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Soft Apple Cookies with Vanilla Maple Glaze

This recipe for apple cookies gives you a soft treat that’s a cross between a cookie and a muffin top. Each bite contains bits of apple and an explosion of fall flavor.

The irresistible vanilla maple glaze topping is the perfect finishing touch. Be sure to save or print this recipe to add to your fall baking lineup.

Stacked apple cookies next to a green apple and a plate of more cookies.

Delicious Glazed Apple Cookies Recipe for Fall

Adding to the apple recipes on the blog, these apple cinnamon cookies with glaze are a must. I suggested the carrot cookies would be good for breakfast, and I have to say the same for these cookies with apples.

These soft cookies are a bit like a muffin top, so they would be delicious with coffee or tea. Serve them for breakfast or brunch or snack on them any time of the day.

If pie is more your jam, give this apple pie cookie recipe a try.

Apples, flour, cinnamon, and other ingredients on a table.

Apple Cookies Ingredients

Here’s what you need to make this recipe. The measurements are in the printable recipe card below.

For the cookies:

  • Butter
  • Brown sugar
  • Egg
  • Vanilla extract
  • All-purpose flour
  • Baking soda
  • Salt
  • Cinnamon
  • Ground ginger
  • Nutmeg
  • Maple syrup
  • Apples

For the vanilla maple glaze:

  • Confectioners sugar
  • Heavy whipping cream
  • Butter
  • Maple syrup

How to Make Apple Pie Cookies

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F and prepare a baking sheet or two.

Butter and brown sugar in a mixing bowl.

Cream together the butter and brown sugar in a large mixing bowl by mixing at medium-high speed until the mixture is light and fluffy.

Cookie dough batter in a bowl with mixers.

Add in the vanilla extract and egg and continue mixing until combined.

Flour and cinnamon in a bowl.

In another medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg.

Flour on top of batter in a bowl.

Gradually add about a third of the dry mixture to the batter and mix until just combined at medium-low speed.

Pouring syrup into batter in a bowl.

Add half of the maple syrup followed by another third of the flour mixture. Mix to combine.

Finally, add the rest of the syrup and then the last of the dry mixture and mix until combined. Do not overmix.

Stirring batter in a bowl.

Fold in the grated apples and stir until evenly distributed.

Dough in a cookie scoop.

With a medium cookie scoop, drop the batter onto the baking sheet about 2″ apart.

Cookie dough on a baking sheet.

Bake for 12-14 minutes or until lightly golden.

Leave the baked cookies on the baking sheet for 5 minutes to set.

Apple cookies on a cooling rack.

Transfer to a cooling rack to then allow them to completely cool.

While you’re waiting for the cookies to cool, prepare the maple glaze.

Powdered sugar, vanilla, butter, and cream.

In a small deep bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar, heavy whipping cream, melted butter, and vanilla extract until smooth.

The glaze will be pretty thick.

Piping glaze on cookies.

Transfer the mixture to a ziplock bag and cut the tip of the corner to pipe onto the cookies.

Glazed apple cookies on a rack.

Pipe the glaze onto the cookies or use a butter knife to spread it on.

Stacked apple cookies with glaze and an apple in the background.

Enjoy!

Apple Pie Cookies Recipe Notes and FAQ

How should I store these cookies?

You can keep these cookies in an airtight container and place them in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Glazed apple cookies on a plate.

Want bigger apple chunks?

If you like chunkier apple pieces in your cookies, you can dice them instead of grating them.

Cookies on a plate and then on a tray in the back.

Want spicier cookies?

To give the cookies more fall spice, feel free to add more cinnamon and more ginger.

Glazed apple pie cookies on a plate.

What kind of apples work best in these cookies?

You can use any types of apples, but I personally recommend Granny Smith. The tart flavor works well to balance out the sweet cookie.

Yield: 24 cookies

Apple Cookies Recipe

Stacked apple cookies next to a green apple and a plate of more cookies.

Soft cookies with bits of apple and loads of fall flavor. Topped with a vanilla maple glaze.

Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 12 minutes
Total Time 22 minutes

Ingredients

Cookies

  • ¾ cup softened butter
  • ½ cup brown sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • ¼ teaspoon ground ginger
  • ⅛ teaspoon nutmeg
  • ½ cup real maple syrup
  • 1 ½ cups grated apple (Granny Smith or Honey Crisp)

Vanilla Maple Glaze

  • 1 cup confectioners sugar
  • 1 tablespoon heavy whipping cream
  • 1 tablespoon melted butter
  • 1 teaspoon real maple syrup

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
  2. In a large bowl, cream the butter and brown sugar together at medium-high speed with an electric mixer until light and fluffy.
  3. Add vanilla and egg and mix until combined.
  4. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg.
  5. Add a third of the dry mixture to the batter. Mix until just combined at medium-low speed. Then add half the maple syrup followed by another third of flour. Finally, add the remaining maple syrup and then the last third of flour until combined. Do not over mix!
  6. Fold in the grated apples until they are evenly distributed.
  7. Prepare 2 cookie sheets lined with parchment paper (or bake one batch at a time).
  8. Use a medium cookie scoop to drop batter onto the pan 2 inches apart on the cookie sheet. 12 cookies per sheet.
  9. Bake for 12-14 minutes until lightly golden. Leave on the cookie sheet for 5 minutes to set and then transfer to a cooling rack to cool completely.
  10. While the cookies are cooling, prepare the cookie glaze. In a small deep bowl, whisk together the confectioners sugar, whipping cream, melted butter, and vanilla until smooth. The glaze will be slightly thick. Transfer to a ziplock bag and cut out a small corner to pipe on the cookies.
  11. Pipe cookies with glaze or spread with a butter knife and enjoy!

Notes

  • These cookies can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
  • If you like chunkier apple pieces, feel free to dice them as opposed to grating them.
  • If you like spicier cookies, feel free to add more cinnamon and ginger.

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Nutrition Information:

Yield:

24

Serving Size:

1

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 153Total Fat: 7gSaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 25mgSodium: 151mgCarbohydrates: 22gFiber: 1gSugar: 13gProtein: 1g

Nutrition facts are an estimate only.

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Apple cookies with glaze on a plate next to green apple slices.

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