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Apple Pie Cookies Recipe

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★★★★★

5 from 132 reviews

These Apple Pie Cookies bring the delicious flavors of classic apple pie into a charming, handheld treat. Featuring a buttery, flaky crust filled with a spiced honeycrisp apple mixture, these cookies are topped with a beautiful lattice and a sprinkle of cinnamon or turbinado sugar for a delightful crunch and sweetness. Perfect for fall gatherings or anytime you crave the taste of apple pie in cookie form.

Ingredients

Scale

Pie Dough

  • 2½ cups all-purpose flour
  • ¼ cup confectioner’s sugar
  • Pinch of salt
  • 3 tablespoons shortening
  • 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, chilled
  • ⅓ cup ice water (approximately)

Apple Filling

  • 4 small Honeycrisp apples, peeled, cored, and chopped
  • Juice of ½ lemon
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon ground ginger
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
  • ¼ teaspoon cardamom
  • ⅓ cup dark brown sugar
  • ¼ cup cane sugar
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch
  • 2 tablespoons water
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter (for cooking filling)

Topping

  • Cinnamon sugar or Turbinado sugar for topping
  • Light cream for brushing (about 2-3 tablespoons)

Instructions

  1. Prepare the Pie Dough: In the bowl of a food processor, blend together the all-purpose flour, confectioner’s sugar, salt, shortening, and chilled butter until the mixture resembles coarse sand. Slowly add ice water one tablespoon at a time until a soft, pliable dough forms. Shape the dough into a disk, wrap in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for 30 minutes to chill.
  2. Mix the Apple Filling: In a large bowl, toss the chopped apples with lemon juice, cinnamon, ground ginger, vanilla extract, nutmeg, cardamom, dark brown sugar, and cane sugar. Set aside to allow the flavors to meld.
  3. Cook the Apple Filling: Heat 2 tablespoons of unsalted butter in a medium-sized pan over medium-high heat. Add the apple mixture and cook, stirring occasionally, for 10-15 minutes until the apples have softened slightly and released their juices.
  4. Thicken the Filling: In a small bowl, whisk together the cornstarch and water to form a slurry. Stir this into the apple mixture and continue cooking for another 5 minutes until the filling thickens completely. Remove from heat and transfer to a bowl to cool.
  5. Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) to prepare for baking the cookies.
  6. Roll and Cut Dough: On a lightly floured surface, roll out the chilled dough to about ¼-inch thickness. Divide the dough in half. Using a large cookie cutter, cut out rounds from the first half of the dough. Gather scraps, reroll, and continue cutting until all dough is used.
  7. Assemble Pie Cookies: Place the cookie rounds on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Spoon about 1 tablespoon of the cooled apple filling into the center of each round.
  8. Create the Lattice Tops: Roll out the remaining dough to ¼-inch thickness. Cut strips to create lattice tops for the cookies. Use a ravioli cutter for decorative edges or a paring knife or pizza cutter for straight edges. Gently lay the lattice strips over the filled cookies to cover them.
  9. Brush and Sprinkle: Lightly brush each assembled pie cookie with cream, then sprinkle with cinnamon sugar or turbinado sugar to add sweetness and a slight crunch.
  10. Bake the Cookies: Bake the pie cookies in the preheated oven for about 20 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown and the filling is bubbling. Remove from the oven and transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
  11. Optional Finishing Touch: Once cooled, dust the cookies lightly with confectioner’s sugar for a pretty presentation before serving. Enjoy your delicious apple pie cookies!

Notes

  • Adjust the water quantity when making dough as needed; dough should be soft but not sticky.
  • Use tart and crisp apples like Honeycrisp for best flavor and texture.
  • The lattice top can be customized with different cutter patterns for presentation.
  • Keep the butter and shortening chilled to achieve a flaky crust.
  • If desired, these cookies can be stored in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
  • For a dairy-free option, substitute butter with a plant-based alternative and use a milk alternative for brushing.

Keywords: apple pie cookies, apple cookies, homemade apple pie, lattice cookies, fall dessert, spiced apple cookies

Find it online: https://www.sanacooks.com/apple-pie-cookies-recipe/