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Close-up shot of the apple pie cookies placed on a parchment-lined baking sheet on a white marble cooktop, ready to be baked in the oven. The cookies are golden brown and about to be baked for 20-25 minutes.

Apple Pie Cookies Recipe

These Apple Pie Cookies feature a buttery, spiced crust filled with a warm, caramelized apple mixture, topped with a golden lattice. Perfect for any dessert lover, these cookies are a mini version of a classic apple pie!
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Prep Time 45 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 10 minutes
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 12 Cookies
Calories 123 kcal

Equipment

  • Small Pot
  • Large skillet
  • Colander
  • Medium bowl
  • Large bowl
  • Food processor (optional)
  • Rolling Pin
  • 1 round cookie cutter
  • Small bowl (for egg wash)
  • Baking sheet
  • Parchment paper or silicone baking mat

Ingredients
  

For the Filling:

  • 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
  • 3 pounds apples Honey Crisp, Golden Delicious, Cortland, or Mitsu
  • 2/3 cup sugar plus more for sprinkling
  • 1/4 cup unsalted butter
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 pinch nutmeg

For the Dough:

  • 2 ½ cups flour plus more for rolling
  • 4 tablespoons granulated sugar
  • ½ teaspoon sea salt
  • 16 tablespoons unsalted butter chilled
  • 4 tablespoons ice water
  • 2 teaspoons cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon allspice
  • ½ teaspoon ginger

For the Egg Wash:

  • 1 egg
  • 1 tablespoon cream

For the Caramel:

  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • 5 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • ½ cup cream
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
  • 1 pinch salt generous

Instructions
 

Prepare the Caramel:

  • Combine the brown sugar, butter, cream, vanilla extract, and salt in a small pot over medium-low heat.
  • Whisk continuously for 7-8 minutes, until the caramel thickens. Remove from heat and set aside.
    Close-up shot of a small pot on a white marble cooktop, simmering a mixture of brown sugar, butter, cream, vanilla extract, and a pinch of salt. The caramel is thickening and bubbling gently, releasing steam. The contents are being whisked continuously, with smooth caramelization visible in the pot.

Prepare the Filling:

  • Roughly chop apples and toss them in a bowl with sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and lemon juice.
    Close-up shot of roughly chopped Honey Crisp apples in a medium bowl on a white marble cooktop, tossed with sugar, ground cinnamon, nutmeg, and freshly squeezed lemon juice. The apples are coated with the spices and juices, ready to be cooked.
  • In a large skillet, melt butter over medium-high heat, then add the apples. Cook for about 2 minutes until the sugar dissolves and it begins to simmer.
    Close-up shot of a large black skillet on a white marble cooktop, with melted butter sizzling as apple chunks are added. The apples are gently stirring and beginning to simmer in the skillet, with the sugar dissolving into the buttery liquid.
  • Cover, reduce heat to medium-low, and cook for 7 minutes until apples soften.
  • Strain the apples in a colander to remove excess juice, then simmer the juice in the skillet for 8-10 minutes until it thickens.
    Close-up shot of a colander over a bowl, draining excess juice from the softened apples. The apples are being gently poured into the colander while the juice is collected beneath.
  • Toss the apples with the reduced juice and spices, then set aside to cool completely. Once cool, chop apples into small pieces and return to the bowl.
    Close-up shot of the juice from the apples simmering in the large black skillet on a white marble cooktop. The liquid is reducing, bubbling and thickening as it cooks.

Prepare the Dough:

  • In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar, salt, and spices. Whisk to mix.
    Close-up shot of a large bowl on a white marble cooktop, with flour, sugar, salt, cinnamon, allspice, and ginger mixed together. The dry ingredients are whisked to combine, forming a smooth, even mixture.
  • Grate in chilled butter and drizzle in ice water. Mix with a fork or use a food processor.
    Close-up shot of grated chilled butter being added into the flour mixture in the large bowl on a white marble cooktop. The ice water is drizzled over the mixture, ready to be combined into dough.
  • Divide dough into two disks, wrap in plastic, and chill for 20 minutes.

Prepare the Egg Wash:

  • Crack the egg into a small bowl and add 1 tablespoon of cream. Mix well and chill until ready to use.

Assemble the Cookies:

  • Roll out dough to about 1/4" thick.
  • Cut dough into circles (use a round cutter).
    Close-up shot of the rolled-out dough on the white marble cooktop, with a round cookie cutter pressing down to form circles. The dough is being cut into perfectly round shapes.
  • Brush each circle with caramel, then add 1 tablespoon of the apple pie filling to the center of each.
    Close-up shot of a round dough circle on a white marble cooktop, brushed with warm caramel. A spoonful of apple pie filling is added to the center of the dough circle, ready for assembly.
  • Brush the edges with egg wash and arrange lattice strips on top. Brush the lattice with egg wash again.
    Close-up shot of lattice strips of dough being arranged on top of the apple filling, while the edges are brushed with egg wash. The egg wash creates a glossy finish on the dough.
  • Cut away excess dough using the round cutter. Sprinkle with sugar (and cinnamon if desired).

Bake:

  • Preheat oven to 350°F.
  • Bake cookies for 20-25 minutes until golden brown and serve.
    Close-up shot of the apple pie cookies placed on a parchment-lined baking sheet on a white marble cooktop, ready to be baked in the oven. The cookies are golden brown and about to be baked for 20-25 minutes.