The soft apple cookies are easy-to-make apple desserts, lactose-free, and perfect for breakfast and snacks for adults and children alike. Apple cookies, like apple pies and pumpkin desserts, are among the autumn desserts that are a must this season.
These apple cookies are simple to prepare, even involving your children. They will be thrilled to make their own snack and can’t wait to taste these cookies made with their own hands. Preparing them is very simple: all you need is a bowl and electric whisks, and in just a few minutes the dough will be ready to bake.
You can also customize these apple cookies as you like: I’ve flavored them only with lemon zest, but you can add a little cinnamon or vanilla, chopped nuts, or chocolate chips.
These soft apple cookies are perfect to accompany a cup of hot tea, but also to take to school or work. Try them, and I guarantee they will disappear in a day!
Let’s move on to the recipe for soft apple cookies and see how they are prepared. At the end of the recipe, I also provide the method for making Thermomix apple cookies.
Before proceeding with the steps, let me share some delicious recipe links you might be interested in!
- Difficulty: Very easy
- Cost: Very economical
- Preparation time: 15 Minutes
- Portions: 6 People
- Cooking methods: Oven
- Cuisine: Italian
- Seasonality: Autumn, Winter, and Spring
- Energy 409.72 (Kcal)
- Carbohydrates 68.06 (g) of which sugars 26.88 (g)
- Proteins 8.54 (g)
- Fat 13.18 (g) of which saturated 3.43 (g)of which unsaturated 8.85 (g)
- Fibers 2.23 (g)
- Sodium 114.33 (mg)
Indicative values for a portion of 146 g processed in an automated way starting from the nutritional information available on the CREA* and FoodData Central** databases. It is not food and / or nutritional advice.
* CREATES Food and Nutrition Research Center: https://www.crea.gov.it/alimenti-e-nutrizione https://www.alimentinutrizione.it ** U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service. FoodData Central, 2019. https://fdc.nal.usda.gov
Ingredients for Soft Apple Cookies
- 2 eggs
- 2/3 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup vegetable margarine (or butter or 1/3 cup of vegetable oil)
- 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 lemon zest (grated)
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 2 apples
Tools
- Bowl
- Electric whisks
- Lemon grater
- Baking sheet
Steps to Make Soft Apple Cookies
Let’s go through the steps together to make these delightful cookies. At the end of the recipe, you will also find the method for making Thermomix apple cookies.
Before starting, take out the eggs and margarine (or butter) from the fridge, which should be very soft when you use it. Alternatively, put it in the microwave for a few seconds to soften it.
Put the sugar and eggs in a bowl.
Blend for a few seconds to combine the ingredients. Also add the soft margarine in pieces and blend again.
Grate the zest of a lemon directly into the bowl and continue to mix the ingredients with the whisks.
Add the sifted flour and baking powder and incorporate them into the mixture with the whisks as much as you can.
You should obtain a crumbly and not too compact mixture.
Peel and dice the apples into small cubes.
Add them to the mixture.
Incorporate them either with a wooden spoon or by working with your hands to distribute them evenly.
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Using two spoons, take small amounts of dough and form small mounds spaced a little apart.
Bake in a preheated static oven at 340°F for about 20 minutes.
When they start to turn golden on top, take them out of the oven and let them cool completely.
If you like, you can also serve them dusted with powdered sugar.
Now let’s see how to make these soft apple cookies with the Thermomix.
Put the lemon zest and sugar in the bowl: 10 sec. speed 10. Gather on the bottom with the spatula.
Add the eggs and soft margarine in pieces: 1 min. speed 4-5.
Also add the sifted flour and baking powder: 40 sec. speed 5.
Cut the apples into small pieces and put them in the bowl: 30 sec. Reverse speed soft.
Place the mixture on a work surface and compact it slightly with your hands, then put it back in the bowl or in a bowl. Using two spoons, take small amounts of dough and create mounds on a baking sheet covered with parchment paper.
Bake in a hot oven at 340°F for 20 minutes, static mode. When they start to brown, take them out of the oven and let them cool completely before enjoying them. If you like, you can sprinkle them with some powdered sugar.
Storage and Variations
– Soft cookies should be consumed within 24-48 hours, both because they lose a bit of their freshness over time and because the apples could cause mold.
– Store them in a well-closed container to maintain freshness.
– You can add chopped almonds, hazelnuts, or pistachios, some chocolate chips, or raisins to the dough.
– You can flavor the cookies with orange zest, lemon zest, cinnamon, or vanilla.
– For a crunchy crust, sprinkle the surface with a little brown sugar before baking the cookies.
FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions
What type of apple should be used to make apple cookies?
Any variety is fine. The best ones are sweet and ripe like Golden or Fuji apples. However, you can use whatever you have at home.
Can I substitute margarine with butter?
Yes, of course. I wanted to create a lactose-free version by suggesting margarine or oil, but you can also use butter (including lactose-free butter) in the same amount.
Can the dough be prepared in advance?
No, it is better to avoid it, both because the apples release water into the dough which could lose the right consistency, and because the yeast activates once added to the dough.
Can apple cookies be frozen?
Yes, once cooled, place them in plastic freezer bags and freeze them.
If I want to make sugar-free soft apple cookies, what could I substitute for sugar?
For a sugar-free version, you can replace the 130 g of sugar with about 35-40 g of supermarket stevia or with 190 g of erythritol (in this case, also add 1-2 tablespoons of milk to the dough) or with about 1 and a half teaspoon of liquid sweetener (in this case, to maintain the right dough consistency, add 1-2 tablespoons of additional flour).
