Apple Spice Cookies are made with a delicious blend of warm spices and fresh apple. This soft and flavorful cookie is always a favorite and is ready in less than 20 minutes!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ REVIEW: These were fantastic! I got a little nervous with the crumbly consistency but once then apples were in, it came together perfect. The only change I made was to add a quick vanilla glaze. Thanks so much for this recipe!
If you are looking for a new take on fall flavors, you have to try these delicious Apple Spice Cookies. Made with a blend of cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, and ginger, this is one cookie you want on your baking list.
If you love unique cookies, be sure to try these Almond Ricotta Cookies or Lemon Amaretti Cookies. And, for all of you apple spice fans, don’t miss this Apple Spice Cake with an irresistible cinnamon buttercream frosting, simple and moist Apple Ricotta Cake, or these Apple Cider Moscow Mules. For a delicious fall treat, don’t miss these Pumpkin Ricotta Cookies or these fun and unique frosted Tiramisu Cookies!
Why this Cookie is the Best!
If you love all of those warming fall flavors, then this recipe is for you. Apple Spice Cookies are made with spices like cinnamon and nutmeg, and use real fresh apple.
This recipe has been tested and perfected! It is truly the best blend of spices and ingredients, leaving you with a soft and delicious cookie filled with fall apple flavors.
You can use whatever apple you have on hand for this recipe. I like to use Fiji or Honey Crisp, but a tart apple like Granny Smith would be delicious too.
If you happen to have apple pie spice, you can substitute equal amounts of this for the other spices. However, the spices listed will perfectly mimic the combo of flavors you find in the spice.
These are the perfect cookies for making ahead and freezing, or gifting for a cookie exchange. They light and tasty, without being overly sweet. Give them a try, you’re going to love them!
Ingredients
To make Apple Spice Cookies you will need: flour, sugar, brown sugar, baking soda, butter, vanilla, shredded apple, and a blend of fall spices.
- Apple: I use whatever apples I have on hand when making these cookies. Fuji, Honey Crisp, or Granny Smith are all good options.
- Spice Blend: the spice blend used here is meant to mimic the flavors you would find in a bottle of apple pie spice. However, that particular spice blend is difficult to find and can be pricey. You can use equal amounts of apple pie spice if you have it or just follow my ingredients using cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, and ginger.
- Sugars: use a combination of granulated sugar and brown sugar to give these cookies a rich flavor and texture.
- Icing: you can make a simple icing to drizzle on top of the cookies using powdered sugar, milk, and cinnamon.
How to Make Apple Spice Cookies
Apple Spice Cookies are a simple and delicious recipe that comes together in minutes. This recipe make about three dozen cookies.
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Firstly, you will need to peel and grate your apple. Use the larger holes of the box grater and then lightly chop the grated chunks; set aside.
Step 1: mix together the dry ingredients. In a bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, salt, and spices using a whisk; set aside.
Step 2: in a large bowl use a handheld mixer to mix together the butter, sugars, vanilla, and egg until light and fluffy. Mix until well combined.
Step 3: Use the handheld mixer on low to add the flour mixture into the wet. The batter will be crumbly. Then, add in the grated, chopped apple and mix until fully combined. The batter will become less crumbly with the addition of the apple.
Step 4: Use a cookie scoop or tablespoon to measure out the dough. Roll into balls and place on cookie sheet leaving about 2-3 inches between cookies. Bake for 12-13 minutes until light golden in color.
Let the cookies sit on the baking pan for about 5 minutes before moving them to a cooling rack to cool completely. They are soft, so you want to let them sit so they don’t fall apart.
Recipe Tips and FAQs
- This recipe works well with any apple you have on hand. I usually make them with Honey Crisp or Fiji.
- Peel and core the apple, then use a box grater to grate the apple into shreds. You can run a quick knife though the grated apple to break up any large pieces. If you like chunks of apple, you can always dice the apple instead of grating it.
- Apple Pie Spice is a fine substitute for the four spices in this recipe. Just use equal amounts of the apple pie spice in place of the cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, and ginger.
- Make sure you let the cookies cool on the baking sheet before moving them to a cooling rack. They are soft and you don’t want to move them too soon after getting out of the oven.
Apple Spice Cookies do well stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week. You can also freeze in an airtight container for up to two months. They are delicious served chilled or at room temperature.
Since you are probably only using one or two apple for cookies, don’t stress too much about which apple to use and just use what you have. Honeycrisp, Granny Smith, or Golden Delicious are all great varieties for baking.
Apple Spice, also known as Apple Pie Spice, is usually a combination of cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, ginger, and sometimes cardamom. You can easily make your own version at home using these spices.
More Apple Desserts!
Apple desserts are always a hit, and they consist of more than just apple pie! Here are some of my favorite apple dessert recipes:
Apple Spice Cookies
Equipment
- lined baking sheet
Ingredients
- 2 ½ cups all purpose flour (335 grams)
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon allspice
- ¼ teaspoon ginger
- ½ cup butter, softened (one stick)
- 1 cup sugar
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 apple; peeled, cored, and grated
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line baking sheet with nonstick baking mat or parchment paper; set aside.
- In a bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, and ginger; set aside.
- In a large bowl, use a hand mixer to mix together the butter, sugar, and brown sugar, and until well combined; about 2 minutes. Beat in the egg and vanilla until just combined. Add in the dry ingredients and mix until combined. Fold in the grated apple using a rubber spatula to make sure the ingredients are well incorporated.
- Use a cookie scoop or tablespoon to measure out 1 inch balls of cookie dough and place on baking mat leaving about 2 inches between each cookie (you should be able to fit a dozen cookies per baking sheet). Bake for 12-13 minutes. Remove from oven and let sit on baking sheet for five minutes before moving to cooling rack.
Notes
- You can substitute 2 ½ teaspoons of apple pie spice seasoning if you happen to have it available.
- Feel free to use whatever apple you have on hand. Dice the apple if you want small chunks of apple in the cookies. I like to grate and then dice the apple before adding it to the batter.
- Apple Spice Cookies are soft so be sure to let them cool before moving them to the cooling rack or into a storage container.
- Glaze Instructions: combine ½ cup powdered sugar with 2-3 teaspoons milk, and ¼ teaspoon cinnamon. Drizzle the glaze over the cooled cookies.
- Store the cookies in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week or freeze for up to two months.
A-M-A-Z-I-N-G, 10-10 Recomend
I added an extra apple, which made the mixture too runny to make biscuits. So I poured the mixture into a lined slice tin (11 x 7 x 1.5 inches). I baked it at the same temperature as I would have the biscuits, but kept checking it until cooked. I iced it with a cinnamon glaze. It turned out to be really tasty.
Great idea!! 🙂
I almost freaked out and added more liquid when I saw how dry the batter was. But the apple was enough moisture to make it perfect. Delicious!
These are amazing!!!!!
Thank you 🙂
Delicious recipe although anybody who makes these should be aware the dough will become very dry. I ended up using my food processor to incorporate the dry ingredients and apples.
These were fantastic! I got a little nervous with the crumbly consistency but once then apples were in, it came together perfect. The only change I made was to add a quick vanilla glaze. Thanks so much for this recipe!
Thanks Heather! So happy you enjoyed them 🙂
Is the batter supposed to be dry?
It’s a dry batter that moistens when you add in the shredded apples.
My cookies didn’t spread for some reason. They came out looking puffed instead of flat! I don’t know what went wrong. I didn’t use a mixer but still. I have made recipes before using wisk and or spoon that have come out right. I plan on trying again when I but new ingredients. I used what I had on hand this recipe. It was two apples. I saw another recipe with frosting. So either some will have frosting or I will frosting half of each cookie when I try again. I will leave an updated comment when that happens. ~_~
I love these apple cookies. They are so easy and the chewy center is such a great texture!
RThese apple spice cookies are effing great! Thank you for sharing this recipe! Gma is going to spoil my grandchildren with this recipe 😁
Perfection! I have a friend whose apple tree is full of apples that are just about to be perfectly ripe. I know what I’m doing with them!
These cookies have all the apple and cinnamon flavors that you are looking for! These are a great fall dessert.
Yum!! These cookies are perfectly crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, and the apple flavor is so great for fall!
Yum! I love the apple spice flavour in these- perfect treat for fall time.