These apple cider cookies are soft and delicious! They are made with butter, apple cider, applesauce, and fall spices. They are brushed with butter and generously coated with cinnamon sugar. They’re drizzled with a simple apple cider icing.
These apple cider cookies truly taste like fall! I wanted to come up with a recipe you could easily whip up when you were craving apple and cinnamon sugar flavors!
This apple cider cookie recipe was inspired by my apple cider whoopie pies. Like my whoopie pies, these cookies are made with reduced apple cider for a stronger apple cider flavor and are coated with butter and cinnamon sugar. Instead of being filled like whoopie pies, they are topped with a simple apple cider icing.
For more fall recipes, try my apple cider coffee cake, apple walnut bread, and my classic Snickerdoodles.
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Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- These are a no chill recipe. The cookie dough comes together quickly.
- The texture of these soft apple cider cookies will have you craving another bite!
- They are the perfect fall cookie. You will get requests to make this recipe every year during apple season!
Ingredient Notes
Here are some useful notes on some of the ingredients for these cider cookies. Please see recipe card for full list of ingredients and their measurements.
- Apple cider: The cider is reduced down to half for a stronger, sweeter, tangier apple cider taste. If you have not tried cookies made with apple cider yet, you are in for a treat! They are delicious.
- Brown sugar: Use light or dark brown sugar.
- Butter: Use unsalted, room temperature butter.
- Eggs: Use large, room temperature eggs.
- Applesauce: Use unsweetened applesauce. Store bought or homemade applesauce or apple butter can be used.
See recipe card below for a full list of ingredients and measurements.
Step by Step Instructions
Here are the directions on how to make and bake these apple cider cookies
Step One: Reduce the apple cider. In a small pot, bring the apple cider to a boil over medium high heat. Reduce heat to medium and simmer until cider is reduced down to 1/4 cup. Cool before using.
Step Two: Combine the dry ingredients. Sift to combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and spices.
Step Three: Mix the butter and sugars. In a large bowl or the bowl of an electric mixer, beat 6 tablespoons of the butter with the sugars, on medium speed until combined. Next, add the vanilla extract followed by the eggs. Then add the apple cider followed by the apple butter or applesauce.
Step Four: Add the dry ingredients. Mix in the dry ingredients on low speed until just combined.
Step Five: Bake the cookies. Turn the cookies out into mounds about 1 1/2 tablespoons each, placing them 3 inches apart on the baking sheet. Bake 11-13 minutes. Rotate the baking sheet halfway through baking.
Step Six: Coat with cinnamon sugar. Once out of the oven, allow cookies to cool on the baking sheet for five minutes before transferring them to a wire rack. Brush the cookies with the reserved 2 tablespoons of melted butter and sprinkle them with the cinnamon sugar or toss them in the cinnamon sugar.
Step Seven: Make the icing. Whisk the powdered sugar, apple cider and pinch of salt together in a small bowl. Drizzle icing over cooled cookies.
Hint: To check for doneness, cookies should spring back when touched lightly with your fingertip.
Substitutions and Variations
- Brown butter– For added depth of flavor, brown your butter! Allow butter to cool completely before using.
- Frosting– Instead of icing, frost these cookies! My brown sugar cream cheese frosting would be perfect!
- Apple juice- I have not made these cookies using apple juice in place of apple cider. I would not recommend it.
- Enjoy a glass of cider- These cookies are delicious served with coffee, tea or a glass of milk. To enjoy the fall season, I love a glass or cup of hot or cold cider with cookies.
Expert Tips
Tip #1: Spoon the flour into your measuring cup. If you dredge the measuring cup into the flour, the flour will become compact. This can lead to dry cookies.
Tip # 2: Allow cookies to cool completely. Cool cookies completely before covering them with cinnamon sugar and before icing them. If you add the icing while they’re still warm, the icing will melt.
Tip #3: Use a spoon, a zip lock bag or a squeeze bottle to drizzle the icing. I find the simplest way is to just use a spoon to drizzle the icing. You can also pour or spoon the icing into a bag or bottle and squeeze it over the cookies.
Recipe FAQs
Apple juice and apple cider are very similar. According to Country Living, “apple juice is apple cider that has been heated to change the color, flavor, and texture.” Check out the article What’s the Difference Between Apple Cider and Apple Juice from Country Living for more information.
I love to drink apple cider hot or cold! It can also be used to make other treats such as my apple cider coffee cake or my apple cider whoopie pies. You can also use it in smoothies, sauces and dressings!
Freeze the baked cookies in an airtight for up to 1 month. Defrost them at room temperature.
Storage
Room Temperature: Store these apple cider cookies in an airtight container. Store at room temperature for 3-4 days.
Freezer: Freeze the baked cookies in an airtight for up to 1 month. Defrost them at room temperature.
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Apple Cider Cookies
Ingredients
Apple Cider Cookies
- 1 cup apple cider reduced to ¼ cup
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter room temperature
- 1¾ cups all purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon baking soda
- 1½ teaspoons cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon ginger
- ½ teaspoon nutmeg
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ¼ cup plus 2 teaspoons brown sugar light or dark, packed
- ¼ cup apple butter or unsweetened applesauce
- 2 large eggs room temperature
- ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
Cinnamon Sugar Coating
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter melted, for brushing on the cookies
Apple Cider Icing
- ½-1 tablespoon apple cider
- ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¾ cup powdered sugar
- 1 pinch salt optional
Instructions
Apple Cider Cookies
- Preheat oven to 350 F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
- In a small pot, bring the apple cider to a boil over medium high heat. Reduce heat to medium and simmer until cider is reduced down to 1/4 cup. Set aside to cool before using.
- In a medium sized bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and spices.
- In a large bowl or the bowl of an electric mixer, beat 6 tablespoons of the butter with the sugars, on medium speed until combined. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and add the vanilla followed by the eggs. Add the apple cider followed by the apple butter or applesauce. Turn the mixer on low and mix in the flour until just combined.
- Turn the cookies out into mounds about 1 1/2 tablespoons each, placing them 3 inches apart on the baking sheet. Rotate the baking sheet halfway and bake 11-13 minutes or until cookies spring back when touched lightly with your fingertip. Once out of the oven, allow cookies to cool on the baking sheet for five minutes before transferring them to a wire rack. Cool completely.
Cinnamon Sugar Coating
- Brush the cooled cookies with the 2 tablespoons of melted butter. Sprinkle them with the cinnamon sugar or dredge the tops in the cinnamon sugar to coat.
Apple Cider Icing
- Whisk the powdered sugar, apple cider and pinch of salt together in a small bowl. Begin with 1/2 tablespoon apple cider. Add more if needed til desired consistency reached. Drizzle icing over the cinnamon sugar coated cookies.
One of the best cookies I ever made! I love baking with apples, especially this time of year.
They came out awesome! Thank you for the recipe.
Hey Michelle! Thank you so much for your comment! I’m thrilled you enjoyed this recipe! Definitely perfect for apple season! Have a great rest of your weekend xo Natalie
Thank you for an amazing recipe! Made these for friends and family recently, everyone loved and they disappeared quickly. I am so happy I found your website .. will be making them again soon
I am so glad these turned out so well for you Lili and that your friends and family enjoyed these! Also, so happy you found my website too, thank you! XO Natalie