Apple Cider Cookies wrap everything we love about fall into one bite — warm spices, gentle apple sweetness, and a soft crinkle-cookie texture that feels like a hug. Whether you’re planning holiday baking, creating a dessert tray, or simply craving a new twist on apple desserts, these cookies deliver bakery-quality results with simple ingredients.
They’re great for gifting, perfect for cookie swaps, and an easy win for both beginners and confident bakers.
🗺️ Roadmap
Why Make Apple Cider Cookies
Ingredients
How to Make
Directions (step-by-step)
How to Serve
Tips for Success
FAQs
Final Thoughts
Why Make Apple Cider Cookies
✔️ Seasonal flavor — real apple cider adds depth that ordinary cookies can’t match.
✔️ Perfect texture — soft centers, crinkled tops, lightly crisp edges.
✔️ Holiday-ready — ideal for Christmas baking, parties, and cookie platters.
✔️ Simple ingredients — pantry staples with one fun twist: apple cider.
✔️ Kid-approved treat — a playful option for cookie lovers (even your inner Cookie Monster).
These cookies bridge the gap between crinkle cookies, cozy fall treats, and classic cookie desserts — all without complicated steps.
Ingredients
You’ll need:
Apple cider (reduced for concentrated flavor)
Unsalted butter
Brown sugar + granulated sugar
Eggs
Vanilla extract
All-purpose flour
Baking soda
Salt
Ground cinnamon + nutmeg
Powdered sugar (for rolling)
Optional: a pinch of cloves for extra “holiday spice.”
How to Make Apple Cider Cookies
The secret is reducing the apple cider. Simmering it turns it from juice-like sweetness into bold apple caramel flavor that runs through every bite.
Then, mix like a standard cookie dough — cream butter and sugars, add eggs, fold into dry ingredients, chill, scoop, and bake.
Rolling the dough balls in powdered sugar is what creates that beautiful crinkle top.
Directions (Step-By-Step)
Reduce the cider. Simmer apple cider until it thickens and reduces by half. Cool completely.
Cream butter + sugars. Beat until fluffy and pale.
Add wet ingredients. Mix in eggs, vanilla, and the cooled apple cider reduction.
Whisk dry ingredients. Combine flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
Combine. Fold dry mixture into the wet mixture until just combined.
Chill. Refrigerate 30–45 minutes so the dough firms and flavors deepen.
Roll. Scoop dough, roll into balls, then coat in powdered sugar.
Bake. Place on parchment-lined trays and bake until crinkled and set on the edges.
Cool. Let rest on the pan briefly, then move to a rack to finish cooling.
The result? A soft, fragrant cookie with a cozy cider finish.
How to Serve
With warm tea, cider, or hot chocolate
As part of your holiday baking cookie tray
Dusted with extra powdered sugar
Drizzled with simple vanilla glaze (optional)
Paired with vanilla ice cream for a fun dessert twist
They also freeze beautifully — perfect for make-ahead baking.
Tips for Success
Don’t skip the cider reduction. It’s where the flavor lives.
Chill the dough. Prevents spreading and keeps cookies thick.
Use fresh spices. Older spices lose flavor and aroma.
Bake one tray at a time. Even baking = better crinkles.
Let them rest. They finish setting as they cool.
Want variety? Add finely chopped dried apples or roll in cinnamon sugar before powdered sugar.
FAQs
Can I use apple juice instead of apple cider?
You can, but the flavor won’t be as rich. If using juice, reduce it a bit longer.
Do these taste like apple pie?
They have hints of apple pie spice — but they’re softer and chewier, like classic fall cookies.
Can I make them ahead?
Yes! Chill the dough up to 24 hours or freeze scooped dough balls for later baking.
Do they work for Christmas baking?
Absolutely — they fit beautifully in festive dessert spreads.
Final Thoughts
If you love seasonal baking, these Apple Cider Cookies belong in your rotation. They’re simple, cozy, and full of apple-spice flavor — a perfect blend of holiday baking tradition and playful cookie charm.
Bake them once, and they might join your yearly apple recipes list forever.
Apple Cider Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups apple cider
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter softened
- 3/4 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp nutmeg
- 1/2 –3/4 cup powdered sugar for rolling
Instructions
- Add cider to a saucepan and simmer until reduced by half. Cool.
- Cream butter and both sugars until fluffy.
- Beat in eggs, vanilla, and cooled apple-cider reduction.
- Whisk flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
- Stir dry ingredients into wet mixture until just combined.
- Chill dough 30–45 minutes.
- Scoop dough into balls and roll in powdered sugar.
- Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 10–12 minutes, until set at edges.
- Cool on the pan 5 minutes, then transfer to a rack.
