Apple Fritter Cookies

If you’ve ever taken a bite of a warm apple fritter from a bakery and thought, “I wish this came home with me,” then you’re in the right place. These Apple Fritter Cookies are soft-baked delights that capture all the cozy sweetness of your favorite fried treat but without the mess and fuss. They’re loaded with cinnamon-spiced apples, warm spices, and finished with a glossy vanilla glaze that makes them utterly irresistible.

Whether you’re baking on a crisp fall afternoon or craving something sweet with your afternoon tea, these cookies are comfort in every bite. So pull up a chair, preheat that oven, and let’s talk about how these come together and why you’ll love them.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Familiar Comfort: If you love apple fritters from the bakery, this recipe is like a homemade hug and same big apple flavor, way less effort.

• No Frying Required: These mimic the donut shop flavors without deep-frying it’s just a cozy bake that fills your kitchen with the best smell ever.

• Perfect for Gifting: Pop them on a platter or surprise a friend as they are great for sharing.

• Flexible & Fun: You can tweak the apple type or spice levels to make them your own.

Ingredients

For the Apple Filling:

• apple

• butter

• brown sugar

• cinnamon

For the Cookie Dough:

• unsalted butter

• brown sugar

• granulated sugar

• egg

• vanilla extract

• all-purpose flour

• baking soda

• baking powder

• cinnamon

• nutmeg

• salt

For the Vanilla Drizzle:

• powdered sugar

• milk

• vanilla extract

What Makes These Apple Fritter Cookies So Special

These cookies strike the perfect balance between soft and chewy with a slight crisp at the edges. They’re not your average sugar cookie because they’re rich with caramelized apples and warm spices like cinnamon and nutmeg, all wrapped in comforting cookie dough. Think of them as a cozy fall hug in cookie form.

And let’s be real: who doesn’t love that sweet drizzle that mimics a classic apple fritter’s glaze? It’s the little finishing touch that makes these cookies so memorable.

How These Apple Fritter Cookies Come Together

This recipe is simple enough for novice bakers but satisfying enough for experienced ones too.

Here’s what happens in the kitchen:

Step 1: In a small skillet over medium heat, melt butter. Add diced apples, brown sugar, and cinnamon.

Step 2: Cook for 4–5 minutes until the apples are soft and lightly caramelized. Remove from heat and let cool.

Step 3: In a large bowl, cream together softened butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until light and fluffy (2–3 mins).

Step 4: Add egg and vanilla, and mix until smooth.

Step 5: In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt.

Step 6: Add dry ingredients to wet, and mix until just combined. Gently fold in the cooled apple mixture.

Step 7: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment.

Step 8: Scoop dough into heaping tablespoons (or use a medium cookie scoop) and place 2 inches apart.

Step 9: Bake for 10–12 minutes, until edges are golden and centers are just set.

Step 10: Cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to wire rack.

Step 11: Whisk powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla until smooth. Add more milk if needed for a drizzle-able consistency.

Step 12: Drizzle over cooled cookies using a spoon or piping bag.

My Favorites For This Recipe

I love using my favorite hand mixer to cream the butter and sugar to the perfect fluffy consistency. A reliable cookie scoop helps me portion out dough evenly so every cookie bakes just right. And if you don’t already have a set of baking sheets with parchment liners, they’re a game-changer for keeping things mess-free and browning beautifully.

A Few Friendly Tips for Best Results

• Dice apples small: Small apple pieces heat through during baking and blend beautifully into the dough.

• Let the apple mixture cool: If you add warm apples directly into the dough, the butter can soften too much and make the cookies too soft.

• Glaze while hot: Spoon the glaze on while the cookies are fresh out of the oven, it sets up like a classic fritter icing!

• Storage: These taste best fresh, but stored in an airtight container they’re still delightful for a day or two.

Final Thoughts

These Apple Fritter Cookies are one of those recipes that feels like home. They’re comforting, nostalgic, and full of cozy flavor. It makes you slow down, savor a warm cookie, and maybe take a moment for yourself. Whether you’re baking for family, friends, or just because it’s a Tuesday afternoon, I hope these cookies bring as much joy to your kitchen as they do to your taste buds.

Happy baking, friend!

Yield: 20 cookies

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Apple Fritter Cookies

Prep time: 25 MinBake Time: 15 MinGlaze Time: 5 MinTotal time: 45 Min

If you’ve ever taken a bite of a warm apple fritter from a bakery and thought, “I wish this came home with me,” then you’re in the right place. These Apple Fritter Cookies are soft-baked delights that capture all the cozy sweetness of your favorite fried treat but without the mess and fuss. They’re loaded with cinnamon-spiced apples, warm spices, and finished with a glossy vanilla glaze that makes them utterly irresistible.

Cook modePrevent screen from turning off

Ingredients

For the Apple Filling

• 1 large apple, peeled, cored, and diced small
• 1 tbsp butter
• 1 tbsp brown sugar
• ½ tsp cinnamon

For the Cookie Dough

• ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
• ½ cup brown sugar, packed
• ¼ cup granulated sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1¼ cups all-purpose flour
• ½ tsp baking soda
• ¼ tsp baking powder
• ½ tsp cinnamon
• ¼ tsp nutmeg
• ¼ tsp salt

For the Vanilla Drizzle

• ½ cup powdered sugar
• 1–2 tbsp milk
• ¼ tsp vanilla extract

Instructions

1. In a small skillet over medium heat, melt butter. Add diced apples, brown sugar, and cinnamon.
2. Cook for 4–5 minutes until the apples are soft and lightly caramelized. Remove from heat and let cool.
3. In a large bowl, cream together softened butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until light and fluffy (2–3 mins).
4. Add egg and vanilla, and mix until smooth.
5. In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt.
6. Add dry ingredients to wet, and mix until just combined. Gently fold in the cooled apple mixture.
7. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment.
8. Scoop dough into heaping tablespoons (or use a medium cookie scoop) and place 2 inches apart.
9. Bake for 10–12 minutes, until edges are golden and centers are just set.
10. Cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to wire rack.
11. Whisk powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla until smooth. Add more milk if needed for a drizzle-able consistency.
12. Drizzle over cooled cookies using a spoon or piping bag.

Notes

Dice apples small: Small apple pieces heat through during baking and blend beautifully into the dough.

Let the apple mixture cool: If you add warm apples directly into the dough, the butter can soften too much and make the cookies too soft.

Glaze while hot: Spoon the glaze on while the cookies are fresh out of the oven, it sets up like a classic fritter icing!

Storage: These taste best fresh, but stored in an airtight container they’re still delightful for a day or two.