Vanilla Glazed Cranberry Apple Cookies! (see recipe below)
I love apples. I love cookies. I also love apples in my cookies.
Back in October, you may remember when Jay and I celebrated our 3rd Annual Fall Festival with some of our closest friends. You may also remember me briefly mentioning a delicious plate full of apple cookies that our friend Mal had brought to share that day.
Mal had made these cookies once before on another occasion when we got together and I just had to snag the recipe from her. She’s pretty good about sharing her recipes, thank goodness, because I have yet to have one of hers that are not incredible (case in point).
I’d been wanting to make my own batch of these for a while now, and earlier this week I finally got enough time to whip up a batch of my own. I made a couple slight modifications to her original recipe, one of which substituted dried cranberries for raisins. I’ve always loved the combination of apples and cranberries (remember this and this?) so I figured why not give it a try in the cookies.
Well, I cannot begin to tell you how much I am currently in love with these cookies. Between the combination of spices, the sweet apples and cranberries, the chewy center, and the slightly crispy edges, they are just awesome. Not to mention the fact that they practically scream “fall.”
I <3 all things fall.
Oh, and don’t even get me started about when they’re topped with the glaze.
Good lord.
[print_this]
Vanilla Glazed Cranberry Apple Cookies
(adapted from Mal’s Apple Cookie recipe)
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 12-14 minutes
Ingredients:
- 2 cups flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/2 cup shortening*
- 1-1/4 cups packed brown sugar
- 1 egg
- 1/2 cup finely chopped pecans
- 1 cup finely chopped apples, unpeeled
- 1 cup dried cranberries
- 1/4 cup milk**
- Vanilla Glaze (see recipe below)
*Butter may result in a different consistency if you substitute it for the shortening. For this particular recipe, I used Butter-Flavored Crisco Sticks.
**I used unsweetened almond milk, but any milk would work well
Vanilla Glaze
- 1-1/2 cups confectioners’ sugar
- 1 tablespoon very soft butter (not melted)
- 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2-3 tablespoons milk
- dash of salt
Directions:
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Combine flour, baking soda, salt, and spices in a small bowl and set aside.
In a larger bowl, cream shortening and brown sugar; beat in egg until well blended. Mix in half of flour mixture, then stir in pecans, apples, and dried cranberries. Blend in milk, then remaining flour.
Drop by rounded tablespoonfuls of dough onto a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper (or sprayed with cooking spray). Bake at 375 degrees for 12-14 minutes, or until lightly browned. Allow to sit on cookie sheet for 1-2 minutes, then remove and place on wire rack.
While cookies are still hot, drizzle with vanilla glaze and allow to cool. Enjoy!
[/print_this]
Perhaps these will make their way into your holiday baking plans?
I know they’ll be in mine.
I am betting that between the apple and the milk, if you used butter, they would spppppread. These look awesome.
Pumpkin is great and all but I think that apple and cranberry together are the best fall flavors! I always avoid keeping Craisins in the house because I will eat the whole bag in a sitting!
Oh, my! My mouth is watering right now. These cookies look absolutely delicious! I love the idea of cranberry and apples in cookies together. Can we talk about that glaze too? So delicious! Definitely saving this recipe! :)
Mmmmm!!! I’m going to a cookie swap in December and have to bring 4 DOZEN cookies!! These are officially on my list. What kind of apples did you use? I love every kind so it will be hard to choose!
I used a Macintosh and actually got all I needed out of one medium-sized apple.
The vanilla glaze instantly sold me! The icing and glazes on baked goods are always my favorite. You’re so right, these totally scream fall, and I love it! Thanks for sharing.
MMm, cranberries in cookies are so under utilized. Love this recipe. I may make it next week as an addition to Thanksgiving desserts!
Do it – you won’t regret it! ;)
Gah, those look like the best fallish cookies ever! I’d love to try a little orange extract in the glaze – orange + cranberry is one of my favorite combos!
You might be interested to know that Sees currently has a cranberry orange truffle! Yummy!
Boom, on my Christmas wishlist! Good call!
Yum for sure! I have a huge baking list but don’t think I cannot add these! If I wasn’t going back to work this afternoon I would be making these!
OMG…ICING
Stop by the shop after work and pick up a couple for yourself ;)
Oh gosh, I LOVE apple in any baked goods. cannot WAIT to try these! :)
These look absolutely amazing, I love anything with glaze!
Hi Courtney! These sound great- one thing though, how much milk do you use in the cookies? The recipe only says 1/4 milk. I’m assuming you mean 1/4 cup, but just want to make sure I’m doing it right ;) Thanks for another fun recipe.
Whoops! Yes, actually it is a 1/4 cup. Thanks for the heads up – I just fixed that!
These. look. awesome. I am looking for an treat to bring to my Thanksgiving get-togethers, & these will be added to my list of possibilites!
you said “case in point” …. I’ve always thought it was “case and point”
which one is correct?
I have been know to say the wrong phrases quite often so I’d like to nip this one in the butt if I’m wrong! :)
ohhhh my! These look delicious and so seasonal – these may make their way onto my Thanksgiving table! :-)
Yum!! I hope I get you in the cookie swap haha! ;)
Soooooo I might have to bake your version of my apple cookies because they look fantastic!
These sound fabulous Court! :) I am usually a person that has to have chocolate in my cookies but this recipe could change that!
These sound amazing! Definitely not your conventional cookie but that is what I love about them!
These look so delicious! I love the glaze on top–extra yumminess!
Just made these and they are FAN-friggin-TASTIC!!! Holy crow… many thanks from my taste buds to you and your friend Mal, however my pants won’t be happy when I have to sqeeeeze into them. They will NOT be lasting long in my house!
WOW! I’m so excited to see somebody attempted them so soon! Thanks for the feedback :)
Wow delicious recipe- cooked apples and cinnamon is always a winner!
What brand of dried cranberries do you use? I can’t find brand that does not contain ALOT of sugar. Thanks
Unfortunately, most dried fruit it going to be higher in sugar. I use Craisins, which I love.
although i’m allergic to raw apples, i’m not allergic to cooked apples. haha.. love it.. looks so good!
Really? I don’t think I’ve ever heard of that! What happens if you eat a raw apple?
well, my heart rate goes up really fast, which means my blood pressure is probably low. on occasion i have thrown up. i get very lightheaded. my throat gets really itchy. i do love the smell of apples, so sometimes i’ll take a bite to see if anything happens and then the symptoms start. I love apple pie so i’m just really glad nothing happens when i eat a cooked apple. applesauce is fine too as long as it is cooked. :-)
btw Courtney, i wore my Nars Bronzer to work today, and my husband goes to me, did you put something on your face, your skin is so even. i’m like please, just the bronzer. And Gilt Groupe has a Nars sale today. just fyi. thanks!!!
Those look super duper delicious! Yum.