Apple Cinnamon Cookies Recipe
Apple Cinnamon Cookies are a delightful autumn treat that perfectly balances the warmth of cinnamon with the sweetness and moisture of fresh apples. These soft and chewy cookies are easy to make, customizable, and offer a comforting flavor that evokes memories of home and harvest season. Ideal for snacks, gatherings, or gift-giving, these cookies also provide some nutritional benefits thanks to apples and cinnamon.
- Author: Maya
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Total Time: 22 minutes
- Yield: 18 cookies 1x
- Category: Baking, Cookies, Snack
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Dry Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- ½ tsp salt
Wet Ingredients
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
- ¾ cup brown sugar, packed
- 1 large egg
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Additional Ingredients
- 1 large apple, peeled and diced
- 1/3 cup oats (optional)
- 1/3 cup chopped walnuts or pecans (optional)
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and prepare a baking sheet by lining it with parchment paper to prevent sticking.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, ground cinnamon, and salt until well combined. This ensures even distribution of the leavening agent and spices.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large bowl, use a mixer or spoon to cream the softened unsalted butter with the packed brown sugar until the mixture becomes light and fluffy, which creates a good texture for the cookies.
- Add Egg and Vanilla: Beat in the large egg and vanilla extract into the creamed butter and sugar mixture until fully incorporated, adding moisture and flavor.
- Combine Wet and Dry: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, stirring just until combined to avoid overmixing, which can make cookies tough.
- Fold in Apple and Optional Ingredients: Gently fold in the diced apple along with oats and chopped nuts if using. These add moisture, texture, and additional flavor to the cookies.
- Scoop Dough: Using a spoon or cookie scoop, drop rounded spoonfuls of dough onto the prepared baking sheet, spacing each about 2 inches apart to allow spreading.
- Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes, or until the cookie edges are golden brown and centers are set but still soft.
- Cool: Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes to firm up, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely for best texture.
Notes
- For a gluten-free version, substitute all-purpose flour with a gluten-free flour blend.
- You can omit the nuts if allergic or prefer nut-free cookies.
- Add a pinch of nutmeg or ginger for extra warm spice notes.
- Substitute the egg with a flax egg and use dairy-free butter for a vegan-friendly alternative.
- Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week, or freeze for up to 3 months.
- Dice the apple finely to prevent the dough from being too wet and ensure uniform texture.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 10g
- Sodium: 95mg
- Fat: 6g
- Saturated Fat: 3.5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 22g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 25mg
Keywords: apple cinnamon cookies, autumn cookies, soft cookies, chewy cookies, cinnamon recipes, apple recipes, easy cookie recipe, homemade cookies