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Frosted Apple Cookies

Frosted apple cookies pair finely diced apple with cinnamon and nutmeg in tender, lightly golden cookies. A simple milk-and-confectioners' sugar frosting adds a smooth finish once the cookies have cooled.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 14 minutes
Cooling and setting 20 minutes
Total Time 54 minutes
Servings: 24 servings
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Calories: 142
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

For the cookies
  • 0.5 cup unsalted butter softened
  • 0.5 cup granulated sugar
  • 0.5 cup light brown sugar packed
  • 1 egg large, at room temperature
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 0.25 tsp ground nutmeg
  • 0.25 tsp fine salt
  • 1 cup apple peeled, cored, finely diced
For the frosting
  • 1.5 cups confectioners' sugar
  • 2 tbsp milk

Equipment

  • 1 18x13-inch rimmed baking sheet

Method
 

Bake the cookies
  1. Heat the oven to 350°F.
  2. Line one 18x13-inch rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
  3. In a large bowl, beat the softened unsalted butter, granulated sugar, and packed light brown sugar until creamy, about 2 minutes.
  4. Beat in the egg and vanilla extract until combined.
  5. In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg, and fine salt.
  6. Add the flour mixture to the butter mixture and mix on low just until no dry flour remains.
  7. Fold in the peeled, cored, finely diced apple.
  8. Drop level tablespoons of dough onto the baking sheet, spacing them about 2 inches apart.
  9. Bake in batches for 12 to 14 minutes, until the edges are set and the bottoms are lightly golden.
  10. Cool the cookies on the baking sheet for 5 minutes.
  11. Transfer the cookies to a wire rack and cool completely.
Make and apply the frosting
  1. Stir the confectioners' sugar and milk in a small bowl until smooth and thick enough to spread.
  2. Spread frosting over the cooled cookies.
  3. Let the frosting set for 15 minutes before serving.

Notes

For evenly tender cookies, finely dice the apple. Store frosted cookies in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days; freeze unfrosted cookies for up to 2 months and frost after thawing. For a dairy-free option, use dairy-free butter and milk.