January 19, 2023
Review RecipeApplesauce Cookies
Table of Contents
These delicious homemade applesauce cookies are a perfect treat! Made with brown sugar, applesauce, spices, and topped with a made from scratch cream cheese frosting, this simple cookie recipe is moist and flavorful.
Our mouthwatering old-fashioned applesauce cake or baked applesauce donuts make perfect desserts as well.
Applesauce Cookies Ingredients
You’ll need:
For the Cookies
- 2½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup light brown sugar
- ½ cup unsalted butter, room temperature
- 2 eggs, room temperature
- ¾ cup Musselman’s Cinnamon Applesauce
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon apple pie spice blend
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
For the Icing
- 8 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1 tablespoon half & half (or whole milk)
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- Garnish with a pinch of apple pie spice blend
PRO TIP:
If your grocery store does not have an apple spice blend you can create your own by combining 1 teaspoon cinnamon, ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg, and ¼ teaspoon ground cloves. Mix well.
Substitutions And Additions
APPLESAUCE: You can also use plain applesauce and add one teaspoon of cinnamon to the dry ingredients.
SPRINKLES: You can make these cookies more festive by adding sprinkles or colored sugar for Thanksgiving or Christmas.
How To Make This Applesauce Cookies Recipe
STEP ONE: Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a large baking tray with parchment paper or a silicone mat. Set aside.
STEP TWO: In a medium-sized bowl stir together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and apple pie spice blend.
STEP THREE: In a large mixing bowl, using a handheld mixer on medium-low speed, cream together the butter and light brown sugar for 1 minute or until light and fluffy. Add the eggs, one at a time, until completely incorporated.
STEP FOUR: Add the vanilla extract and the applesauce and mix for another minute.
OUR RECIPE DEVELOPER SAYS
Don’t worry if it looks like your batter is separating because when you add the flour mixture it will come back together.
STEP FIVE: At a low speed, combine your flour mixture with your butter mixture for another 1 to 2 minutes or just until all the flour is incorporated. Do not over mix your batter.
STEP SIX: Using a 1½ tablespoon (1.5-inch) cookie scoop, scoop out your batter onto the prepared baking tray 2 inches apart. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes or just until lightly golden on the edges. Once your cookies have baked, allow them to cool on the tray for 5 minutes then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely before frosting them.
STEP SEVEN: While your cookies are baking and cooling you can make your frosting. In a medium-sized mixing bowl beat together, on medium speed with a handheld mixer, the softened cream cheese and powdered sugar for 2 minutes. Add the vanilla extract and half & half and combine until smooth. You can add a little more half & half if your mixture is not soft and spreadable but not too much because you want your frosting to hold its shape.
STEP EIGHT: Once your cookies have cooled completely you can frost them with about a tablespoon of the frosting per cookie and sprinkle them with a pinch of the apple pie spice.
How To Serve
Enjoy your deliciously spiced cookies with a warm cup of apple cider or whipped hot chocolate. These would be tasty treats to serve as an after-school snack or share with friends.
MORE APPLE RECIPES
Storage
IN THE FRIDGE: They can be stored, in a covered container, in a single layer for 2 to 3 days in the refrigerator.
IN THE FREEZER: After cookies are completely cooled, you can freeze in a single layer. Once frozen, you can stack cookies in layers using parchment paper in a freezer-safe container for up to three months.
Allow cookies to thaw to room temperature before serving whether stored in the fridge or freezer.
These lightly spiced applesauce cookies are delightfully soft and cake-like with a rich, homemade cream cheese frosting. Made with delicious Musselman’s Cinnamon Apple Sauce, they will become a favorite treat for years to come.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Can I freeze these applesauce cookies?
These cookies can be frozen in an airtight container for up to three months.
Can I use plain applesauce if I can’t find cinnamon applesauce?
You sure can! Use the same amount of applesauce and add one teaspoon of ground cinnamon to your dry ingredients.
Can I make my own apple pie spice?
Make your own apple pie spice by combining 1 teaspoon cinnamon, ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg, and ¼ teaspoon ground cloves.
More Recipes You’ll Love
Applesauce Cookies
These yummy spiced applesauce cookies will be a welcome addition to your cookie jar!
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 12 minutes
Total Time 17 minutes
Servings 30
Ingredients
Cookies
- 2½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup light brown sugar
- ½ cup unsalted butter, room temperature
- 2 eggs, room temperature
- ¾ cup Musselman's Cinnamon Applesauce
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon apple pie spice blend
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
Icing
- 8 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1 tablespoon half & half (or whole milk)
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 pinch apple pie spice blend, garnish
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a large baking tray with parchment paper or a silicone mat. Set aside.
- In a medium-sized bowl stir together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and apple pie spice blend.
- In a large mixing bowl, using a handheld mixer on medium-low speed, cream together the butter and light brown sugar for 1 minute or until light and fluffy. Add the eggs, one at a time, until completely incorporated.
- Add the vanilla extract and the applesauce and mix for another minute.
- At a low speed, combine your flour mixture with your butter mixture for another 1 to 2 minutes or just until all the flour is incorporated. Do not over mix your batter.
- Using a 1½ tablespoon (1.5-inch) cookie scoop, scoop out your batter onto the prepared baking tray 2 inches apart. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes or just until lightly golden on the edges. Once your cookies have baked, allow them to cool on the tray for 5 minutes then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely before frosting them.
- While your cookies are baking and cooling you can make your frosting. In a medium-sized mixing bowl beat together, on medium speed with a handheld mixer, the softened cream cheese and powdered sugar for 2 minutes. Add the vanilla extract and half & half and combine until smooth. You can add a little more half & half if your mixture is not soft and spreadable but not too much because you want your frosting to hold its shape.
- Once your cookies have cooled completely you can frost them with about a tablespoon of the frosting per cookie and sprinkle them with a pinch of the apple pie spice.
Video
Notes
- If your grocery store does not have an apple spice blend you can create your own by combining 1 teaspoon cinnamon, ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg, and ¼ teaspoon ground cloves. Mix well.
- Don’t worry if it looks like your batter is separating because when you add the flour mixture it will come back together.
Nutrition
Calories: 143kcal | Carbohydrates: 20g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 28mg | Sodium: 89mg | Potassium: 56mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 12g | Vitamin A: 216IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 25mg | Iron: 1mg
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Comments
Karen says
Fantastic recipe when you are so busy at Christmas time. Thank You
Jill Gay Roseberry says
I think I remember my mother making something similar but I remember raisins in them.