Apple cider cookies made with apple cider, applesauce, and cinnamon. They’re coated with cinnamon sugar and drizzled with cider glaze. Perfect recipe for fall!
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If you’re in the mood for a cozy fall treat, you’re going to love this apple cider cookies recipe. These cookies soft and spiced like apple cider donuts, but easier to make and no frying or orchard trip needed.
I adapted the recipe from my apple cider whoopie pies. They’re just as delicious and a simple way to welcome crisp fall days and colorful leaves.
If you love these cookies, you’ll definitely want to try my apple cider coffee cake, apple walnut bread, and my classic Snickerdoodles.
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Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Easy recipe- No chill time needed. Just make the dough and bake! For another easy fall recipe, try my apple caramel bars!
- Cinnamon sugar coating-The cookies are brushed with butter and coated with cinnamon sugar coating! For another cinnamon and apple filled treat, try my cinnamon apple crumble muffins.
- Apple cider glaze- They’re drizzled with a simple apple cider glaze!
- Soft- Everyone loves how soft and chewy they are.
- Best fall cookies- You will get requests to make these every year during apple season! Make sure to add my apple fritter bread recipe to your fall baking list too!
Ingredient Notes
Here are useful notes on some of the ingredients for these apple spice cookies.
- Apple cider: We use apple cider in the cookies and the glaze. Use real apple cider, not apple juice. Cooking it on the stove makes the flavor richer and sweeter. For another delicious apple dessert recipe, try my cinnamon apple pop tarts!
- Brown sugar: Use light or dark brown sugar. Make sure your brown sugar is fresh.
- Cinnamon: To make these extra delicious, they’re coated with cinnamon sugar just like these snickerdoodle blondie bars.
- Butter: Use unsalted, room temperature butter.
- Eggs: Use 2 large, room temperature eggs.
- Applesauce: Use unsweetened applesauce. Store bought or homemade applesauce can be used.
See recipe card below for a full list of ingredients and measurements.
Substitutions and Variations
- For added depth of flavor, brown your butter! Allow your brown butter to cool completely before using.
- Swap in homemade or store bought apple butter in place of the applesauce.
- Instead of icing, frost these cookies with brown sugar cream cheese frosting or drizzle them with homemade salted caramel sauce.
- I have not made these cookies using apple juice in place of apple cider. I would not recommend it.
How to Make Apple Cider Cookies
Quick Video Recap
Instructions
Step One: (Photo 1 above) Bring the apple cider to a boil. Reduce heat to medium and simmer until cider is reduced down to 1/4 cup. Cool before using. Next, combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and spices in a mixing bowl.
Step Two: (Photo 2 above) In a large mixing bowl, beat 6 tablespoons of the butter with the sugars until combined. Next, add the vanilla extra and the eggs. Then add the apple cider and apple butter or applesauce.
Step Three: (Photo 3 above) Mix in the dry ingredients til just combined. Turn the cookies out into mounds about 1 1/2 tablespoons each, placing them 3 inches apart on the baking sheet.
Step Four: (Photo 4 above) Bake at 350 F for 11-13 minutes. Allow cookies to cool completely.
Step Five: (Photo 5 above). 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 Six: (Photo 6 above). Combine the cinnamon and sugar in a shallow bowl. Roll the cookies in cinnamon sugar or coat.
Step Seven: (Photo 7 above) Whisk the powdered sugar, apple cider and pinch of salt together in a small bowl.
Step Eight: (Photo 8 above) Drizzle the icing over the cookies.
Expert Tips
Tip #1: To check for doneness, cookies should spring back when touched lightly with your fingertip.
Tip # 2: 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: The easiest way is to use a spoon to drizzle the icing. You can also put it in a bag or bottle and squeeze it over the cookies.
Recipe FAQs
Apple juice and apple cider are very similar. Apple cider is made by pressing fresh apples. It’s usually unfiltered. That makes it cloudy looking and gives it a tangy, fresh apple flavor. Apple juice is filtered and pasteurized. It’s clear, sweeter, and longer lasting.
Yes you can, but I don’t recommend it. I recommend using pure apple cider. Apple juice won’t give the cookies the spiced apple flavor that cider adds.
I love to drink apple cider hot or cold. You can also make my apple cider coffee cake or my apple cider whoopie pies. Apple cider is also delicious in smoothies, sauces and dressings!
Store these apple cider cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for 3-4 days. 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
- 2½ cups (236 ml) apple cider reduced to ¼ cup
- 6 tablespoons (6 tablespoons) unsalted butter room temperature
- 1¾ cups (210 g) all purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon (0.5 teaspoon) salt
- 1 teaspoon (1 teaspoon) baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon (0.25 teaspoon) baking soda
- 1½ teaspoons (1.5 teaspoons) cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon (0.25 teaspoon) ginger
- ½ teaspoon (0.5 teaspoon) nutmeg
- ½ cup (100 g) granulated sugar
- ⅓ cup (¼ cup plus 2 teaspoons) brown sugar light or dark, packed
- ¼ cup (61 g) apple butter or unsweetened applesauce
- 2 (2) large eggs room temperature
- ¼ teaspoon (0.25 teaspoon) vanilla extract
Cinnamon Sugar Coating
- ¼ cup (50 g) granulated sugar
- ½ teaspoon (0.5 teaspoon) cinnamon
- 2 tablespoons (2 tablespoons) unsalted butter melted, for brushing on the cookies
Apple Cider Glaze
- ½ tablespoon (0.5 tablespoon) apple cider add an additional ½ tablespoon apple cider if needed
- ¼ teaspoon (0.25 teaspoon) vanilla extract
- ¾ cup (90 g) powdered sugar
- 1 pinch (1 pinch) salt optional
Instructions
Apple Cider Cookies
- Preheat oven to 350 F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
- In a medium saucepan, 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. This will take between 35 and 45 minutes. Set aside to cool before using. Place cider in the fridge to help it cool to room temperature faster.
- 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 Glaze
- 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 glaze over the cinnamon sugar coated cookies.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Please note that nutritional values are created by an online calculator and should only be used as an estimate.
Claire
I teach adaptive cooking skills to individuals who are blind and visually impaired so google suggests recipes to me all the time, but this one caught my eye. I made it for the first time with some of my clients, then two days later made it for my family, then another two days later I made them for my birthday. Now, I’m getting ready to make them for a bake sale. Oh. My. Goodness. They are so so so good!! They take a while to make but it is very very worth it. And another comment was right, they disappear too fast.
Natalie
Hi Claire, This has to be the nicest comment I’ve ever received! Thank you so much for making these cookies for so many different special occasions. I’m so glad the recipe caught your eye and that you enjoyed the recipe! Hope you have a nice weekend! XO Natalie
Lili
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
Natalie
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
Michelle
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.
Natalie
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