Description
Homemade apple butter cookies deliver comfort from first bite. Warm spices and rich fruit preserve mingle in each delectable treat you’ll savor.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 ¾ cups (220 g) all-purpose flour
- ½ cup (115 g) unsalted butter, softened
- ½ cup (120 g) apple butter
- ½ cup (100 g) granulated sugar
- ½ cup (100 g) brown sugar, packed
- 1 large egg
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- ¼ tsp ground nutmeg (optional)
- 2 tbsps granulated sugar (for topping)
- ½ tsp ground cinnamon (for topping)
Instructions
- Workspace Preparation: Line two baking sheets with parchment paper, creating a non-stick surface for precise cookie placement.
- Butter Mixture: Cream butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar using an electric mixer until the blend becomes light, fluffy, and pale.
- Wet Ingredient Integration: Fold in egg, apple butter, and vanilla extract, mixing until the components achieve a smooth, uniform consistency.
- Dry Ingredient Combination: Whisk flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg in a separate bowl, ensuring even distribution of spices and leavening agent.
- Dough Formation: Gently incorporate dry ingredients into wet mixture, stirring carefully to maintain the dough’s delicate structure and prevent overmixing.
- Cookie Shaping: Craft uniform dough balls using a tablespoon, optionally rolling them in cinnamon-sugar mixture for enhanced flavor and texture.
- Baking Process: Arrange dough balls on prepared sheets with two-inch spacing, then bake in a preheated 350F (175C) oven for 10-12 minutes until edges turn golden and centers remain slightly soft.
- Cooling Technique: Let cookies rest on baking sheets for five minutes to stabilize, then transfer to a wire rack for complete cooling and flavor development.
- Serving Suggestion: Present cookies as a delectable treat, with an optional caramel drizzle for those desiring an extra touch of indulgence.
Notes
- Prevent Overmixing: Gently fold dry ingredients into wet mixture to maintain a tender, soft cookie texture without developing tough gluten strands.
- Temperature Matters: Ensure butter is at room temperature for smoother creaming and better incorporation with sugars, creating a more uniform dough consistency.
- Cinnamon Sugar Coating: Rolling dough balls in cinnamon-sugar mixture adds a delightful crispy exterior and enhances the warm, spiced flavor profile of the cookies.
- Storage Strategy: Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days, separating layers with parchment paper to prevent sticking and maintain optimal moisture.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 23
- Calories: 120
- Sugar: 8 g
- Sodium: 70 mg
- Fat: 5 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 17 g
- Fiber: 0.5 g
- Protein: 1.5 g
- Cholesterol: 20 mg