Fluffy and chewy apple cider cookies will be a hit this fall. Have them with a mug of hot cider, or even sandwich a whipped cream cheese frosting in between two cookies. Fun fact: these taste like candy apple suckers!
Fall is literally the best! Cool weather is just the perfect excuse for getting cozy with chunky sweaters, warm baked goods, and hot cider. If your family has a dessert table at Thanksgiving, these apple cider cookies would be a perfect fit!
If you haven't noticed by the amount of cookies I've made, I like cookies. The perfect couple bites of a handheld dessert. For more fall inspired cookies try my Brown Butter Pumpkin Oatmeal Cookies, Chewy Gingerbread Cookies, and these delicious Oatmeal Raisin Cookies that are spiced with apple pie spice.
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Important Ingredients with Substitutions
- All-purpose flour & Cake Flour - When measuring both flours using a kitchen scale is ideal, however, not everyone has one. For the most accurate measurement use the fluff, scoop, and level method. Fluff your flour with a fork, scoop it out into your measuring cup with a spoon, then level it off with a butter knife.
- Apple pie spice - You can usually find this premade spice in the baking aisle of your local grocery store. However, you can always make your own homemade apple pie spice like I did!
- Brown sugar - Light brown sugar or dark works fine. I usually end up mixing mine in a container. If you don't have brown sugar, you can use regular white granulated sugar.
- Apple cider - If regular apple cider is out of season where you are, you can use instant apple cider packets. You can find these where you'd find hot chocolate, tea, or coffee. Pure apple juice could be used in a pinch.
- Caramel sauce & Maldon sea salt - Used as the topping for your cookies. I used sea salt caramel sauce in addition to the Maldon sea salt. With this addition, cookies taste like candy apple cookies.
See the recipe below for the full list of ingredients and quantities.
Instructions
Preheat your oven to 350 F. Prepare a large cookie sheet with parchment paper.
In a medium bowl sift together the flour, cake flour, baking powder, apple pie spice, and salt. Whisk to combine, set aside.
Step 1: In another bowl, cream the softened unsalted butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy.
Step 2: Add the egg, apple cider, and vanilla extract and beat until combined.
Step 3: Add the sifted flour mixture ⅓ at a time, mixing until fully incorporated.
Step 4: Use a medium cookie scoop to scoop balls of cookie dough onto the prepared cookie sheet, leaving 2 inches in between. Bake cookies for 12-15 minutes, or until the edges are slightly golden.
Step 5: Before serving, let cool, then top with a drizzle of sea salt caramel sauce and a few flakes of Maldon sea salt.
Level Up with a Top Tip!
Hint: Don't top your cookies with sea salt caramel sauce or salt until they're being served. The apple cider cookies will soak up the caramel if left on too long.
Recipe Variations
- Not a fan of flaky salt on cookies, leave it out. The cookies will still be delicious!
- Before baking, sprinkle a cinnamon sugar or apple pie spice/sugar coating on top for an apple cider donut vibe.
- Dip your cooled cookies into a maple syrup or apple cider glaze.
Storage Recommendations
Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature in an airtight container or cookie jar for up to 1 week. Best if you wait until serving to add caramel sauce and salt. These cookies are a bit cakey so they'll soak up the caramel if left for too long.
Can I freeze apple cider cookies? Freeze baked cookies in a freezer safe airtight container for up to 3 months. Best to freeze without the caramel drizzle.
Level Up With Expert Tips & Tricks
As always, room-temperature ingredients are ideal. This helps to incorporate all of the ingredients smoothly into one another.
Let the cookies cool for at least 10 minutes before topping and enjoying!
Don't have apple cider? Use packet cider that you can find in the tea and coffee aisle of your grocery store.
Recipe FAQs
Nope, I've tested this recipe both ways, and they turn out the same either way. However, if you wanted to roll the cookie dough balls in a cinnamon sugar mixture, then I suggest chilling for 15 minutes before rolling. This will solidify the butter just enough for the dough to be handled, otherwise, it's rather wet.
Yes! The addition of apple cider and apple pie spice makes for a lovely warm apple flavor. Go even further and add sea salt caramel sauce and flaky salt and it's like eating a caramel apple sucker. Sweet, salty, tart, and warm.
Similar Sweets
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
Apple Cider Cookies
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 cup All-purpose flour
- 1 cup Cake flour
- 1 teaspoon Baking powder
- 1 tablespoon Apple pie spice
- ¼ teaspoon Salt
- ½ cup Unsalted butter softened to room temperature
- ¾ cup Brown sugar packed
- 1 Egg
- ½ cup Apple cider
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla extract
- Caramel sauce & Maldon sea salt for topping.
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350 F. Prepare a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a medium bowl sift together the flour, cake flour, baking powder, apple pie spice, and salt. Whisk to combine.
- In another bowl, cream the softened unsalted butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy.
- Add the egg, apple cider, and vanilla extract and beat until combined.
- Add the sifted flour mixture ⅓ at a time, mixing until fully incorporated.
- Use a medium cookie scoop to scoop balls of cookie dough onto the prepared baking sheet, leaving 2 inches in between.
- Bake the cookies for 12-15 minutes, or until the edges are slightly golden.
- Remove the cookies from the oven and let them cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring them to a cooling rack.
- Top with a drizzle of caramel sauce and a few flakes of sea salt.
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