If you love apple cider donuts from the apple orchard, make a batch of these chewy apple cider cookies as soon as possible!
Here in the Midwest, my family has a tradition of visiting a new apple orchard each year, which is how many of us have around us. We always have a great time picking apples, going on a hay ride, going through the corn maze, and indulging in an apple cider donut!
I have created a crispy cookie on the outside, soft inside, and filled with apple cider flavor! This cookie is reminiscent of the apple cider donut you and your family enjoy each year in the fall! File this recipe away for your autumn festivities!
Ingredients Needed
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup light brown sugar, packed
One large egg
1/2 cup reduced apple cider – see more info on this in the instructions
1 tsp vanilla extract
1.5 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
Cinnamon Sugar Coating
Two tablespoons sugar
Two teaspoons of cinnamon
Ingredient Note: If you want to make these cookies but apple cider isn’t yet in season, you can use Alpine apple cider mix, which is available year-round. You will want to use 1/2 the water the instructions on the box call for to ensure you have concentrated apple cider for your recipe.
Equipment
Small Bowl for cinnamon and sugar
Instructions:
- Preheat your oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a small saucepan, simmer 1 cup of apple cider over medium heat until it reduces to about 1/2 cup. This will intensify the apple flavor. Set aside to cool. For this recipe, you can also prepare Alpine apple cider mix in the microwave. If using the mix, you will want to use 1/2 the amount of water called for on the preparation instructions.
- In a large mixing bowl, cream the softened butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until light and fluffy (about 2-3 minutes).
- Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.
- Mix in the cooled, reduced apple cider and vanilla extract until well combined.
- Whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg in a separate bowl.
- Gradually add the dry and wet ingredients, mixing until just combined. Be careful not to overmix.
- Scoop 1.5-inch cookie dough balls and place them on the prepared baking sheet, spacing them about 2 inches apart.
- Sprinkle or roll the buttered cookies in the cinnamon-sugar mixture until fully coated.
- Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are golden and the centers are set. Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack. Once they’re done baking, you can choose to add more cinnamon sugar topping.
Apple Cider Donut Cookies
If you love apple cider donuts from the apple orchard, make a batch of these chewy apple cider cookies as soon as possible!
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter 1 stick
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1/2 cup reduced apple cider
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1.5 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
cinnamon sugar coating
- 2 tbsp sugar
- 1 tsp cinnamon
Instructions
-
Preheat your oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
-
In a small saucepan, simmer 1 cup of apple cider over medium heat until it reduces to about 1/2 cup. This will intensify the apple flavor. Set aside to cool. For this recipe, you can also prepare Alpine apple cider mix in the microwave. If using the mix, you will want to use 1/2 the amount of water called for on the preparation instructions.
-
In a large mixing bowl, cream the softened butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until light and fluffy (about 2-3 minutes).
-
Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.
-
Mix in the cooled, reduced apple cider and vanilla extract until well combined.
-
Whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg in a separate bowl.
-
Gradually add the dry and wet ingredients, mixing until just combined. Be careful not to overmix.
-
Scoop 1.5-inch cookie dough balls and place them on the prepared baking sheet, spacing them about 2 inches apart.
-
Sprinkle or roll the buttered cookies in the cinnamon-sugar mixture until fully coated.
-
Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are golden and the centers are set. Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack. Once they're done baking, you can choose to add more cinnamon sugar topping.
Tips:
* Reducing the apple cider is key to intensifying the flavor. You can prepare this step ahead of time.
* If you want to make these cookies but apple cider isn’t yet in season, you can use Alpine apple cider mix, available year-round. To ensure you have concentrated apple cider for your recipe, you will want to use 1/2 the water the instructions on the box call for.
* Do NOT chill your cookie dough if you want your cookies to be crispy on the outside! I have made these cookies by chilling the dough and not chilling the dough. Chilling the dough will give them a “cakey” texture instead of a crispy outside.
Storage: Store these cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week.
These cookies capture the cozy, autumnal flavors of apple cider donuts, perfect for a fall treat! Enjoy baking!
Recipe Variations: You can enhance the flavor of these cookies by adding ginger, pecans, cardamom, cloves, allspice, apple butter, or an apple cider glaze.
Check out more apple recipes!
Caramel Apple Chips
Fried Cinnamon Apple Muffins
Apple Cider Iced Tea
Apple Cinnamon Rice Krispie Treats
These Apple Cider Donut Cookies are the perfect bite for fall! I would love to hear how they turned out for you! Please comment below this post or tag me on social media and let me know! You can find me on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, and Twitter!
