You guys, I had a total breakthrough.
So I was telling my husband how I had not much to do on a particular Saturday, besides a few things on the blog and maybe bake some buns. So he says to me, “you should make cookies.”
Now normally, I’d be all like, “make your own cookies!”
Except he was right. I did want to make cookies.
So I was thinking about what kind of cookies to make… maybe something new and exciting to try for the blog? Or an old favorite and skip the photographing, writing, editing, etc., etc..
I was thinking about how I made these Cinnamon Roll Cookies once and totally raved about them, and then my sister made them and was totally disappointed because they were so much work and didn’t turn out that well. So I thought maybe I should try taking my cake mix cookie recipe from my Grandma’s oreo cookies (that also inspired these cookies), and turn them into an easy cinnamon roll cookie.
And then I started thinking about other holiday flavours and Christmas baking. And I started thinking about streusel, because that’s totally a normal direction for my brain to go on a Saturday morning.
And it came to me: Apple Crisp Cookies.
I could start with my Grandma’s cake mix cookie recipe as a base, add chunks of apple, and a brown sugar oat streusel on top. And it would be amazing.
I was a little nervous though, that something wouldn’t work and they would bake too flat or the apples would be crunchy, and on and on.
Except they were perfect.
I mean, they are totally, insanely delicious.
You don’t even need the maple glaze…. but if you’re feeling like you need a little extra indulgence? Do it. Maple + apples + streusel + cookies rocks my world.
*Update March 21, 2015: Because this is one of my favorite cookie recipes, and cake mixes can be somewhat fickle (with different weights, ingredients, etc.) I wanted to create a scratch version. I. LOVE. THEM. You’ll find the scratch recipe just below.
Maple-Glazed Apple Crisp Cookies - Cake Mix version
Ingredients
Cookies:
- 2 boxes vanilla cake mix about 16.5 ounces each
- 4 eggs
- 1/4 cup oil
- 1 medium apple diced very finely
Streusel:
- 1/4 cup butter cold
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 1/4 cup flour
- 1/3 cup large oats
Glaze:
- 1 tbsp icing sugar
- 1 tsp maple syrup
Instructions
- For the cookies:Combine all ingredients until well mixed. Set in the refrigerator for 15-30 minutes while you make your streusel.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and make your streusel.
- Combine all streusel ingredients until crumbly -- if you squeeze some between your fingers, it should be moist enough to hold together.
- Using a 1" cookie scoop or spoon, drop cookie dough about 1.5-2" apart on a baking sheet (I do 12 to a sheet). Using your fingers, press some of the streusel into the top of the cookie.
- Bake for 9-10 minutes, until just slightly golden at the edges and slightly puffed and dry in the center. They will sink down a bit as they cool, as long as they aren't overbaked.
- Combine glaze ingredients if desired -- the 1tbsp to 1 tsp ratio will do about 3-4 cookies. I've given you a small enough ratio to work with so that you can double, triple or quadruple as desired if you wish! Drizzle over cooled cookies and let set (or stuff in your face immediately).
Nutrition (this is an estimate)
Maple-Glazed Apple Crisp Cookies
Ingredients
Cookies
- 1 1/4 cups butter room temperature
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 2 large eggs
- 3 1/4 cups flour
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 medium apple finely chopped (I used a Macintosh and got about 1 3/4 cups of apple)
Streusel
- 1/4 cup butter cold
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 1/4 cup flour
- 1/3 cup large oats
Glaze
- 1/2 cup powdered icing sugar
- 2-3 tbsp maple syrup
Instructions
- In the bowl of a stand mixer (or you can use a handheld), cream together butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the eggs and vanilla and beat until smooth.
- Add the flour, salt, and baking soda and beat just until combined. Add apples and mix until just combined. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate 1 hour (I find the juices from the apples makes the dough a bit stickier than normal -- the chilling helps with this).
- While your cookie dough is chilling, make the streusel. Combine butter, brown sugar, granulated sugar, cinnamon, flour and oats with a pastry cutter (or your fingers!) until crumbly. Set aside until needed. (Can be stored in the fridge if needed)
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and lightly grease baking sheets.
- Roll cookie dough into 1" balls and dip in streusel, pressing the streusel into the top of the cookie with your fingers if needed (you only want the streusel on the top half). Place on a baking sheet 2" apart and bake for 8-9 minutes, until edges are just golden and centers are just barely set (if you overbake, they will puff up and be dry). Cookies will be slightly puffed but will sink down as they cool.
- Combine powdered icing sugar and enough maple syrup to make a smooth glaze. Drizzle over cookies and allow to cool until set (the glaze will firm up nicely so the cookies can be stacked).
Nutrition (this is an estimate)
- Cookies
- 1 1/4 cups butter, room temperature
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 2 large eggs
- 3 1/4 cups flour
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 medium apple, finely chopped (I used a Macintosh and got about 1 3/4 cups of apple)
- Streusel
- ยผ cup butter, cold
- ยผ cup brown sugar
- ยผ cup granulated sugar
- ยฝ tsp cinnamon
- ยผ cup flour
- โ cup large oats
- Glaze
- 1/2 cup powdered icing sugar
- 2-3 tbsp maple syrup
- In the bowl of a stand mixer (or you can use a handheld), cream together butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the eggs and vanilla and beat until smooth.
- Add the flour, salt, and baking soda and beat just until combined. Add apples and mix until just combined. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate 1 hour (I find the juices from the apples makes the dough a bit stickier than normal — the chilling helps with this).
- While your cookie dough is chilling, make the streusel. Combine butter, brown sugar, granulated sugar, cinnamon, flour and oats with a pastry cutter (or your fingers!) until crumbly. Set aside until needed. (Can be stored in the fridge if needed)
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and lightly grease baking sheets.
- Roll cookie dough into 1″ balls and dip in streusel, pressing the streusel into the top of the cookie with your fingers if needed (you only want the streusel on the top half). Place on a baking sheet 2″ apart and bake for 8-9 minutes, until edges are just golden and centers are just barely set (if you overbake, they will puff up and be dry). Cookies will be slightly puffed but will sink down as they cool.
- Combine powdered icing sugar and enough maple syrup to make a smooth glaze. Drizzle over cookies and allow to cool until set (the glaze will firm up nicely so the cookies can be stacked).
ย You might also like these 4-Ingredient Double Chocolate Cookies!
Heather says
Just wow.
This recipe is a complete stunner! Can’t wait to bring these to my office cookie swap tomorrow.
Protip for any of you concerned about spreadage from the moisture in the apple – I diced mine up fine as directed, and then very gently pressed it between two paper towels. This absorbed the excess moisture (I’m sure the juice level varies apple to apple).
This recipe will be a new holiday tradition for me!
Ashley Fehr says
Thanks Heather, and great tip! They are one of my favorite cookies!
Heather says
The apples in your cookies look like they still have the peel on – is this correct? Gonna try this recipe this week for a cookie exchange!
Ashley Fehr says
I don’t usually peel apples for baking, so there’s a good chance ๐ I hope you enjoy them!
Heather says
They. Turned. Out. Perfect.
Kimberly Broussard says
My daughter is going to try baking these. Have you ever tried baking them again? Are the amounts right with the butter?
Regarding and earlier complaint about them: Made the scratch recipe, as they sounded delicious. Unfortunately, there are some issues with the recipe. Too much butter, no matter how long the dough chilled, led to a serious case of cookie spreadage. Upped the oven temp 25 degrees, still a mess. The streusel recipe produced way too much for the amount of dough, had over half of it left over, and after baking, I canโt see the streusel. Again, with all the butter in the dough combined with the butter in the streusel, the streusel just melted into the cookies while spreading. I might try again, using at least half shortening for part of the butter, and cutting the streusel recipe in half.
Ashley Fehr says
The dough recipe is my mother’s chocolate chip cookie dough that she’s been using for more than 20 years — there’s nothing wrong with the amount of butter in the recipe. If you add too much apple, there might be extra moisture which could cause spreading, but I personally have never had that issue.
Michelle Stevens says
I have made the from scratch recipe many times and have found that if the apple(s) are NOT finely chopped there does seem to have moisture issue. Also one trick that I use to get even sized cookies is to use my small melon scoop instead of hand rolling them, gives a perfect size and allows for easier dipping in the streusel. This recipe is a favorite among my husband and kids- they call them the “crack” cookies for how addictive they are!
Ashley Fehr says
Those are such great tips! Thanks for sharing! I’m also glad your family has been enjoying them so much!
Jeri Ellis says
The maple glazed apple cookies are heavenly. I love anything with a maple or caramel flavor.
barry says
yummy
Rene says
Made the scratch recipe, as they sounded delicious. Unfortunately, there are some issues with the recipe. Too much butter, no matter how long the dough chilled, led to a serious case of cookie spreadage. Upped the oven temp 25 degrees, still a mess. The streusel recipe produced way too much for the amount of dough, had over half of it left over, and after baking, I can’t see the streusel. Again, with all the butter in the dough combined with the butter in the streusel, the streusel just melted into the cookies while spreading. I might try again, using at least half shortening for part of the butter, and cutting the streusel recipe in half.
Ashley says
I’m sorry you had issues with the recipe Rene. I used the chocolate chip cookie base that my mom has used since my childhood, and I’ve never had any issues with it. I will have to test the recipe again and see if it needs adjusting! Thanks for letting me know!
Kimberly Broussard says
Did you try baking these again?
Emily says
These sound so delicious! I’m wondering how to sub for the cake mix using plain flour, etc. Any ideas, Ashley?
Ashley says
You’d want to just find a regular vanilla cookie recipe you enjoy and add the fresh apple, streusel and glaze. Hope that helps!
Pernilla says
I’m in Sweden and came across this recipe,I wonder about the golden cake mix,is it a soft cakemix like spoungecake?just wondering so I can find something simular here ๐
Ashley says
It’s just a regular vanilla cake mix. Here we have regular white and golden, and I prefer golden in this recipe. I hope that helps!
Jess @ Flying on Jess Fuel says
Apple crisp cookies were definitely a brilliant idea!! They sound amazing and are so perfect for the holidays!! ๐
Ashley says
Thanks Jess! They kind of blew my mind!
Thalia @ butter and brioche says
How delicious are these cookies?! Definitely adding these onto my Christmas baking list. Pinned!
Ashley says
Thanks Thalia!
Jessica @ Sweet Menu says
Wow these cookies look wonderful! Love the drippy glaze – I could eat a few right now!
Ashley says
Thanks Jessica!
Nora @ Savory Nothings says
This is such a great idea Ashley! I LOVE apple crisp and I love cookies – I bet they taste amazing!
Ashley says
Thanks Nora! They worked surprisingly well – one of my favorites to date for sure!
Marcie says
I love your thought process behind how you made up your mind about what kind of cookies to make. I toil about all kinds of different variations, too, then pray they work! Glad these worked out for you, because they look incredible, Ashley! So easy and so delicious.
Ashley says
Thanks Marcie! I was surprised how good they were!
Medha @ Whisk & Shout says
Wow! These sure aren’t the run of the mill chocolate chip or peanut butter cookies… some seriously creative baking ๐ Shoutout to your husband for making these happen!
Ashley says
Haha, if he read these comments I think it’d go to his head a little bit! Lol. Thanks Medha!
Kevin | keviniscooking says
Ashley these look amazing. I grew up with my Gramma’s Apple Crisp and can’t wait to try these cookies. With a streusel AND glaze, wow! Thanks!
Ashley says
Thanks Kevin! You can’t go wrong with streusel!
ATasteOfMadness says
Omg, these cookies look amazing!! I am addicted to making cookies! I am very glad your husband suggested you bake some cookies. You are inspiring me to make some myself!
Ashley says
Thanks so much! He’s usually pretty good at that kind of stuff… Lol
Alice @ Hip Foodie Mom says
These cookies look amazing!!! Anything that starts with Grandmaโs cake mix cookie recipe as a base, and has chunks of apple, and a brown sugar oat streusel on top sounds pretty fantastic to me!! love love love and you probably need to thank your husband for the idea to bake cookies! ๐
Ashley says
Haha, ya know, I hadn’t thought to thank him! He’s usually pretty supportive when it comes to my baking…. Lol. Thanks Alice!
Denise | Sweet Peas & Saffron says
YUM! These cookies are so creative! Love that you brought apple crisp flavors into a cookie. And it’s nice that your husband asks for cookies; mine is more like ‘what on earth are you baking now?!’ Totally not a sweet tooth (how is that even possible!?) Anyways, these cookies look amazing ๐
Ashley says
What?! That’s crazy! My husband loves his sweets, so our self-control is pretty much non-existant…. Lol. Thanks Denise!
Isadora @ she likes food says
What an awesome idea!! I love creative cookies like these that I would probably never think of myself! I’m glad you didn’t tell you husband to make his own cookies and that you came up with these gems instead!!
Ashley says
Haha, I’m pretty glad I didn’t, too! Who knows what he would have come up with…
Amanda says
Your breakthrough looks delicious! ๐
Ashley says
Thanks Amanda!
Kelly - Life Made Sweeter says
Apple crisp cookies? Love that idea! I am a sucker for anything with a streusel topping and topping soft and chewy baked cookies with a maple glaze sounds like the ultimate treat! They look phenomenal! Pinning!
Ashley says
Thanks so much Kelly! I was SO happy with the way they turned out!
Cyndi - My Kitchen Craze says
Haha Ashley, I love your response to your hubby…”make your own cookies”. But then you wanted some. Made me giggle! Sounds like my hubby and I. These cookies look better then your average cookie. They look like they should be sold in those expensive stores and cost an arm and leg. They are so pretty looking too. So going to make these, so I can impress my hubby co-workers!! ๐ Pinned!
Ashley says
Thanks Cyndi! When I’ve got nothing else to do, I usually end up in the kitchen…. Lol.
Stacey @ Bake.Eat.Repeat. says
I love that thought tangent that brought you to these cookies! I’m like that too, starting thinking about one thing and ending up with something else entirely! These cookies look amazing – apple crisp cookies was a great idea! Pinned!
Baby June says
Mmm those look great! I love apple crisp, but cookie form is awesome too! Especially since they are more portable ๐
Ashley says
I just couldn’t believe how well they turned out! Thanks!