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Apple Butter Cookies

Apple butter cookies are soft, warmly spiced cookies made with a quick dough that chills before baking. Their set tops and lightly browned edges make them easy to portion and bake in batches.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 26 minutes
Chilling 30 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 11 minutes
Servings: 24 cookies
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Calories: 115
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 2.25 cup all-purpose flour
  • 0.5 tsp baking soda
  • 0.5 tsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 0.25 tsp ground ginger
  • 0.25 tsp ground nutmeg
  • 0.5 tsp kosher salt
  • 0.5 cup unsalted butter softened
  • 0.75 cup light brown sugar packed
  • 1 egg large
  • 0.5 cup apple butter
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract

Equipment

  • 1 large baking sheet

Method
 

  1. Whisk the flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and salt together in a medium bowl.
  2. In a large bowl, beat the butter and brown sugar until creamy, about 2 minutes.
  3. Beat in the egg, apple butter, and vanilla until combined.
  4. Add the flour mixture and mix on low just until no dry streaks remain.
  5. Cover and refrigerate the dough for 30 minutes.
  6. Heat the oven to 350°F.
  7. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
  8. Drop rounded tablespoons of dough onto the prepared sheet, spacing them about 2 inches apart.
  9. Bake until the tops look set and the edges are lightly browned, 11 to 13 minutes.
  10. Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes.
  11. Transfer the cookies to a wire rack.
  12. Let the sheet cool completely before baking the remaining dough.

Notes

For tender cookies, stop mixing as soon as no dry streaks remain. Refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 5 days; freezing is suitable for up to 2 months. For a dairy-free variation, use dairy-free butter.