespoons of milk until smooth. If the glaze is too thick, add more milk, 1 teaspoon at a time, until it reaches a drizzling consistency. Drizzle the glaze over the completely cooled cookies before serving.

Notes

For the best apple flavor, choose a firm, tart-sweet apple like Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, or Fuji. Make sure your butter and egg are at room temperature; this helps them cream together smoothly and creates a better cookie texture. If your dough feels too soft or sticky after mixing in the apples, chill it in the refrigerator for 15-30 minutes before scooping. This can help prevent the cookies from spreading too much.