Description
Homemade apple cider cookies blend warm autumn spices with sweet cider for a delightful seasonal treat. Crisp edges and chewy centers make these cookies a perfect companion to afternoon tea or coffee.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup plus 4 tbsps unsalted butter (browned)
- 1 ¼ cups brown sugar (packed, light or dark)
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup apple cider (reduced to ¼ cup)
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg (at room temperature)
- ½ cup granulated sugar (for cinnamon sugar)
- 1 cup powdered sugar (for glaze)
- ¼ cup apple sauce (unsweetened)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract (pure)
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 2 tsps ground cinnamon (for cinnamon sugar)
- ½ tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp baking soda
- ¼ tsp ground nutmeg
- 2 tbsps browned butter (reserved)
- 1 tbsp apple cider (regular, not reduced)
- 2 ½ tbsps apple cider (regular, for glaze)
Instructions
- Transform butter into a golden-amber hue by simmering in a medium pan over medium heat until milk solids caramelize. Remove from heat, separate 1 cup for dough and 2 tablespoons for later, then cool completely.
- Concentrate apple cider in a saucepan, reducing from 1 cup to ¼ cup over medium heat in approximately 15 minutes. Allow to cool to room temperature.
- Create a uniform dry mixture by sifting flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg together in a medium bowl.
- Whisk cooled browned butter with reduced cider, sugars, vanilla, egg, and apple sauce until thoroughly integrated and smooth.
- Gently incorporate dry ingredients into wet mixture using a rubber spatula, mixing until just combined to maintain a tender cookie texture.
- Heat oven to 350°F and line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Scoop cookie dough into uniform balls, spacing them adequately on prepared sheets to allow slight expansion during baking.
- Bake one sheet at a time for 13-15 minutes until edges are set. Transfer to cooling rack and let cookies cool completely.
- Blend reserved browned butter with apple cider, warming briefly if solidified.
- Combine granulated sugar and ground cinnamon in a separate bowl.
- Brush each cookie with apple cider butter, then immediately roll in cinnamon-sugar mixture for complete coverage.
- Whisk powdered sugar and apple cider into a smooth glaze, drizzling over cookies and allowing to set before serving.
Notes
- Brown the butter carefully to develop a rich, nutty flavor without burning, watching the color change from yellow to golden amber.
- Reduce apple cider slowly to concentrate its sweet, tangy essence, which intensifies the cookie’s overall taste profile.
- For gluten-free options, substitute all-purpose flour with a cup-for-cup gluten-free blend to maintain the cookie’s soft texture.
- Experiment with different spice combinations like adding a pinch of cardamom or ginger to enhance the warm, autumnal flavor of the cookies.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 24
- Calories: 179
- Sugar: 14 g
- Sodium: 106 mg
- Fat: 9 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 24 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 23 mg