Apple Butter Cookies: Soft & Spiced
Imagine biting into a cozy autumn afternoon. These Apple Butter Cookies are soft, spiced, and carry the warm, sweet flavor of homemade apple butter. Perfect with a cup of tea or coffee, they bring a nostalgic aroma and melt-in-your-mouth texture that feels like a hug from your favorite sweater.
Ingredients
For the Cookies:
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1 cup unsalted butter softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup light brown sugar packed
- 2 large eggs room temperature
- 1 cup apple butter
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
Instructions
- Prepare Your Workspace
- Begin by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats. This preparation ensures your cookies will bake evenly and release easily.
- Mix Dry Ingredients
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves until well combined. This step ensures even distribution of the spices and leavening agents throughout the dough.
- Cream the Butter and Sugars
- In a large bowl using an electric mixer, or in a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream together the softened butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until light and fluffy, about 3-4 minutes. Don't skip this crucial step – proper creaming incorporates air into the dough, contributing to the cookies' soft texture.
- Add Wet Ingredients
- Beat in the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Add the apple butter and vanilla extract, mixing until fully incorporated. The mixture might look slightly curdled at this point – that's perfectly normal.
- Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed just until combined. Be careful not to overmix, as this can lead to tough cookies. The dough will be soft and somewhat sticky.
- Prepare the Spiced Sugar Coating
- In a small bowl, mix together the granulated sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg for the coating.
- Shape and Coat the Cookies
- Using a cookie scoop or tablespoon, portion the dough into 1.5-inch balls. Roll each ball in the spiced sugar coating until completely covered. Place the cookies on the prepared baking sheets, leaving about 2 inches of space between each cookie.
- Bake to Perfection
- Bake for 12-14 minutes, or until the edges are lightly set but the centers still look slightly underbaked. The cookies will continue to set as they cool. For optimal softness, err on the side of underbaking rather than overbaking.
Notes
Servings: 24 cookies