If you’re looking for the ultimate fall cookie recipe, these Apple Cider Crinkle Cookies need to be at the top of your baking list! Made with reduced apple cider, warm fall spices, and rich brown butter, these soft and chewy cookies are packed with cozy apple cider flavor in every bite.
Y’all know that as soon as September arrives, I’m in the kitchen making all kinds of apple recipes and fall desserts. And these apple cider cookies may just be one of my new favorites!
Instead of simply adding apple cider straight to the cookie dough, we’re going to reduce it into a concentrated syrup. This gives the cookies plenty of apple cider flavor without adding too much liquid to the dough. Pair that with cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, nutmeg, and homemade brown butter, and you have one seriously delicious fall cookie.
And, of course, we can’t forget that beautiful crinkle coating! Each cookie is rolled in granulated sugar followed by powdered sugar before baking, giving you that classic crackled appearance.
So, if you have some leftover apple cider after a trip to the apple orchard, save a couple of cups and make a batch of these brown butter apple cider crinkle cookies. They’re perfect for fall gatherings, Halloween parties, Thanksgiving dessert tables, or simply enjoying at home with a warm cup of coffee!
Keep reading for the full Apple Cider Crinkle Cookie recipe below.
This post also contains affiliate links, which means I make a small commission off anything you purchase through here, at no additional cost to you. Please read my full privacy policy for more details.
Why You’ll Love These Apple Cider Crinkle Cookies
There’s so much to love about this cozy fall cookie recipe. Not only do these cookies look beautiful with their powdered sugar crinkle coating, but they’re also full of some of the best flavors of the season.
The reduced apple cider gives them a concentrated apple flavor, while brown butter adds a rich, slightly nutty flavor to the cookie dough. Then, cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, and nutmeg bring everything together with plenty of warm fall spice.
They’re soft, dense, flavorful, and perfect when you want something a little different from your usual pumpkin or apple dessert!
Ingredients for Apple Cider Crinkle Cookies
Here’s everything you’ll need to make these homemade apple cider cookies:
- 2 cups apple cider
- ½ cup butter
- ¾ cup brown sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- ½ teaspoon ground cardamom
- ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup powdered sugar
How to Make Apple Cider Crinkle Cookies
Step 1: Reduce the Apple Cider
Pour 2 cups of apple cider into a medium saucepan and bring it to a boil over high heat.
Continue boiling until the cider has reduced to approximately ¼ cup. At this point, it should be thick and syrup-like.
Set the reduced apple cider aside and allow it to cool completely before adding it to your cookie dough.
Step 2: Make the Brown Butter
Melt ½ cup of butter in a medium sauté pan over medium heat.
Continue cooking the butter until it begins to brown and develops a nutty aroma, approximately 3–4 minutes.
Remove the brown butter from the heat and pour it into the bowl of a stand mixer. Place it in the freezer for 10–15 minutes, or until it begins to solidify.
You don’t want the butter to become completely firm. You’re looking for a consistency similar to softened butter.
Step 3: Combine the Dry Ingredients
In a medium mixing bowl, combine the all-purpose flour, cinnamon, baking powder, ground ginger, cardamom, nutmeg, and salt.
Whisk everything together until evenly combined and set aside.
Step 4: Make the Apple Cider Cookie Dough
Cream the cooled brown butter and brown sugar together until light and fluffy, approximately 3 minutes.
Add the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition.
Pour in the ¼ cup of reduced apple cider and vanilla extract and continue mixing until everything is well combined.
Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix just until a cookie dough forms. Be careful not to overmix.
Wrap the cookie dough and place it in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours, or until the dough is firm.
How to Get the Perfect Crinkle Cookie Coating
Once your apple cider cookie dough has chilled, place ¼ cup granulated sugar in one small bowl and ½ cup powdered sugar in another.
Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
Portion the chilled cookie dough into approximately 2-tablespoon-sized portions and roll each one into a ball.
First, thoroughly roll each cookie dough ball in the granulated sugar. Then roll it in the powdered sugar, making sure the entire outside of the cookie is well coated.
Place the cookie dough balls onto the prepared baking sheets about 2 inches apart.
Return the prepared cookies to the refrigerator and chill for another 10 minutes.
Bake the Apple Cider Cookies
Preheat your oven to 350°F.
Bake the cookies for approximately 8–10 minutes, or until they are puffed and golden brown.
Allow the freshly baked cookies to cool on the baking sheet for about 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire cooling rack.
You can enjoy your apple cider crinkle cookies slightly warm or allow them to cool completely to room temperature before serving.
Tips for the Best Apple Cider Crinkle Cookies
There are a few important steps I wouldn’t skip when making this recipe.
Reduce the apple cider. Reducing 2 cups of cider down to ¼ cup concentrates all that delicious apple flavor before it goes into the cookie dough.
Don’t skip the brown butter. It takes just a few extra minutes, but it gives these cookies an incredibly rich, nutty flavor that pairs perfectly with the apple cider and fall spices.
Chill your cookie dough. Give the dough at least two hours in the refrigerator so it has time to firm up before you portion and bake the cookies.
Use both sugars for rolling. Rolling the dough in granulated sugar before powdered sugar helps create that beautiful crinkle cookie appearance.
What Do Apple Cider Crinkle Cookies Taste Like?
These cookies combine the flavors of fresh apple cider with cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, and nutmeg for the perfect cozy fall treat.
The brown butter makes them taste extra rich and decadent, while the powdered sugar coating adds sweetness to every bite. If you love apple cider donuts and other apple orchard treats, these cookies are a fun way to enjoy similar fall flavors in cookie form.
When to Serve Apple Cider Cookies
While I could happily eat these all season long, they would be especially delicious for a fall party, Halloween gathering, Thanksgiving dessert, Friendsgiving, or after a day at the apple orchard.
Add them to a fall cookie tray or serve them alongside hot apple cider or coffee for an extra cozy treat!
Enjoy These Brown Butter Apple Cider Crinkle Cookies!
If fall baking is your favorite too, you have to add these Apple Cider Crinkle Cookies to your recipe list this season. Between the concentrated apple cider, warm spices, rich brown butter, and powdered sugar coating, they have everything I want in a cozy fall dessert.
And despite looking impressive, they’re actually pretty straightforward to make. The hardest part is waiting for the cookie dough to chill before you can bake them!
If you make this apple cider cookie recipe, let me know how they turn out for you. I hope you and your family love them just as much as I do!
Apple Cider Crinkle Cookies With Brown Butter
Ingredients
- 2 cups apple cider
- 1/2 cup butter
- 3/4 cup brown sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 cups all purpose flour
- 1 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp ground ginger
- 1/2 tsp ground cardamom
- 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
Instructions
- Pour 2 cups of apple cider into a medium saucepan and bring it to a boil over high heat.Continue boiling until the cider has reduced to approximately ¼ cup. At this point, it should be thick and syrup-like.Set the reduced apple cider aside and allow it to cool completely before adding it to your cookie dough.
- Melt ½ cup of butter in a medium sauté pan over medium heat.Continue cooking the butter until it begins to brown and develops a nutty aroma, approximately 3–4 minutes.Remove the brown butter from the heat and pour it into the bowl of a stand mixer. Place it in the freezer for 10–15 minutes, or until it begins to solidify.You don't want the butter to become completely firm. You're looking for a consistency similar to softened butter.
- In a medium mixing bowl, combine the all-purpose flour, cinnamon, baking powder, ground ginger, cardamom, nutmeg, and salt.Whisk everything together until evenly combined and set aside.
- Cream the cooled brown butter and brown sugar together until light and fluffy, approximately 3 minutes.Add the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition.Pour in the ¼ cup of reduced apple cider and vanilla extract and continue mixing until everything is well combined.Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix just until a cookie dough forms. Be careful not to overmix.Wrap the cookie dough and place it in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours, or until the dough is firm.
- Once your apple cider cookie dough has chilled, place ¼ cup granulated sugar in one small bowl and ½ cup powdered sugar in another.Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.Portion the chilled cookie dough into approximately 2-tablespoon-sized portions and roll each one into a ball.First, thoroughly roll each cookie dough ball in the granulated sugar. Then roll it in the powdered sugar, making sure the entire outside of the cookie is well coated.Place the cookie dough balls onto the prepared baking sheets about 2 inches apart.Return the prepared cookies to the refrigerator and chill for another 10 minutes.
- Preheat your oven to 350°F.Bake the cookies for approximately 8–10 minutes, or until they are puffed and golden brown.Allow the freshly baked cookies to cool on the baking sheet for about 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire cooling rack.You can enjoy your apple cider crinkle cookies slightly warm or allow them to cool completely to room temperature before serving.
For more of my yummy apple recipes be sure to check out:
Leave a Reply