Apple Butter Cookies Recipe

Introduction

These Apple Butter Cookies are a delightful blend of warm spices and rich apple butter, creating soft, chewy treats perfect for any season. Topped with a smooth apple butter glaze, they bring a delicious twist to classic cookies that will quickly become a favorite in your home.

Ingredients

• 2 cups (240 g) all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ½ cup (226 g) unsalted butter, softened but still cool to touch
• 1 cup (200 g) light brown sugar
• ½ cup (160 g) apple butter
• 1 large egg yolk
• 2 teaspoons (10 ml) vanilla extract

For the Apple Butter Icing:

• 1 cup (120 g) powdered sugar
• 1 tablespoon (15 ml) apple butter
• 2 – 3 tablespoons (30 – 45 ml) milk or heavy cream, room temperature

Instructions

1. Step 1: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt until well combined. Set aside.
2. Step 2: In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the butter, light brown sugar, and apple butter on medium speed for 2 to 3 minutes until smooth and well combined.
3. Step 3: On low speed, mix in the egg yolk and vanilla extract until smooth.
4. Step 4: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix until just combined. Avoid overmixing.
5. Step 5: Cover the dough and chill in the refrigerator for 1 to 2 hours.
6. Step 6: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) about 20 to 30 minutes before baking. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
7. Step 7: Using a medium cookie scoop (about 2 tablespoons), scoop the dough and place the balls on the baking sheet, spacing them about 3 inches apart.
8. Step 8: Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, until the edges are set and the centers are slightly puffed.
9. Step 9: Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a cooling rack to cool completely to room temperature.
10. Step 10: While the cookies cool, prepare the glaze by whisking the powdered sugar, apple butter, and milk or heavy cream until smooth and combined.
11. Step 11: Once the cookies are cooled and firm, quickly dip the top of each cookie into the glaze. Gently shake off any excess and return the cookies to the cooling rack.
12. Step 12: Let the glaze set for 30 to 45 minutes before serving. Enjoy your apple butter cookies!

Tips & Variations

• For perfectly round cookies, gently press a biscuit cutter around the edges as soon as they come out of the oven to shape them while warm.
• To make apple butter snickerdoodle cookies, sprinkle the dough balls with cinnamon sugar before baking.
• Swap half of the flour with old-fashioned oats to create apple butter oatmeal cookies with extra texture.
• If you prefer a stronger apple flavor, increase the apple butter in the dough and icing slightly.

Storage

Store baked cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. If you need to keep them longer, freeze the cooled cookies in a sealed container for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature before serving. For unbaked dough, wrap tightly in plastic wrap and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 1 to 2 days. Let the dough warm at room temperature for 20 to 30 minutes before scooping and baking.

How to Serve

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I use regular jam instead of apple butter?

While apple jam or preserves can work in a pinch, apple butter has a thicker, smoother texture and a richer flavor that really enhances these cookies.

Can I make these cookies vegan?

You can substitute the butter with a vegan butter alternative and use a flax or chia egg instead of the egg yolk. The texture may vary slightly, but they will still be delicious.

Apple Butter Cookies Recipe

Print Recipe

★★★★★

4.8 from 82 reviews

Delightfully soft and chewy Apple Butter Cookies featuring warm spices and a smooth apple butter glaze. These cookies blend the cozy flavors of cinnamon, nutmeg, and apple butter into a comforting treat perfect for fall or any time you’re craving a sweet, spiced cookie.

• Author: Ella
• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 12 minutes
• Total Time: 1 hour 45 minutes
• Yield: Approximately 24 cookies 1x
• Category: Cookies
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Dry Ingredients

• 2 cups (240 g) all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
• ½ teaspoon salt

Wet Ingredients

• ½ cup (226 g) unsalted butter, softened but still cool to touch
• 1 cup (200 g) light brown sugar
• ½ cup (160 g) apple butter
• 1 large egg yolk
• 2 teaspoons (10 ml) vanilla extract

Apple Butter Icing

• 1 cup (120 g) powdered sugar
• 1 tablespoon (15 ml) apple butter
• 2 – 3 tablespoons (30 – 45 ml) milk or heavy cream, room temperature

Instructions

1. Mix Dry Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg, and salt thoroughly until well combined. Set this mixture aside.
2. Cream Butter and Sugars: In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, cream the softened butter, light brown sugar, and apple butter on medium speed for 2 to 3 minutes, or until the mixture is smooth and well combined.
3. Add Egg Yolk and Vanilla: Reduce mixer speed to low, then add the egg yolk and vanilla extract. Mix until smooth and fully incorporated.
4. Combine Wet and Dry: Gradually add the dry ingredient mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined to avoid overmixing.
5. Chill Dough: Cover the dough with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 to 2 hours to firm up for easier scooping and better texture.
6. Preheat Oven and Prepare Sheet: About 20-30 minutes before baking, preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
7. Scoop and Bake: Using a medium cookie scoop (2 tablespoons or 30 ml), scoop dough balls onto the prepared baking sheet, spacing them about 3 inches (8 cm) apart.
8. Bake Cookies: Bake the cookies at 375°F (190°C) for 10 to 12 minutes, or until the edges are set and the centers are slightly puffed.
9. Cool Cookies: Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely to room temperature.
10. Prepare Apple Butter Glaze: While the cookies cool, whisk together powdered sugar, apple butter, and 2 to 3 tablespoons of milk or heavy cream until smooth and well combined.
11. Glaze Cookies: Once cooled and firm, quickly dip the top of each cookie into the glaze. Gently shake off excess glaze and return cookies to the cooling rack. Allow 30 to 45 minutes for the glaze to set before serving.

Notes

• Store baked cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
• Unbaked dough can be refrigerated for 1-2 days wrapped in plastic wrap inside an airtight container; before baking, let the dough sit at room temperature for 20-30 minutes.
• For variations, see the blog to make apple butter snickerdoodle or apple butter oatmeal cookies.
• Use a biscuit cutter immediately after baking to gently reshape cookies into perfect rounds if needed.

Keywords: Apple Butter Cookies, Apple Butter Cookies Recipe, Cookies with Apple Butter