Spiced Apple Cut-Out Cookies
Summer has been pretty slow around here. No complaints though. This relaxing downtime is a nice change of pace from the hustle of holiday cookie-making.
The extra free time made it the perfect time to try new things and experiment with a few ideas I had tucked away. With back-to-school season just a few weeks away (Crazy, right?), I was thinking it would be fun to try a new cut-out cookie flavor to complement the start of the new school year. These spiced apple cut-out cookies seemed like just the thing.
In the fall, pumpkin spice-flavor always seems to dominate the season. I understand not everyone is so pro-pumpkin. Hopefully, this spiced apple cut-out cookie recipe is a nice, autumn-alternative if pumpkin isn't your thing.
The key to the spiced apple flavor in this recipe is the addition of powdered spiced apple cider. (You can find them a box of these packets in the grocery store next to the hot cocoa.)
Also, on a whim and because I had a jar in my fridge already, I added a few scoops of apple butter to the mix. This is totally optional, but I think it added a nice boost of apple flavor without it being overwhelming. (Jars of apple butter can be found near the jellies and peanut butter.)
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Spiced Apple Cut-Out Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 cup (two sticks) unsalted butter, softened
- ½ cup brown sugar (light or dark brown sugar is fine.)
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp baking powder
- 3 packets Alpine spiced apple cider mix
- 2 tbs apple butter (optional)
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
Instructions
Step 1
In a mixer, cream together butter and both sugars. Mix until fluffy and well incorporated.
Step 2
Add egg, vanilla extract, baking powder, apple cider packets, and apple butter. Mix until it is all well incorporated.
Step 3
Add flour, a cupful at a time, to the mixture. After everything is well mixed, the dough should be non-greasy to the touch. If the dough is still sticky, add an extra quarter cup of flour.
Step 4
Roll to 1/4 inch thickness between two sheets of parchment or wax paper. (Using my Joseph Joseph rolling pin is a life-saver because the guides take the guess work out of getting the correct thickness.) After rolling, chill the dough for at least 30 minutes.
Step 5
Once the dough is well chilled and hard to the touch, cut out shapes and place them on a parchment paper-lined, light-colored baking sheet. Chill the cutout shapes again before baking.
Step 6
Bake at 375 degrees for 7-9 minutes. Remove from the oven before the first indication of the edges turning brown. Leave the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 10 minutes.
Step 7
Remove cookies from the baking sheet with a spatula and place on a cooling rack to cool before decorating.
This recipe makes about 2 dozen 3-inch spiced apple cut-out cookies. For use as decorated cookies, these cookies would pair nicely with traditional vanilla royal icing. However, for a more classic fall flavor, a caramel-flavored icing with the these spiced apple cookies would be pretty delicious.
Spiced Apple Cut-Out Cookie Recipe Video
I'm gearing up for back-to-school designs in the upcoming days. Stay tuned for a few fun ideas on decorating these spiced apple cut-out cookies as nice teacher gifts.
