Introduction
Oh, the smell of baking cookies! Does anything feel more like home than that warm, inviting aroma filling your kitchen? Today, we’re diving into a recipe that’s pure autumn magic: Apple Cookies with Maple Icing. These aren’t just cookies; they’re little bites of comfort that will transport you straight to a crisp fall day, no matter the season. They’re wonderfully simple to whip up, making them perfect for a spontaneous baking session or a planned cozy afternoon.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Fast: You’ll be enjoying these warm, delicious cookies in no time.
- Easy: Seriously, if you can stir, you can make these! No fancy techniques needed.
- Giftable: Pack them up in a cute tin or bag, and you have the most thoughtful homemade gift.
- Crowd-pleasing: From kids to grandparents, everyone adores the classic flavors of apple and maple.
Ingredients
Let’s gather our goodies! You’ll find most of these are probably already in your pantry. For the cookies:
- ¾ cup unsalted butter, softened: Make sure it’s nice and soft, not melted! This is key for creaming.
- ½ cup brown sugar: For that lovely caramel-like sweetness.
- 1 large egg: Our binder and richness provider.
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract: A little splash of pure comfort.
- 2 cups all-purpose flour: The sturdy foundation of our cookie.
- 1 teaspoon baking soda: To give our cookies a nice lift.
- ½ teaspoon salt: To balance out all the sweetness.
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon: The queen of fall spices!
- ¼ teaspoon ground ginger: A gentle warmth that pairs perfectly with apple.
- ⅛ teaspoon nutmeg: Just a whisper for that classic spiced flavor.
- ½ cup maple syrup (real maple syrup, please!): This is where the magic happens. Use the good stuff!
- 1 ½ cups grated apple: I like to use Granny Smith or Honeycrisp for a nice balance of sweet and tart.
And for that dreamy Maple Icing:
- 1 cup powdered sugar: For a smooth, sweet finish.
- 1 tablespoon heavy whipping cream: To get that perfect drizzly consistency.
- 1 tablespoon melted butter: Adds a lovely richness to the icing.
- 1 teaspoon maple syrup: To reinforce that wonderful maple flavor.
How to Make It
Alright, let’s get our hands a little floury and make some deliciousness! Grab your favorite apron and let’s go.
- First things first, let’s get that oven preheated to 350°F (175°C). While it’s warming up, line a couple of baking sheets with parchment paper. This makes clean-up a breeze and ensures your cookies won’t stick.
- In a nice big bowl, take your softened butter and that brown sugar. Cream them together until they’re light and fluffy. You can use an electric mixer for this, or just good old-fashioned muscle power!
- Now, beat in the egg and vanilla extract. Give it a good mix until everything looks beautifully combined.
- In a separate medium bowl, let’s get our dry ingredients ready. Whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg. This ensures all those lovely spices are evenly distributed.
- Time to combine! Gradually add your dry ingredients to the wet ingredients. Mix them together gently until they’re just combined. Be careful not to overmix here – we want tender cookies!
- Now for the star of the show! Stir in the maple syrup and the grated apple. It might look a little wet, but trust the process!
- Using a rounded tablespoon, drop spoonfuls of dough onto your prepared baking sheets. Give them a little space, about 2 inches apart, as they’ll spread a bit.
- Pop those beauties into the oven and bake for 10-12 minutes. You’re looking for edges that are just lightly golden brown.
- Once they’re done, let the cookies hang out on the baking sheets for a few minutes. Then, carefully transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely. This step is super important before icing!
- While the cookies are cooling, let’s whip up that dreamy Maple Icing. In a small bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar, heavy whipping cream, melted butter, and that teaspoon of maple syrup. Whisk until it’s smooth and has a nice pourable consistency. If it’s too thick, add a tiny bit more cream; if it’s too thin, a little more powdered sugar.
- Once your cookies are completely cool (this is important so the icing doesn’t melt off!), it’s time for the fun part. Drizzle or spread that glorious maple icing over the tops. Let the icing set for a bit before you dive in. Enjoy!
Substitutions & Additions
Feeling adventurous? You can totally make these cookies your own!
- Apples: If you don’t have fresh apples, you could try using unsweetened applesauce, but you might need to adjust the flour slightly.
- Spices: Don’t have all the spices? A good quality apple pie spice blend can work in a pinch.
- Nuts: For a little crunch, stir in about ½ cup of chopped walnuts or pecans with the apple.
- Glaze: If you’re not a fan of icing, a simple dusting of powdered sugar over the warm cookies is also delicious.
- Citrus Zest: A teaspoon of orange or lemon zest added to the dough can add a bright, fresh note.
Tips for Success
Let’s make sure these cookies turn out perfectly every time!
- Soften Your Butter: Make sure your butter is truly softened, not melted. This will help you achieve that light and fluffy texture when creaming with the sugar.
- Don’t Overmix: Overmixing the dough can lead to tough cookies. Mix until just combined.
- Grate Your Apples Correctly: You want finely grated apple, not big chunks. This helps distribute the apple flavor evenly and ensures the cookies bake properly.
- Cool Completely Before Icing: Patience, my friends! If you ice warm cookies, the icing will melt and become a sticky mess.
- Prep Ahead: You can grate your apples a day in advance and store them in an airtight container in the fridge. You can also mix the dry ingredients together and store them in a separate container.
How to Store It
These cookies are best enjoyed fresh, but if you happen to have any leftovers (which is unlikely!), here’s how to store them:
- Once the icing has completely set, store the cookies in an airtight container at room temperature.
- They should stay fresh and delicious for about 3-4 days.
- If you plan to freeze them, it’s best to do so before icing. Wrap them well in plastic wrap and then place them in a freezer-safe bag or container for up to 2-3 months. Let them thaw completely at room temperature before icing.
FAQs
Are these cookies soft or crunchy?
These cookies are meant to be wonderfully soft and chewy, with a delightful hint of spice from the apples and cinnamon.
Can I use store-bought grated apples?
While fresh grated apples will give you the best flavor and texture, you can use unsweetened applesauce in a pinch. You might need to adjust the flour slightly to account for the extra moisture. However, for the best cookie experience, I highly recommend fresh!
How long do these take to bake?
You’ll want to bake them for about 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden brown. Keep an eye on them as ovens can vary!
Can I make these vegan?
You can definitely adapt these to be vegan! Use a vegan butter substitute for the cookies and icing, and a flax egg (1 tablespoon flaxseed meal mixed with 3 tablespoons water, let sit for 5 minutes) instead of a regular egg. For the icing, use a plant-based milk like almond or oat milk instead of heavy cream.
Apple Maple Cookies
Cozy Apple Maple Cookies are a delightful fall treat that are simple to make and perfect for sharing. These soft and chewy cookies feature the warm flavors of apple and cinnamon, topped with a sweet maple icing.
Equipment
- Baking sheets
- Parchment paper
- Large bowl
- Electric mixer optional
- Medium bowl
- Wire rack
- Small bowl
Ingredients
Cookies
- 0.75 cup unsalted butter softened
- 0.5 cup brown sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 0.5 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 0.25 teaspoon ground ginger
- 0.125 teaspoon nutmeg
- 0.5 cup maple syrup real
- 1.5 cups grated apple Granny Smith or Honeycrisp recommended
Maple Icing
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1 tablespoon heavy whipping cream
- 1 tablespoon melted butter
- 1 teaspoon maple syrup
Instructions
- First things first, let's get that oven preheated to 350°F (175°C). While it's warming up, line a couple of baking sheets with parchment paper. This makes clean-up a breeze and ensures your cookies won't stick.
- In a nice big bowl, take your softened butter and that brown sugar. Cream them together until they're light and fluffy. You can use an electric mixer for this, or just good old-fashioned muscle power!
- Now, beat in the egg and vanilla extract. Give it a good mix until everything looks beautifully combined.
- In a separate medium bowl, let's get our dry ingredients ready. Whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg. This ensures all those lovely spices are evenly distributed.
- Time to combine! Gradually add your dry ingredients to the wet ingredients. Mix them together gently until they're just combined. Be careful not to overmix here – we want tender cookies!
- Now for the star of the show! Stir in the maple syrup and the grated apple. It might look a little wet, but trust the process!
- Using a rounded tablespoon, drop spoonfuls of dough onto your prepared baking sheets. Give them a little space, about 2 inches apart, as they'll spread a bit.
- Pop those beauties into the oven and bake for 10-12 minutes. You're looking for edges that are just lightly golden brown.
- Once they're done, let the cookies hang out on the baking sheets for a few minutes. Then, carefully transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely. This step is super important before icing!
- While the cookies are cooling, let's whip up that dreamy Maple Icing. In a small bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar, heavy whipping cream, melted butter, and that teaspoon of maple syrup. Whisk until it's smooth and has a nice pourable consistency. If it's too thick, add a tiny bit more cream; if it's too thin, a little more powdered sugar.
- Once your cookies are completely cool (this is important so the icing doesn't melt off!), it's time for the fun part. Drizzle or spread that glorious maple icing over the tops. Let the icing set for a bit before you dive in. Enjoy!
Notes
These cookies are meant to be wonderfully soft and chewy. For best results, ensure butter is softened, do not overmix the dough, grate apples finely, and cool cookies completely before icing. Applesauce can be used as a substitute for fresh apples with potential flour adjustments. Vegan substitutions are possible with vegan butter, flax eggs, and plant-based milk.