Description
Soft Cinnamon Applesauce Cookies are delightfully tender spiced cookies infused with warm cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves, topped with a cinnamon sugar sprinkle. They fill your kitchen with a comforting aroma as they bake to a perfect soft texture.
Ingredients
Cookie Ingredients
- ⅓ cup unsalted butter – room temperature
- ½ cup brown sugar – or coconut sugar
- 1 cup applesauce
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 large egg
- 1 ½ cups all purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1 tsp ground nutmeg
- ½ tsp ground cloves
- ½ tsp baking soda
Topping
- 1 Tbsp brown sugar – or coconut sugar
- ½ tsp cinnamon
Instructions
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Baking Sheet: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat. For extra adherence, lightly spray the baking sheet with nonstick cooking spray before placing the parchment paper on top.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large bowl, use a hand mixer to cream together the room temperature unsalted butter and brown sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy, ensuring proper incorporation.
- Add Wet Ingredients: Mix in the applesauce, vanilla extract, and the large egg into the creamed butter and sugar until fully combined and smooth.
- Combine Dry Ingredients and Mix: Add the all-purpose flour, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and baking soda to the wet mixture. Mix until just combined to avoid overworking the dough, which ensures soft cookies.
- Form Cookies and Bake: Using a spoon or cookie scoop, drop dollops of the cookie dough onto the prepared baking sheet, spacing them evenly. Bake in the preheated oven for 15 to 18 minutes or until the edges are set and the tops are slightly golden.
- Prepare Cinnamon Sugar Topping: While the cookies bake, in a small bowl, combine the brown sugar and cinnamon for the topping.
- Top Cookies and Cool: Once baked, generously sprinkle the cinnamon sugar mixture over the warm cookies. Use a spatula to transfer the cookies to a wire rack and allow them to cool completely before serving or storing.
Notes
- Storage: Store the cookies in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week or freeze them for up to 3 months to maintain freshness.
- Tip: Lightly spraying the baking sheet before placing parchment paper helps the paper stick and prevents shifting during baking.
- Variations: You can substitute coconut sugar for brown sugar to make the recipe slightly healthier or add chopped nuts for extra texture.
