Description
Spiced apple butter cookies bring warmth from grandma’s kitchen straight to your plate. Buttery, sweet, and infused with classic fall flavors, these treats invite you to savor a delightful moment of comfort and nostalgia.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 3/4 cups (220 g) all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup (115 g) unsalted butter, softened
- 1/2 cup (120 ml) apple butter
Sugars and Binding Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup (100 g) granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup (110 g) packed brown sugar
- 1 large egg
Spices and Leavening Agents:
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F and prepare baking sheets with parchment paper, ensuring even spacing for optimal cookie placement.
- Cream together butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar in a mixing bowl until the mixture becomes light, airy, and pale in color.
- Incorporate the egg and vanilla extract, blending until the mixture achieves a smooth, uniform consistency.
- Fold in the apple butter, stirring thoroughly to distribute the flavor evenly throughout the dough.
- In a separate bowl, combine flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg, whisking to eliminate any potential lumps.
- Slowly integrate the dry ingredients into the wet mixture, gently folding until just combined, taking care not to overmix the dough.
- Utilize a cookie scoop or tablespoon to portion the dough onto prepared baking sheets, maintaining approximately 2 inches between each cookie.
- Bake for 10-12 minutes, watching for set edges and slightly soft centers, which indicate perfect doneness.
- Allow cookies to rest on the baking sheet for 5 minutes to stabilize their structure, then carefully transfer to a wire rack for complete cooling.
- Create a delicate glaze by whisking powdered sugar, milk, and a hint of cinnamon, then elegantly drizzle over the cooled cookies for a sophisticated finishing touch.
Notes
- Swap apple butter with pumpkin puree for a seasonal twist that transforms the cookies into a fall-inspired treat.
- Experiment with different spices like cardamom or ginger to enhance the warm, comforting flavor profile of the cookies.
- For gluten-free options, replace all-purpose flour with a 1:1 gluten-free baking blend to maintain the soft, tender texture.
- Chill the dough for 30 minutes before baking to prevent spreading and create thicker, more structured cookies with deeper caramelized edges.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 24
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 10 g
- Sodium: 50 mg
- Fat: 6 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 23 g
- Fiber: 0.5 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 25 mg