These apple pie cookies are soft, chewy and packed with all the warm flavors. With a homemade apple pie filling, they taste like apple pie in cookie form.
Want to save this post?
Enter your email below and get it sent straight to your inbox. Plus, I'll send you the latest recipes and tips every week!
The warm smell of apple pie that can fill a house is just so cozy on a fall day. The smell of freshly baked apples and the scent of cinnamon can fill your whole house up with delight. If you enjoy good ole' apple pie, these cookies are just for you.
I love making batches of these decadent cookies during the late autumn season. Fall is my favorite season and apples are great to enjoy this time of year.
The homemade apple pie filling for these cookies takes the cake. It is so easy to whip up and the ingredients I'm sure you have on hand. Of course, you can use canned pie filling, but I encourage you to make your own. If you have any leftover, you can top these pancakes with it or enjoy it with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
Apple pie cookies are truly like the classic pie but in bite size form. You are sure to enjoy these tasty, delightful, warm cookies.
Reasons to Love
- No Chill Cookie Recipe. This is a no chill recipe just like my small batch chocolate chip cookies and small batch sugar cookie recipes. These cookies are simple to prep but filled with warm flavors. They come to together quick, and you can have a delicious cookie in under an hour.
- Homemade Apple Pie Filing. There is nothing quite like homemade apple pie filling. It just tastes better. The great part is my filling is made from simple pantry staple ingredients that you probably already have on your shelf. It comes together in just 10 minutes.
- Amazing Taste. When I say taste like an apple pie in cookie form, I mean it. It truly does taste like a mini apple pie. The filling will absolutely just melt in your mouth. If you love apple pie, you are going to love these apple pie cookies.
Ingredients
For the cookies:
- Butter- Unsalted and room temperature is used for this recipe.
- Brown Sugar- Light brown sugar gives the cookies that hint of molasses and aids in the texture of the cookies. You can use dark if you want a richer flavoring.
- Egg- Binds and keeps everything together.
- Vanilla Extract- Adds a hint of vanilla.
- All Purpose Flour- The base ingredient of the cookies. You can also use cake flour in place.
- Baking Powder- Allows the cookies to rise along with adding texture.
- Salt- Balances the sweetness.
For the filling:
- Apple- Granny Smith are great baking apples but you can also use Honeycrisp or Gala for an even sweeter cookie.
- Butter- Just like the dough, unsalted is used.
- Brown Sugar- Light brown sugar has a rich flavor.
- Cornstarch- This will thicken the filling. It helps the cookies have a soft and thick texture.
- Spices- Ground cinnamon, clove and freshly grated nutmeg are the classic spices of apple pie and are infused throughout every bite of the cookie.
- Salt- Just a pinch is needed.
Scroll down to the recipe card for quantities used.
Instructions
Let's gather the apple to dice up along with the other pantry staple ingredients needed to make these delicious apple pie cookies.
Peel and dice apples into small cubes, about ¼ inches.
In a medum bowl, mix brown sugar, cornstarch, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and salt. Add mixture to apples and toss.
Melt butter in a pot over medium heat. Add diced apples.
Cook apples for 4 to 5 minutes until they release their juices.
Cream butter and sugar until fluffy with an electric mixer or whisk.
Add egg and vanilla, and beat until smooth.
Continue beating in flour, baking powder, and salt until uniform. Roll dough into 10 balls and place on parchment lined baking sheets with space between.
Use your thumb to make an indentation in each cookie. Fill with 1 teaspoon of apple pie filling each dough.
Bake for 12-14 minutes until lightly browned.
Cool on the sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a rack to cool completely.
Hint: The apple filling should not be watery. After chopping the apples, you can toss them with a bit of flour or cornstarch to absorb excess moisture. This helps prevent the cookies from becoming soggy and ensures a crisp, flavorful texture in every bite.
Variations
- Change up the spices. Other warm and cozy spices that can be used are pumpkin spice, all spice, cardamon and ginger.
- Add nuts. You can't go wrong with a handful of chopped pecans or walnuts in these cookies for added crunch.
- Use a different filling. Instead of apple, you can swap it for your favorite fruit filling such as strawberries, blueberries or lemon curd.
- Add a sauce. You can easily drizzle caramel sauce to add an extra touch of sweetness to the cookies.
- Make gluten free. To make this recipe gluten free, just swap the all purpose flour for your favorite gluten free 1 for 1 flour.Make dairy free. The only ingredient to swap out to make dairy free is the butter. You can use your choice of vegan butter.
See this spicy version of this recipe on my website! (placeholder for in-content link)
Tips
Top tip: Use room temperature ingredients. For this apple pie cookie recipe, the butter and eggs need to be room temperature. This will ensure the mixture incorporates well and the cookies bake evenly.
- Don't overcook the apples. Cook the apples until they are slightly soft and the juice has thickened.
- Don't overmix the batter. You want to make sure the cookie dough batter is mixed until incorporated. This can be done by mixing with a spatula until you don't see any streaks of dough. If you overmix the cookies can turn out flat.
- Line a cookie sheet. This can be done using parchment paper or a silicone mat for easy clean up and even temperature distribution.
- Use a cookie scoop. This helps to form the cookie dough into the perfect shape for cookies. It also helps the cookies bake evenly.
- Let cool for at least 5 minutes. Then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. This will make sure the bottom of the cookie firms up and won't be soggy.
Serving suggestions
These apple pie cookies go perfect with a scoop of homemade ice cream. They also taste amazing with a dollop of whipped cream on top just like apple pie. This is my favorite way to enjoy them!
The cookies can be served on a cookie platter. You can combine them with other favorites like my lemon ricotta cookies. I like to enjoy them as a dessert, too. They taste amazing after enjoying this chicken and stuffing casserole.
Storage
You can store your cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. Ensure the container is sealed properly to keep the cookies fresh and prevent them from becoming stale.
You can also freeze these cookies by placing in a freezer friendly airtight container or bag for up to 3 months or freeze the cookie balls to bake in smaller amounts as desired.
FAQs
What are the best apples to use for baking?
Granny Smith apples are the best for baking. If you don't have Granny Smith then Honeycrisp, Gala and Pink Lady also are sweet and bake well.
Why are my cookies not spreading?
You may have used too much flour or the oven temperature was too hot. Every oven is different so you must watch the first time you make these cookies. For the flour, make sure to measure out precisely using a measuring cup.
Related Recipes
Want to try more of my small-batch desserts? Here are a few more recipes you should try:
- Chocolate puff pastry is so quick and easy to prepare.
- No-bake chocolate oatmeal cookies are delicious served chilled.
- Single-serve peach cobbler is perfect for enjoying any time.
- Strawberry pound cake is loaded with fresh berries.
- Air fryer apple fritters crisp up without deep frying.
Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest to see more recipes.
Recipe
Apple Pie Cookies
Ingredients
Filling Ingredients
- 1 apple large
- ½ tablespoon unsalted butter
- ¼ cup light brown sugar firmly packed
- ½ teaspoon cornstarch
- ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ⅛ teaspoon ground cloves
- ⅛ teaspoon nutmeg freshly grated
- pinch salt
Cookies Ingredients
- ⅓ cup butter at room temperature
- ½ cup light brown sugar firmly packed
- 1 egg medium
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 ½ cup all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Peel and dice apples into small cubes, about ¼ inches.
- Melt butter in a pot over medium heat. Add diced apples and cook for 4-5 minutes until they release their juices.
- In a medum bowl, mix brown sugar, cornstarch, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and salt. Add mixture to apples and toss.
- Simmer for 5-6 minutes until the juice thickens into a glaze. Remove from heat and let it cool.
- Preheat the oven to 350°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Cream butter and sugar until fluffy with an electric mixer or whisk. Add egg and vanilla, and beat until smooth.
- Continue beating in flour, baking powder, and salt until uniform.
- Roll dough into 10 balls and place on sheets with space between.
- Use your thumb to make an indentation in each cookie. Fill with 1 teaspoon of apple pie filling each dough.
- Bake for 12-14 minutes until lightly browned.
- Cool on the sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a rack to cool completely.
Ronald Tosti
Am so happy I found you, as I love baking and cooking new items, thank you much and Stay Well Ron
Lisa MarcAurele
Thanks Ron! Hope you enjoy these apple cookies.
Wendie
These were so good! I used Granny Smith apples and they had the perfect amount of tartness to the sweet cookies. My kids devoured them, definitely making them agin this week!