Description
These Apple Pie Thumbprint Cookies combine buttery cookie dough with a spiced apple pie filling for the ultimate bite-sized dessert. Perfect for holidays or cozy weekends, each cookie delivers all the flavors of a classic apple pie in a soft, melt-in-your-mouth form that’s easy to bake and serve.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound baking apples (Golden Delicious, Fuji, or Gala), peeled, cored, and diced
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice (from about half a lemon)
- 1/2 teaspoon apple pie spice
- 1/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 cup sugar, divided
- 10 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature
- 1 teaspoon cornstarch
- 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon fine salt
- 1 large egg
Instructions
- In a skillet, combine diced apples, lemon juice, apple pie spice, vanilla, and 1/3 cup of sugar. Stir to coat evenly.
- Melt 2 tablespoons of butter in the skillet over medium heat. Add the apple mixture and cook for about 20 minutes until tender and glossy, adding a splash of water if needed.
- Mix cornstarch with 1 teaspoon of water and stir into the apple mixture. Cook for 1 minute until thickened. Transfer to a bowl and refrigerate for 15 minutes.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together flour and salt. In another bowl, beat 8 tablespoons butter with 2/3 cup sugar until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Add the egg and beat until combined.
- Gradually add dry ingredients to the wet mixture until a soft dough forms.
- Line baking sheets with parchment. Roll tablespoon-sized dough portions into balls and place 2 inches apart. Press a thumbprint into each ball about 1/2 inch deep.
- Fill each indentation with 1 teaspoon of the chilled apple filling. Freeze cookies for 15 minutes.
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Bake cookies for 30 minutes, rotating trays halfway through, until set and lightly golden.
- Cool completely on baking sheets before serving or storing.
Notes
- Chill both dough and filling before baking for best texture and shape.
- Store cookies in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
- For extra flavor, sprinkle cinnamon sugar on top before baking.
- Use canned apple pie filling as a shortcut for quicker prep.
- Freeze baked cookies for up to 3 months for long-term storage.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 110
- Sugar: 9g
- Sodium: 35mg
- Fat: 5g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 15g
- Fiber: 0.5g
- Protein: 1g
- Cholesterol: 20mg
Keywords: Apple Pie Thumbprint Cookies, apple dessert, spiced cookies, thumbprint cookie recipe, fall baking, easy dessert, buttery cookies, apple pie filling