Welp, I am back on the apple train. I can’t help it, I like what I Iike. And I like, I mean like, like these apple pie cookies! The combo of the warm apple pie spices, chopped up dried apple, cinnamon/sugar bursts and white chocolate chips all with a chewy texture are what life’s little pleasures are made of. No guilty pleasures here, just pleasure. And I’m not apologizing for it.
Guilty pleasures is one of those sayings I really dislike. In the words of Peter Griffin, it “really grinds my gears”. I mean why would something harmless like a cookie or a bad TV show be your “guilty pleasure”. Now if you said robbing banks was your guilty pleasure, that makes sense. Or you just love to vandalize property, ok, guilty pleasure. But delicious food that is meant to be enjoyed, not a guilty pleasure. Or watching TV is not a guilty pleasure. Unless of course it’s Hallmark Channel’s countdown to every damn holiday there is! By the way, countdown to Christmas starts next week! Anyway, I will allow that term to be used for this. I mean it’s so bad it’s good, almost like committing a crime by watching it.
Ok, sorry, I digress. Food, good food, delicious desserts are meant to be enjoyed. Life is short, have a cookie, just don’t eat them every day and certainly don’t feel guilty about it! You will have nothing but guiltfree pleasure when you bite into these babies. It will give you all the cozy holiday feels without the stress, family and fighting of the actual Holidays!
I am a cinnamon nut, almost as crazy for it as I am salted caramel. I almost put salted caramel in these too, but I refrained from doing so this time. The slight chewy bits of apple give a nice tart note to balance out the sweetness of the cinnamon and sugar.
I just ordered these cinnamon/sugar bits from King Arthur! I am obsessed, I am thinking of all the things I can put them in right now! My mouth is at the top of the list currently.
The addition of the white chocolate chips just adds extra yum and texture and the drizzle of apple cider glaze adds even more apple kick to these already amped up apple treats. Who would say no to more amped up apple? Not me, I would buy an apple orchard if I could, I can’t because I didn’t win the lottery, but if I did, I would totally buy one and be an apple farmer and make apple stuff all the time. Like in one of my all time favorite 80s movie classics, Baby Boom! If you haven’t seen it, do yourself a favor and watch it. Watch it with these cookies. You will thank me later.
These are perfect to whip up on a chilly fall weekend for yourself, friends or family. I am having a casual dinner party that these will be the perfect end to the meal or snack before the meal or in between bites of the meal. You get me, they’re good.
Enjoy!
Diane
- For the Cookies:
- 2 cups AP flour
- 1 large egg and1 large egg yolk – room temp
- 2 tsp. vanilla extract
- 1 stick unsalted butter room temp - plus ½ stick melted
- ½ tsp. baking powder
- ½ tsp. salt
- ¼ tsp. cinnamon
- ¼ tsp. nutmeg
- ⅛ tsp. all spice
- ¼ tsp. cardamom
- ¾ cup packed light brown sugar
- ¼ brown rice syrup
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup mini white chocolate chips
- ½ cup cinnamon sweet bits (King Arthur)
- ½ cup chopped dried apples (not freeze dried)
- For the Apple Cider Glaze:
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2 tbsp. apple cider
- ½ tbsp. apple brandy
- 1 tsp. vanilla extract
- In a large bowl combine all the dry ingredients and set aside.
- In the bowl of stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, cream the 1 stick of butter, granulated sugar and brown sugar until fluffy. About 3 to 5 minutes.
- Add the brown rice syrup and mix to combine.
- Add the egg and fully incorporate and then add the yolk and mix to combine.
- Add the vanilla extract. Scrape down sides of bowl as needed
- Slowly add the dry ingredients in three batches. Add the melted butter and mix to combine. Don't over mix. Stir the cinnamon bits, apples and white chocolate chips. Chill for 2 hours or up to three days covered in the fridge.
- Pre-heat the oven to 350 degrees. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mat. Scoop the cookie dough out using a small ice-cream scoop or heaping tablespoon leaving space between each cookie to allow for spreading.
- Bake for 12 to 15 minutes until the edges are beginning to brown. Allow to cool on baking sheet for 10 minutes then remove to cool completely on a wire rack.
- For the glaze:
- While the cookies are cooling mix the powdered sugar, apple cider, apple brandy and vanilla extract in a bowl. If the glaze is too thick, add a little more apple cider to thin out. If it's too thin and a little more powdered sugar to thicken up. Should be thick enough to stick but still be pourable.
- Using a piping bag with a small round tip, pipe thin lines across all the cooled cookies. If you don't have a piping bag, you can use a spoon to drizzle over the cookies. Allow the glaze to set at room temperature. Store covered at room temperature for up to a week.
- Enjoy!
Love apples! Can’t wait to try these❤️
Yes! They are yummy!