These apple cider cookies are full of fall flavor! They’re a no chill recipe made with reduced apple cider, applesauce, and cinnamon. They are coated with butter and rolled in cinnamon sugar. To make these cookies extra special, they’re drizzled with a simple apple cider glaze!
These apple cider cookies truly taste like apple cider donuts! They are made with reduced apple cider, warm spices and are topped with an apple cider glaze. They’re the perfect easy treat to make when you’re craving all the apple and fall flavors.
This apple cider cookie recipe was inspired by my apple cider whoopie pies. Instead of being filled like whoopie pies, they are topped with apple cider glaze.
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
- This is a no chill recipe.
- The cookies are delicious as is. The butter and cinnamon sugar coating plus the apple cider glaze takes them over the top!
- They are soft and chewy.
- 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 apple spice cookies.
- Apple cider: We’re using apple cider in both the cookies and the glaze! Use good quality, real apple cider. Apple cider and apple juice are not the same. We’ll be cooking the apple cider on the stovetop to concentrate the flavor. For another delicious apple dessert recipe, try my cinnamon apple pop tarts!
- Brown sugar: Use light or dark brown sugar.
- 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! My brown sugar cream cheese frosting would be perfect!
- I have not made these cookies using apple juice in place of apple cider. I would not recommend it.
Instructions
Here are the directions on how to make and bake this recipe for apple cider cookies.
Step One: (Photo 1 above) 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. Cool before using. Next, in a medium sized mixing bowl, sift or whisk to combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and spices.
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 extract followed by the eggs. Then add the apple cider followed by the apple butter or applesauce.
Step Three: (Photo 3 above) Mix in the dry ingredients on low speed until 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: 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 for more information.
I recommend using pure apple cider. You can try apple juice, but it 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 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
- ⅓ cup 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 Glaze
- ½ tablespoon apple cider add an additional ½ tablespoon apple cider if needed
- 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 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.
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