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    Apple Pie Cookies

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    These apple pie cookies are the best fall cookie - a tender cookie with a quick homemade apple pie topping. Fun, great flavour and texture!

    A plate of apple pie cookies in front of a couple of apples.

    A while back, I woke up from one of my brainstorming / problem solving dreams with an idea:

    I would adapt my Pecan Pie Cookies to make an apple pie cookie recipe.

    It wasn’t that long after photographing my Homemade Apple Turnovers Recipe - with a host of other apple recipes - so I’m sure that influenced the dream.

    It definitely influenced the design of the homemade apple pie filling I used in the cookies!

    Anyway, the resulting apple pie cookies are FANTASTIC.

    These may just be the easiest way to enjoy the flavor of apple pie, without the fuss of fashioning pie dough into lattice tops.

    A tender brown sugar cookie dough takes the place of a more traditional apple pie crust.

    That dough is rolled into balls and formed into thumbprint cookies, rather than being a crust rolled out to form hand pies - or mini pies.

    From there, the thumbprint cookie base is topped with homemade sweet apple pie filling - and that apple filling takes only a few minutes of work to make!

    Toss them in the oven, and you’re soon rewarded with a mini apple pies ... in cookie form!

    These were INHALED, and met with rave reviews. Let me show you how to make them!

    Gluten Free? Low carb?

    Good news - I've also got a fantastic gluten free version of this recipe, over on Beyond Flour: Gluten Free Apple Pie Cookies.

    I also have a low cab version (which is also gluten free) - my Keto Apple Pie Cookies!

    A plate of apple pie cookies.

    Ingredients

    This recipe uses super simple ingredients that should be easy to find in most grocery stores - or are already in your pantry!

    A few notes:

    Fresh Apples

    When it comes to what kind of apples you should use for this recipe, there are a TON of options.

    IMHO, Mutsu are the absolute best apples ever - but I also realize that we’re pretty spoiled, living where we do.

    In general, I recommend using tart or sweet-tart apples, as they’ll be coated in sugar... but sometimes I’ll use sweet. It’s all good.

    Look for something that won’t break down into mush when cooked - if you’d use it in a pie, it’ll be good in this recipe.

    Granny Smith apples are another great choice, as are honey crisp apples and pink lady apples.

    Brown Sugar

    Brown sugar is used both in the dough and the filling.

    I usually use a Light Brown Sugar, but Dark Brown Sugar also works - it’ll just have a more robust flavour.

    Everything Else

    Rounding out this recipe, you’ll need:

    All Purpose Flour
    Unsalted butter
    Pure Vanilla Extract
    Cornstarch
    Ground Cinnamon
    Ground Nutmeg
    Large Egg
    Baking Powder
    Salt

    ... I just don’t have anything else to add about these ingredients!

    A plate of apple pie cookies.

    How to Make Apple Pie Cookies

    The full recipe is in the recipe card at the end of this post, this is a pictorial walk through with additional tips and info.

    Make the Apple Pie Filling

    Peel and finely dice the apples. I like small pieces, about ¼" cubes (roughly).

    A 2 part image showing the apples being finely chopped.

    If you’re ok with smaller pieces that are more irregular, you can blitz roughly chopped apples in a mini food processor.

    In a medium saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat.

    Add the chopped apple to the pot, cook until it starts releasing a little bit of juice, about 4-5 minutes.

    As the apples are cooking, combine brown sugar, cornstarch, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt in a small bowl.

    Add dry mixture to the apples, toss to coat.

    Simmer for a 5-10 more minutes, until the juice cooks off and starts to form a thick glaze.

    Remove from heat, stir in vanilla, and allow to cool to room temperature.

    An 8 part image showing the apple pie filling being made.

    Make the Cookie Dough

    Pre heat oven to 350 degrees. Line 2 large cookie sheets with parchment paper.

    In a large mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy.

    Add egg and vanilla, continue beating until egg is fully incorporated and mixture is once again smooth and fluffy.

    a 5 part image showing the wet ingredients being mixed together.

    Combine flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl.

    Add dry ingredients mixture to the large bowl of wet ingredients, continue beating until mixture is uniform, with everything incorporated.

    Note: At this point, you can wrap the dough in plastic wrap and chill it for later use, if you like.

    An 8 part image showing the dry ingredients being mixed together and added to the wet ingredients to make the cookie dough.

    Form and Bake the Cookies

    Roll cookie dough balls that are about 1.25″ in diameter, and place them 12 on each baking sheet – leave about 2″ between the cookies.

    For best results, try to get all of the balls about the same size.

    Gently use thumb to press down in the middle of each cookie, making an indentation as the center of each cookie. Roll thumb slightly to stretch the indentation out a little.

    A 5 part image showing the cookie dough being rolled into balls and formed into thumbprint cookies.

    Fill each indentation with about 1 teaspoon of apple mixture.

    A 2 part image showing the apple pie filling being spooned onto the cookie dough.

    Bake cookies for 12-14 minutes, until lightly golden brown.

    A 2 part image showing the cookies before and after being baked.

    Allow to cool on the cookie sheet for 5 minutes or so, before gently transferring to a wire rack to fully cool.

    Leftover Cookies

    Cookies can be cooled to room temperature and transferred to an airtight container for storage.

    Will keep for a couple days at room temperature, or probably 5 or so in the fridge - IF they last that long!

    A close up view of an apple pie cookie.

    <

    Gluten-Free Cookie Recipes

    Looking for fantastic gluten-free cookies that *everyone* will love? Check out these tasty options on my gluten free blog, Beyond Flour:

    Gluten-Free Apple Pie Cookies
    Gluten Free Candy Cane Cookies
    Gluten-Free Carrot Cake Cookies
    Gluten Free Banana Oatmeal Cookies
    Gluten-Free Chewy Chocolate Cookies
    Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Cookies
    Gluten-Free Do-Si-Dos
    Gluten Free Fig Newtons
    Gluten-Free Fruitcake Cookies
    Gluten Free Gingerbread Cookies
    Gluten-Free Ginger Molasses Cookies
    Gluten Free Graham Crackers
    Gluten-Free Imperial Cookies
    Gluten Free Oatmeal Butterscotch Cardamom Cookies
    Gluten-Free Peanut Butter Cookies
    Gluten Free Pecan Pie Cookies
    Gluten-Free Red Velvet Cookies
    Gluten Free Sandwich Cookies
    Gluten-Free Shortbread Cookies
    Gluten Free Snickerdoodles
    Gluten-Free Sugar Cookies (Rolled Sugar Cookies)
    Gluten Free Unicorn Poop Cookies

    A plate of apple pie cookies in front of a couple of apples.

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    Also, be sure to subscribe to my free monthly email newsletter, so you never miss out on any of my nonsense. Well, the published nonsense, anyway!

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    A plate of apple pie cookies.

    A plate of apple pie cookies.
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save Recipe
    5 from 1 vote

    Soft Apple Pie Cookies Recipe

    These apple pie cookies are the best fall cookie - a tender cookie with a quick homemade apple pie topping. Fun, great flavour and texture!
    Prep Time15 minutes
    Cook Time30 minutes
    Total Time45 minutes
    Course: Dessert, Snack
    Cuisine: American
    Servings: 24 Cookies
    Calories: 157kcal
    Author: Marie Porter

    Equipment

    • 2 Baking Sheets
    • Parchment Paper

    Ingredients

    Filling

    • 2 Large apple
    • 1 tablespoon Unsalted butter
    • ½ Cup Light Brown Sugar Firmly packed
    • 1 teaspoon Cornstarch
    • ½ teaspoon Ground cinnamon
    • ¼ teaspoon Nutmeg
    • Pinch Salt
    • 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract

    Cookies

    • ¾ Cup Butter Room temperature
    • 1 Cup Light Brown Sugar Firmly packed
    • 1 Large Egg
    • 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
    • 2 Cups All-Purpose Flour
    • 1 teaspoon Baking Powder
    • ½ teaspoon Salt

    Instructions

    Filling

    • Peel and finely dice the apples. I like small pieces, about ¼" cubes (roughly).
    • In a medium pot, melt the butter over medium heat.
    • Add the chopped apple to the pot, cook until it starts releasing the juice, about 4-5 minutes.
    • As the apples are cooking, combine brown sugar, cornstarch, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt in a small bowl.
    • Add dry mixture to the apples, toss to coat.
    • Simmer for a 5-10 more minutes, until the juice cooks off and starts to form a thick glaze.
    • Remove from heat, stir in vanilla, and allow to cool to room temperature.

    Cookie Dough

    • Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line 2 cookie sheets with parchment paper.
    • Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add egg and vanilla, continue beating until egg is fully incorporated and mixture is once again smooth and fluffy.
    • Add flour, baking powder, and salt, continue beating until mixture is uniform, with everything incorporated.

    Assembly

    • Roll cookie dough into balls that are about 1.25″ in diameter, and place them on cookie sheets – leave about 2″ between the cookies.
    • Gently use thumb to press down in the middle of each cookie, making an indentation. Roll thumb slightly to stretch the indentation out a little.
    • Fill each indentation with about 1 teaspoon of apple pie filling
    • Bake for 12-14 minutes, until lightly browned.
    • Allow to cool on sheets for 5 minutes or so, before gently transferring to a rack to fully cool.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 157kcal | Carbohydrates: 24g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 0.3g | Cholesterol: 23mg | Sodium: 119mg | Potassium: 51mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 15g | Vitamin A: 210IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 27mg | Iron: 1mg

    A plate of apple pie cookies.

    A plate of apple pie cookies.

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