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Apple Snickerdoodles Recipe

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★★★★★

4.8 from 126 reviews

Delight in these Apple Snickerdoodles, a delicious twist on the classic cookie that features caramelized gala apples folded into a spiced brown butter dough. Coated in a cinnamon-sugar blend and baked to perfection, these cookies offer a soft, chewy texture with hints of warm cinnamon and sweet, tender apples. Perfect for fall or any time you crave a comforting homemade treat.

Ingredients

Scale

Caramelized Apples

  • 250 grams peeled and finely diced gala apples (about 4–5 small apples)
  • 50 grams (¼ cup) dark brown sugar
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • Pinch of salt
  • Lemon juice from one small lemon

Cookies

  • 184 grams (13 tablespoons) unsalted butter (European-style preferred), browned to approximately 150 grams (about 3/4 cup)
  • 100 grams (½ cup) dark brown sugar
  • 100 grams (½ cup) granulated sugar
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla bean paste or extract
  • 1 egg, room temperature
  • 1 egg yolk, room temperature
  • 250 grams (2 cups) all purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon cream of tartar
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
  • 5 grams (2 teaspoons) cornstarch

Coating

  • 66 grams (1/3 cup) granulated sugar
  • 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon

Instructions

  1. Caramelize the Apples: Peel and finely dice the gala apples. Toss them with dark brown sugar, ground cinnamon, a pinch of salt, and lemon juice until combined. Cook the mixture over low to medium heat on the stove, stirring occasionally, until the apples become browned and caramelized, about 10 minutes. Set aside and chill in the fridge.
  2. Browns the Butter: Melt the unsalted butter in a pot over medium heat. Continue cooking while stirring occasionally; the butter will crackle and bubble. Once it stops rapidly bubbling, it will foam, and golden milk solids will appear. Stir gently until the butter turns golden brown. Remove from heat and transfer to a separate container, then chill in the fridge for 10 minutes.
  3. Mix the Dry Ingredients: In a bowl, whisk together the all purpose flour, baking soda, cream of tartar, ground cinnamon, fine sea salt, and cornstarch. Set aside.
  4. Combine Wet Ingredients: In another bowl, whisk the cooled browned butter with dark brown sugar, granulated sugar, and vanilla bean paste or extract until smooth. Add the egg and egg yolk and whisk again until well combined. Gently fold in the cooled caramelized apples until evenly incorporated.
  5. Form the Dough: Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, folding gently until just combined and a dough forms. Cover tightly and chill the dough for 2 to 3 hours.
  6. Prepare for Baking: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. In a small bowl, mix together the granulated sugar and ground cinnamon for the coating.
  7. Shape and Coat Cookies: Using a cookie scoop (about 1.125 oz or 40 grams), scoop portions of dough and roll each ball generously in the cinnamon-sugar coating. Place the cookies 2-3 inches apart on the prepared baking sheet.
  8. Bake: Bake the cookies for 12-14 minutes until the edges are set and golden brown but the tops remain puffy and slightly underbaked. They will continue cooking on the baking sheet after removal from the oven.
  9. Cool and Serve: Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely. Enjoy slightly warm or at room temperature.

Notes

  • Use European-style unsalted butter for the best flavor and browning properties.
  • Be careful not to burn the browned butter; remove it from heat once golden milk solids appear.
  • Letting the dough chill helps develop flavor and improve texture.
  • Cookies will seem slightly underbaked when removed but will firm up as they cool.
  • Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or freeze for longer storage.

Keywords: Apple Snickerdoodles, Brown Butter Cookies, Caramelized Apple Cookies, Cinnamon Sugar Cookies, Fall Cookies, Homemade Cookies

Find it online: https://spatulaqueen.com/apple-snickerdoodles-recipe/