Apple Butter Cookies

These soft and chewy apple butter cookies are baked with apple butter that makes them perfectly sweet and spiced. They’re like snickerdoodles upgraded for fall!

These apple butter cookies are everything you love about classic snickerdoodles with a fall twist from apple butter. 

If you haven’t tried it before, apple butter is essentially fall in a jar with its concentrated apple flavor and deep spicy undertones. If we imagine apple butter and applesauce as siblings, I think apple butter is definitely the extroverted one. 😂 

So, if you want to give your favorite soft and chewy snickerdoodle cookies the fall makeover that’ll get you excited for baking season, this recipe is for you!

What Are Apple Butter Cookies?

These apple butter cookies are like chewy snickerdoodles made with apple butter.

Just like how we can quickly spot snickerdoodles on the table with their signature cracks, these apple butter cookies are also delightfully crinkled. However, they’re perfectly thick and fluffy, which just goes perfectly with the cinnamon sugar coating! 🤤

Then, you’ll get a hint of apple and warm spices in every soft and chewy bite, thanks to apple butter.

But what is apple butter anyway?

Apple butter is made by cooking apples long and slow with spices. What you’ll get is the caramelized, concentrated flavor of apples, which, to help you imagine, is like baked spiced apples.

Bake that flavor into snickerdoodles, and you have yourself the perfect cookie recipe for fall.

Why You’ll Love This Apple Butter Cookie Recipe

• Snickerdoodles With A Twist: Apple butter adds a deep apple flavor and warm spices without tasting too overpowering. The only thing missing is a cozy blanket by the fire!
• Easy Fall Cookie: Autumn is the prime baking season, but your baking projects don’t have to ruin this season’s mellow mood. These apple butter snickerdoodles are surprisingly easy to make, and you can even prepare the dough in advance to save time if you’re hosting.
• Tweak It To Your Liking: You won’t get bored with the variations for these apple butter cookies. Try different add-ins, ingredient ratios, or even baking time to achieve the texture, puffiness, and taste you want for your fall treats.

What Do Apple Butter Cookies Taste Like?

So, what do these apple butter cookies taste like?

If you check the recipe below, it has cream of tartar, like in a classic snickerdoodle recipe. That being said, you’ll get that familiar and comforting snickerdoodle flavor on your apple butter cookie: sweet and spiced with a bit of tang from the cream of tartar.

However, there’s also the rich apple flavor from the apple butter. Oh, and did I mention apple butter also makes the cookies nice and moist? 😋

But for those who really want apple’s flavor to shine through their cookies, I have an apple cookie recipe for you.

Check out our apple sugar cookies because these apple cookies are made with actual apples! 🍎

Ingredients For Apple Butter Snickerdoodles

• Apple butter – You can use store-bought or homemade apple butter!
• Butter – Take note that because this apple butter cookie recipe uses apple butter and butter, the cookies can spread if you don’t chill the dough before baking. 
• Granulated sugar – Granulated sugar aerates the dough, so you’ll get the perfect puffy cookies. We’ll also coat the apple butter cookies in cinnamon sugar to give them that lovely “crust.”
• Egg – Helps bind the apple cookie dough together. Egg is also important for making thick and moist cookies.
• Vanilla extract – Together with cinnamon, they create that warm, fragrant flavor in homemade snickerdoodles. 
• All-purpose flour – Always measure your flour accurately, as too much flour can create overly dense cookies.
• Baking soda – Together with cream of tartar, this acts like the baking powder for our apple butter cookies. Baking soda also makes the cookies nice and soft.
• Cream of tartar – For that distinct tanginess and chewiness we all love in snickerdoodles.
• Salt – Enhances the sweet, warm flavor of the apple butter cookies.
• Ground cinnamon – We’ll use cinnamon both in the dough and sugar coating. 

Tools Needed To Prepare Apple Butter Snickerdoodles

• Measuring cups and spoons for measuring the ingredients accurately
• Stand mixer for mixing the ingredients
• Mixing bowl for the ingredients
• Whisk for mixing the dry ingredients
• Baking sheet for baking the cinnamon sugar apple butter cookies
• Parchment paper for lining the cookie sheet
• Cookie scoop for portioning the cookie dough
• Wire rack for cooling the cookies

Ingredient Additions & Substitutions For Apple Butter Cookies

Additional spices

Don’t feel limited with the spices for these apple butter cookies! Besides cinnamon, you might love the addition of nutmeg, cloves, or even ginger.

Chopped pecans

Love pecan snickerdoodles? These apple butter cookies are also delicious with chopped pecans mixed in. Imagine chewy cookies with a crunch!

Butterscotch chips

Butterscotch chips are another delicious add-in for these apple butter snickerdoodles. Just imagine the rich, buttery chips in every bite. 🤤

How to Make Apple Butter Cookies

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup apple butter
• 1/2 cup butter, room temperature
• 2 cups granulated sugar
• 1 egg, room temperature
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp cream of tartar
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar for the coating
• 1 tbsp ground cinnamon for the coating

Tools you need:

• Measuring cups and spoons
• Stand mixer
• Mixing bowl
• Whisk
• Baking sheet
• Parchment paper
• Cookie scoop
• Wire rack

Instructions:

STEP 1: Gather and measure the ingredients for your apple butter cookies.

STEP 2: Cream apple butter, unsalted butter, and sugar with the paddle attachment until just incorporated. Do not overmix.

STEP 3: Add the egg and vanilla. Mix just until combined.

STEP 4: Whisk the dry ingredients in a separate bowl.

STEP 5: Add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients slowly.

STEP 6: Mix to form the apple butter cookie dough, then chill for an hour. This is optional if you don’t mind flat cookies, but using cold dough before baking will prevent your apple butter cookies from spreading too much.

STEP 7: Preheat the oven to 350°F. and line the baking sheet with parchment paper.

STEP 8: Mix the sugar and cinnamon for the coating.

STEP 9: Scoop the chilled dough into balls and roll them in the cinnamon-sugar mixture.

STEP 10: Arrange the dough balls on the baking sheet, ensuring they’re spaced equally.

STEP 11: Bake the apple butter cookies for 15 minutes or until you see cracks with the dough inside still slightly wet.

STEP 12: Let the cookies sit on the tray for 5 minutes, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.

What To Serve With Apple Butter Snickerdoodles

Serve apple butter cookies with hot chocolate for a cozy autumn pick-me-up. You can also make an ultra-indulgent dessert sandwich with salted caramel ice cream in the center and pecans on the sides. 

But me? I want a dessert spread that will make my apple-loving sweet tooth happy this fall. 

Picture this: apple butter snickerdoodles, apple crumble cheesecake, and caramel apple tart side by side. There are so many apple desserts beyond apple pies and crumbles!

Tips About Making Apple Butter Cookies Recipe

• Measure your flour accurately. Don’t use your measuring cup as a scoop. Instead, scoop the flour into the measuring cup with a spoon or use a kitchen scale. 
• Always mix the ingredients just until combined. Otherwise, your cookies may collapse in the center as there’s too much air whipped into the dough.
• You can adjust the baking time to get your preferred doneness on these apple butter cookies. Unsure if the cookies are done? Check if they have browned on the sides and bottom.

How To Store Apple Butter Cookies

• Fridge: After cooling, transfer your apple butter cookies to an airtight container. Store them in the fridge and enjoy for up to 5 days. For make-ahead, wrap the dough in plastic wrap and chill it for 2 days. Then, let it soften at room temperature for easier scooping. 
• Freezer: You can freeze these apple butter cookies in a freezer-safe bag for up to 3 months! For make-ahead, freeze the balls for up to 2 months BEFORE rolling them in cinnamon sugar. 
• Reheating: Extend the baking time on your frozen cookie dough. For already-baked cookies, just rewarm them in a toaster oven. 

What Is Apple Butter Used for?

You can use apple butter on anything from savory to sweet.

Because of its smooth, buttery texture and sweet, spicy flavor, it’s perfect as a topping, spread, dip, or even as an additional ingredient to elevate your baked goods. 

You can also just treat it like butter and use it over toast or, just like a jam, add it to sandwiches. There’s really no wrong way to use apple butter! 

Can I Substitute Apple Butter for Butter in Cookies?

It will depend on the recipe. 

Every cookie recipe is different, and the moisture content of apple butter may not work to achieve the texture you want for the cookie you’re making. 

In general, replacing butter with apple butter is best if you’re trying to achieve a cake-like texture on your cookie or other baked goods like quick breads, muffins, or brownies.

Is Apple Butter Jelly or Butter?

Apple butter is closer to jam than butter. After all, it’s made from fruits, and it’s dairy-free, unlike butter. 

But how does apple butter differ from apple jam?

While both are made by cooking apples long and slow, apple butter is called “butter” since it’s thicker. It’s also smoother, darker, and often made with spices.

Hmmm, with all this talk about apple jam and apple butter, I’m suddenly craving apple pancakes. Yes, we can also add apples to pancakes!

I think both apple jam and butter will make a delicious topping on our fluffy caramel apple pancakes. I’ll be making this later!

Why Is My Apple Butter More Like Applesauce?

Apple butter is thicker than applesauce. So, if yours end up looking like applesauce, it might be because you’re rushing things.

Remember that cooking the apples long and slow is crucial to get the perfect thick consistency, dark caramel-like color, and concentrated apple flavor on your apple butter.

You also want to wait for your apple butter to cool. At first, the consistency can look similar to applesauce, but your apple butter might just need some time to cool down. 

Speaking of making apple butter, have you ever tried making jam at home? And I don’t mean just strawberry jam. (Don’t come at me, strawberry jam lovers!) 

I described these apple butter cookies as sweet and spiced, but I have something sweet and spicy for you. And I mean spicy, as in it uses jalapeno. 🥵

Does Apple Butter Need to Be Refrigerated?

Apple butter should be refrigerated. If you bought one from the store, check the label on how to store it properly. 

If your apple butter has an off-putting smell, taste, or mold growth, then it’s a good idea to throw it out.

FAQ About Apple Butter

Conclusion

Apple butter cookies might be what you need to warm up your kitchen this fall. 

They’re basically snickerdoodles with apple butter, so you’ll get the soft and chewy goodness of a snickerdoodle made extra moist and puffy with hints of apple and spices. 

Don’t forget to chill the dough before baking to get the perfect thickness! 😉

And if you’re on the quest to be the best baker this autumn, I have some delicious recipes perfect for this cozy season:

• Best Pumpkin Cookie Recipe with Cream Cheese Frosting
• Chewy Vanilla Chai Spiced Sugar Cookies Recipe
• Apple Cinnamon Brownies (Apple Cinnamon Blondies)
• Easy Pumpkin Muffin Recipe
• Easy Dutch Oven Apple Cobbler Recipe

When summer arrives, you can also check these irresistibly good summer cookie recipes!