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Apple Cider Cookies Recipe: Delicious Fall Treats to Savor

Fall is the season of cozy sweaters, golden leaves, and the irresistible aroma of apple cider. While apple cider is often enjoyed as a warm drink, it also makes the perfect ingredient for fall-inspired baked goods. Enter: Apple Cider Cookies—soft, chewy, warmly spiced cookies that capture all the flavors of autumn in every bite. Unlike plain sugar cookies, these cookies are enriched with apple cider, brown sugar, and warm spices like cinnamon and apple pie spice, making them sweet, fragrant, and nostalgic. They’re the kind of treat you’ll want to pair with a mug of hot tea or cocoa while enjoying a crisp fall afternoon. Whether you’re baking them for a family gathering, packing them into a fall picnic basket, or making them as an edible gift, these apple cider cookies will surely become one of your go-to fall recipes.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 20 minutes
bake & Chill Time 1 hour 12 minutes
Servings: 24 cookies
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

For the Cookies
  • 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons apple pie spice or pumpkin spice
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • ¾ cup granulated sugar
  • 1 ¼ cups light brown sugar packed
  • 20 tablespoons unsalted butter 2 ½ sticks, softened
  • 1 large egg
  • 2 cups apple cider
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • Pinch of salt
Optional Topping
  • Extra cinnamon sugar for rolling cookies

Equipment

  • To prepare these cookies, you’ll need:
  • Mixing bowls (large and medium)
  • Hand mixer or stand mixer
  • Measuring cups and spoons
  • Whisk
  • Rubber spatula
  • Baking sheets
  • Parchment paper or silicone baking mat
  • Cooling rack
  • Small saucepan (for reducing cider)
  • Optional:
  • Cookie scoop (for even cookie sizes)
  • Fine mesh sieve (for dusting cinnamon sugar on top)

Method
 

Step 1: Reduce the Apple Cider
  1. Pour apple cider into a small saucepan.
  2. Simmer over medium heat until it reduces to about ½ cup (this takes around 15–20 minutes).
  3. Let it cool completely before adding to cookie dough.
Step 2: Prepare the Dry Ingredients
  1. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, apple pie spice, cinnamon, and salt.
  2. Set aside.
Step 3: Cream Butter and Sugars
  1. In a large mixing bowl, beat softened butter with granulated sugar and brown sugar until light and fluffy (about 2–3 minutes).
  2. Add the egg and beat until combined.
Step 4: Add Cider and Dry Mix
  1. Mix in the reduced apple cider.
  2. Gradually add dry ingredients, mixing just until combined. Do not overmix.
Step 5: Chill the Dough
  1. Cover dough with plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour (this prevents spreading).
Step 6: Bake the Cookies
  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
  2. Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
  3. Scoop dough into 1 ½-inch balls and place on baking sheet about 2 inches apart.
  4. Bake 10–12 minutes, until edges are set and centers are soft.
Step 7: Cool and Serve
  1. Allow cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack.
  2. Roll in cinnamon sugar if desired for extra flavor.

Notes

🧊 Storage & Reheating
Room Temperature: Store cookies in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
Refrigerator: Keep fresh for up to 7 days when stored chilled.
Freezer: Freeze baked cookies or cookie dough balls for up to 3 months.
Reheating: Warm cookies in the microwave for 8–10 seconds for that just-baked softness.
🥄 Variations
Glazed Apple Cider Cookies: Drizzle cookies with a glaze made from powdered sugar and apple cider.
Apple Cider Cream Sandwiches: Spread cream cheese frosting between two cookies for a decadent sandwich.
Nutty Crunch: Add ½ cup chopped pecans or walnuts for extra texture.
Caramel Apple Cider Cookies: Press a caramel candy into the center of each cookie before baking.
Chewy Spice Twist: Add extra ground cloves or nutmeg for stronger fall spice notes.
❓ 10 FAQs
Can I use apple juice instead of cider?
Yes, but cider adds a deeper apple flavor. Reduce apple juice the same way.
Why do I need to reduce the cider?
It intensifies the flavor without adding too much liquid to the dough.
Can I skip chilling the dough?
Not recommended—chilling prevents cookies from spreading too much.
Do these cookies taste like apple pie?
Yes, they carry a similar spiced apple flavor in a soft cookie form.
Can I make them gluten-free?
Yes, use a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend.
Can I make them dairy-free?
Substitute butter with plant-based margarine.
How do I keep cookies soft?
Store them with a slice of bread in the container to maintain moisture.
What if I don’t have apple pie spice?
Use 1 tsp cinnamon, ¼ tsp nutmeg, and ¼ tsp allspice as a substitute.
Can I make the dough ahead of time?
Yes, refrigerate up to 48 hours before baking.
Can I double this recipe?
Absolutely—just bake in batches.
🏁 Conclusion
These Apple Cider Cookies are the essence of fall in a bite. Soft, chewy, and perfectly spiced, they bring together the flavors of apple cider and warm spices into a cookie that feels like a cozy autumn hug.
Whether you’re baking them for a fall festival, a Thanksgiving dessert table, or simply to enjoy with your morning coffee, this recipe is sure to become a seasonal favorite. Don’t be surprised if these cookies disappear as quickly as you bake them—they’re that good!