Homemade Apple Pie Cookies
These Apple Pie Cookies are made with a buttery soft cookie dough then stuffed with a delicious not too sweet apple pie filling. Serve them warm or room temper as a snack or with a scoop of ice cream to make the perfect Fall Dessert. Either way they won’t last long!
Can I start off by saying “I love anything Apple and Cinnamon. “? I also love the fact that the horrible heat of July and August is finally coming to an end. And now we can all concentrate on keeping warm. No better way then some warm out of the oven Apple Pie Cookies.
As far as dessert goes in Italy, I discovered that one of the most popular and famous cakes is an Apple Cake. Everyone wants to make the perfect Cake / Ciambellone Over the last two-three years I have made quite a few things with Apples, from cakes to sweet loaves.
So this time I thought why not stuff a cookie? I made the filling quite thick because I didn’t want any of the filling escaping from the inside.
Recipe Ingredients
- Butter – room temperature
- Sugar
- Egg – room temperature
- All Purpose Flour
- Baking Powder
- Vanilla
- Salt
- Apples
- Brown Sugar
- Cinnamon
For these cookies I used a simple pastry dough, although this Brown Sugar, or Homemade Pie Dough would also work, or even a good store bought if you are short on time.
How to make them
In a medium bowl whisk together the flour, baking powder, sugar and salt. Make a well in the middle and add the butter, egg and vanilla. Mix with a fork until almost combined, move to a lightly floured flat surface and gently knead until dough is well combined and soft. Wrap in plastic and refrigerate 30 minutes at least.
While the dough is in the fridge prepare the filling, in a medium pot add butter, brown sugar, cinnamon and diced apples, mix together and cook on low to medium heat, stirring the mixture occasionally and watch that it doesn’t burn, gently squish with a fork, leaving the diced apples chunky rather than mushy.
Continue to cook until the apples are soft and tender. Remove from heat and let cool completely.
To tell the truth I got a bit busy and the filling got overly thick so to thin it up a bit I added a couple of tablespoons of Maple Syrup. As the Italian said, “good move”, I think he would drink the stuff if he could!
Remove the dough from the fridge and roll it out on a floured flat surface, cut out rounds with a round cookie cutter. Place half the circles on the prepared cookie sheet, top each circle with a heaping teaspoon of apple filling, gently spread the filling.
Be sure not to go over the edge, cover with another circle and close the edges with a fork or lightly wet your fingers and close the edges. Wetting the edges helps keep them closed while baking.
Brush with a little milk and then sprinkle a little cinnamon sugar.
Bake until golden. Remove from oven, let cool or eat warm. Delicious as a dessert served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream!
How to make cinnamon sugar
For every 1/2 cup of granulated sugar (or try with brown sugar) and add 2-3 teaspoons of ground cinnamon. Combine well in a small bowl or shake well in a small jar. Be sure to store any leftover cinnamon sugar in a tight fitting jar in a damp free area. It will keep for up to a year, it will actually keep indefinitely although cinnamon may lose its flavour.
What are the best apples for baking?
I personally always reach for Royal Galla or Fuji, but you could also use Cortland, Empire, Crispin, Northern Spy, Newton Pippin, Rome Beauty, Golden Delicious, Winesap, Honey crisp or Braeburn, or even a combination if you prefer.
Recipe FAQs
The dough can be made using a standup mixer with the flat beaters or with a food processor, instructions are in the recipe card.
The cookies should be stored in an air tight container and will keep at room temperature for up to 2 days or in the fridge for up to 4-5 days. Bring to room temperature before serving.
Freeze the cookies in an airtight freezer safe container or bag, they will keep in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge. Bring them to room temperature or warm in a low oven or microwave before serving.
So if you are looking for a wonderful way to start the Fall or even end the summer, then these Homemade Apple Pie Cookies would be a great choice. Enjoy!
More Apple Recipes
- Cinnamon Applesauce Cookies
- Apple Pie Streusel Cake
- Apple Turnovers
- Italian Apple Pie
- Apple Pie Cinnamon Crepes
Homemade Apple Pie Cookies Recipe
Ingredients
FOR THE COOKIE DOUGH
- 1/2 cup butter* (room temperature)*
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1 large egg (room temperature)
- 1 1/2 cups flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 pinch salt
*If using unsalted butter then use 1/4 teaspoon salt.
FOR THE APPLE FILLING
- 2 apples (cored, peeled and diced small)
- 1 1/2 tablespoons butter
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar (packed)
- 1/2 – 1 teaspoon cinnamon
CINNAMON SUGAR
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
Instructions
FOR THE COOKIE DOUGH
- Making it by hand – In a medium bowl whisk together the flour, baking powder, sugar and salt. Make a well in the middle and add the butter, egg and vanilla. Mix with a fork until almost combined, move to a lightly floured flat surface and gently knead just until the dough is well combined and soft, don't over knead. Wrap it in plastic and refrigerate for at 30 minutes or up to 3 days.
- Making it with a food processor or mixer – In the food processor/mixer add the butter and sugar pulse to combine or mix with the flat beater a few times, add the egg and vanilla, combine until smooth, add the flour mixture pulse/beat a few times until almost combined. Move to a lightly floured flat surface and gently knead until the dough is well combined and soft (this won't take long). Wrap in plastic or parchment paper and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
FOR THE APPLE FILLING
- While the dough is in the fridge prepare the filling, in a medium pot add butter, brown sugar, cinnamon and diced apples, mix together and cook on low to medium heat for 5 minutes, cover and cook for another 5 minutes,, stirring the mixture occasionally and watch that it doesn’t burn, gently squish with a fork, leaving the diced apples slightly chunky rather than mushy. If the apples are not tender and the mixture hasn't thickened, continue to cook on low for another 5 minutes uncovered, until the apples are soft and tender. Remove from heat and let cool completely. If you find the mixture too thick then you can add a tablespoon or 2 of maple syrup to thin it.
- Pre-heat oven to 350F (180C). Line one or two cookie sheets with parchment paper.
- Remove the dough from the fridge and roll dough out on a floured flat surface to 1/8 inch / 2 mm (or a little thicker if you prefer) cut with a round cookie cutter approximately 28 circles (2 1/4 inch / 6 cm size), place 14 circles on the prepared cookie sheet, place a heaping teaspoon of apple filling on each circle, gently spread the filling, be sure not to go over the edge, cover with another circle and close the edges with a fork, I lightly wet my fingers and closed the edges, wetting the edges helps to keep the cookies closed while baking. Brush with a little milk and then sprinkle with some cinnamon sugar, bake for approximately 15 minutes or until golden. Remove from oven, let cool 5-10 minutes on the cookie sheet then move to a wire rack to cool completely or eat warm. Enjoy!
CINNAMON SUGAR
- In a small bowl mixture together the sugar and ground cinnamon.
Notes
Nutrition
Updated from September 2015
Will I be able to double the recipe?I made too much apple filling but not enough dough
Hi Violette, yes you can double the recipe. Let me know how it goes.
Thank you! I’ll trie the cookies’s recipe and the ease cake, then I will tell you the results. They look great.
Hi Xiomy, thanks I hope you like them.
Thank you so much., They really taste good. exactly what I was looking for. Am thinking of filling the cookies with pears. Thanks again for the delicious treat.
Hi Rosemary, so glad you like them and a pear filling sounds perfect. Have a great weekend.
These were absolutely perfect! Exactly what my daughter and I were looking for. She told me this morning that they’re like an apple pie wrapped in a Christmas cookie. Super easy recipe. My only complaint is that there aren’t more of them. Next time, I’ll double the recipe.
Hi Michelle, thanks so much and what a perfect way to describe them. So glad you enjoyed them. 🙂
Hello, I was wondering if you had to use a processer or if you could use a stand mixer or blender. We broke out last one.
Hi Mary, you can actually make the dough by hand or use the flat beater of your stand up mixer. Hope that helps. Let me know how it goes.
How long do these last after baked? I’d like to ship some overseas and it can sometimes take a bit to get to the destination. Do you think these cookies would last until the arrival?
Hi Stephanie, I would say these would last a couple of days about as long as a pie. I don’t know about sending them overseas though, also because there is fruit in the cookie. I don’t think I would risk it. Hope that helps.
Hi Rosemary,
Thank you for the recipe, looks wonderful! Can you tell me does the cookie dough butter cold or room temperature. I know cookies are usually done with rooms temp, but your use of the food processor had me wondering if this would be more like a biscuit dough? Making these tomorrow for an event but not sure how to proceed.
Hi Lauren, thanks so much, I usually use room temperature, although my room temperature and yours are probably much different, I have quite a cool house so the butter never gets really soft, so I would recommend taking the butter out of the fridge 30 minutes before using (you want it pliable but not hard), unless of course your house is really cool too then take it out the evening before. It’s more like a pastry dough. Hope that helps. 🙂
Made this were great could you put different fillings like mince meat or peach?
Hi Nancy, thanks glad you enjoyed it, and I think different fillings would work perfectly.
I just finished baking tis recipe and they look exactly like the photos. I could only get 14 cookies and it was a bit of work, but worth it. Thank you for sharing.
Hi Nancy, so glad you enjoyed them. 🙂 Have a great week.
I just made apple bread for my family and my grandson went wild about it. Definitely making these cookies for him. Thanks for another great recipe.
Thanks Ann I hope he enjoy them. Have a great week.
I’m 150% Italian, so naturally I was thrilled to stumbled on to your great site. Excited to make your “Apple Pie” cookies. Really like what I see & read so far. Mille Grazie !
Thanks so much Marilyn, so glad you enjoy it. Let me know what you think of the cookies. Have a great weekend.
These look like everyone in the family will enjoy them. Thanks for another great recipe.
Those cookies look absolutely amazing! I’m very impressed that the filling didn’t leak out. No matter what I try, I seem to make a delicious mess. 😉
Thanks Nikki, delicious messes are a good thing too! 🙂
Your apple pie cookies look delicious! I’ll have to make these. My daughters would love them!
Thanks so much Lauren, I hope you enjoy them!
Yum! These look delicious and I cannot wait to try them. Beautiful photos, too.
Thanks so much Terri, hope you enjoy them.
something different & new, planning to TRY this, will let you all know my experience.