Description
Warm spices and sweet apple butter meld perfectly in these irresistible cookies, creating a comforting autumn treat. Crisp edges, tender centers, and a sprinkle of cinnamon invite you to savor each delightful bite of pure seasonal bliss.
Ingredients
Scale
Primary Wet Ingredients:
- ½ cup (115 g) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 large egg
- ½ cup (120 g) apple butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Sugars:
- ½ cup (100 g) granulated sugar
- ½ cup (100 g) brown sugar, packed
Dry Ingredients:
- 1 ¾ cups (220 g) all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
Optional Topping:
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
Instructions
- Prepare the oven environment by heating to 350F (175C) and arranging parchment-lined baking sheets to ensure optimal cookie baking conditions.
- Utilize an electric mixer to whip butter and sugars into a creamy, airy texture, creating a smooth foundation for the cookie dough.
- Introduce moisture and flavor by incorporating egg, apple butter, and vanilla extract, blending until the mixture achieves a uniform consistency.
- Separately combine dry ingredients, whisking flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg to distribute spices and leavening agents evenly.
- Gradually fold dry ingredients into the wet mixture, stirring gently to prevent overmixing and maintain a tender cookie texture.
- Craft uniform dough balls, optionally rolling them in a cinnamon-sugar mixture for an extra layer of sweet, spiced coating.
- Carefully position dough balls on prepared baking sheets, maintaining sufficient spacing to allow for spreading during baking.
- Slide sheets into the preheated oven, baking for 10-12 minutes until edges firm up and centers remain slightly soft and yielding.
- Allow cookies to rest on baking sheets for initial cooling, then transfer to a wire rack to complete the cooling process.
- Serve as a delightful standalone treat or elevate with a luxurious caramel drizzle for an indulgent finishing touch.
Notes
- Chill the dough for 30 minutes before baking to prevent spreading and create a more compact, chewy cookie texture.
- Swap out wheat flour for gluten-free alternatives like almond or oat flour to make these cookies suitable for those with gluten sensitivities.
- Use unsweetened apple butter to control sugar content and create a more nuanced, less sweet cookie profile.
- Experiment with spice variations by adding a pinch of cardamom or ginger to enhance the warm, autumnal flavor of the cookies.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 24
- Calories: 135
- Sugar: 9 g
- Sodium: 60 mg
- Fat: 5 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 20 g
- Fiber: 0.5 g
- Protein: 1.5 g
- Cholesterol: 15 mg