Description
Delight in these vegan Apple Pie Cookies, featuring a tender spiced cookie dough filled with tangy apple curd, topped with a crunchy oat crumble and drizzled with a smooth apple cider vinegar icing. This charming treat combines classic pie flavors into a handheld cookie perfect for cozy gatherings or an autumn-inspired snack.
Ingredients
Scale
Cookie Dough
- 200 g granulated sugar
- 115 g vegan butter (block-style), melted and cooled to room temperature
- 50 g apple curd (from half batch vegan apple curd, see notes)
- 20 g vegan Greek-style yogurt or skyr (or regular unsweetened soy or coconut yogurt)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 220 g all-purpose flour (plain flour)
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
Crumble Topping
- 25 g brown sugar
- 15 g all-purpose flour (plain flour)
- 20 g rolled oats
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 2 tablespoons vegan butter (block-style), melted and cooled to room temperature
Icing
- 80 ml apple cider vinegar (or apple juice)
- 1 tablespoon non-dairy milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 150 g powdered sugar (icing sugar)
Instructions
- Make the cookie dough: In a mixing bowl, whisk together the melted vegan butter and granulated sugar until combined. Add 50 g of apple curd, vegan yogurt, and vanilla extract, whisking to incorporate. Freeze the remaining apple curd until needed. In a separate bowl, mix the flour, baking powder, baking soda, ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg, and sea salt evenly.
- Combine wet and dry ingredients: Fold the dry ingredient mixture into the wet mixture using a spatula until evenly incorporated. Cover the bowl with clingfilm or a plate and chill the dough in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.
- Preheat the oven: Set the oven to 180°C (356°F). Line two large baking trays with parchment paper for baking.
- Prepare the crumble topping: In a medium bowl, combine brown sugar, flour, rolled oats, cinnamon, and melted vegan butter. Rub the butter into the dry ingredients with your fingers until crumb-like. Refrigerate until ready to use.
- Make the icing: Simmer the apple cider vinegar in a saucepan for 15–20 minutes until reduced to about 30 ml (2 tablespoons). Transfer to a mixing bowl and whisk in non-dairy milk, vanilla extract, and powdered sugar until smooth. Cover and set aside.
- Shape and portion the cookies: Use a 2.4-inch (6 cm) cookie or ice cream scoop to divide dough into 8 portions (or smaller portions for 12 cookies). Place dough balls on prepared trays, spacing them at least 2.5 inches apart because they will spread while baking.
- Fill and crumble: Flatten each cookie slightly, then use a teaspoon to create an indentation in the center without puncturing through. Fill each indentation with a teaspoon of chilled apple curd, then fold and seal the cookie dough completely around the filling. Press crumble topping onto each cookie’s surface.
- Bake the cookies: Bake for 12–14 minutes (reduce to 10–12 minutes if smaller cookies). Using a cookie cutter or glass, gently round the edges of the cookies while warm. Let them cool on the baking trays for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack lined with parchment to cool completely.
- Frost the cookies: Fill a piping bag with the prepared icing and snip the tip. Pipe a lattice pattern or drizzle the icing over each cookie. Allow the icing to set for 10–20 minutes before serving.
- Storage: Store cooled cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for a few days or refrigerated up to one week due to the curd filling. For longer storage, freeze cookies in airtight containers or freezer bags for up to one month, separating them with parchment paper to prevent sticking.
Notes
- Note 1: Vegan apple curd can be prepared ahead of time or sourced commercially; freeze half to use as the cookie filling.
- Note 2: When filling, ensure the cookie dough fully encloses the apple curd to prevent leakage during baking.
- Using vegan yogurt keeps these cookies dairy-free without compromising texture.
- The apple cider vinegar reduction for the icing intensifies the apple flavor while balancing the sweetness.
- Spacing cookies well on the tray is crucial since they will spread significantly during baking.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 14 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
