Description
Delight in these soft and tender apple butter snickerdoodle cookies, perfectly coated in cinnamon sugar and filled with a luscious apple butter center. They offer a warm, spicy flavor with a hint of sweetness, making them a cozy treat for any occasion.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Cookie Dough
- ¾ cup unsalted butter, softened
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup brown sugar
- 1 large egg, room temperature
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ cup apple butter
- 2 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon cream of tartar
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
For the Cinnamon Sugar Coating
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Optional Topping
- Extra apple butter for the centers
- Coarse sugar for sprinkling
Instructions
- Prepare the Dough: In a large mixing bowl, cream the softened butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar together until light and fluffy. This helps create a soft cookie texture. Then add the egg and vanilla extract, mixing until fully combined. Gently mix in the apple butter until the dough is smooth and uniformly colored.
- Mix the Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, cream of tartar, salt, and cinnamon. Gradually add these dry ingredients to the wet mixture, stirring just until a soft dough forms. Avoid overmixing to maintain tenderness in the cookies.
- Chill the Dough: Cover the dough and refrigerate for about 30 minutes. Chilling helps the cookies keep their shape and improves texture when baking.
- Prepare the Cinnamon Sugar: In a small bowl, combine granulated sugar and cinnamon thoroughly to create the coating mixture.
- Shape the Cookies: Scoop the dough into evenly sized balls. Roll each ball thoroughly in the cinnamon sugar mixture until fully coated. Place them spaced apart on a lined baking sheet. Using your thumb or the back of a spoon, gently press an indentation into the center of each ball. Optionally, fill each indentation with a small spoonful of extra apple butter for added flavor.
- Bake: Bake the cookies in a preheated oven at 350°F (175°C) for 10–12 minutes, or until the edges are set and the centers remain soft. The cookies will firm slightly as they cool.
- Cool and Serve: Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack. Optionally, sprinkle with coarse sugar before serving to add a sparkling finish.
Notes
- Chilling the dough before baking is key to ensure the cookies hold their shape and have the perfect texture.
- Do not overmix the dough once the dry ingredients are added to keep the cookies tender.
- Adding a small dollop of apple butter in the center creates an extra moist and flavorful bite.
- Use room temperature egg for better incorporation into the dough.
- Coarse sugar sprinkled at the end adds a subtle crunch and decorative sparkle.
