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Buy Now →These Vegan Apple Pie Cookies bring together the best of fall flavors in a soft, chewy, and decadent cookie. The warm spices of cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves perfectly complement the gooey apple pie filling, making each bite a delightful treat. They’re completely dairy-free and egg-free, yet packed with all the comforting flavors of a homemade apple pie. Baking these cookies will fill your kitchen with the irresistible aroma of spiced apples and buttery goodness. Whether you’re enjoying them with a warm cup of tea or sharing them at a holiday gathering, these cookies are sure to impress. Plus, they’re incredibly easy to make and perfect for cozy autumn baking! 🍏🍪
Full Recipe:
Ingredients:
Apple Pie Filling:
- ¼ cup water
- ½ Tablespoon cornstarch
- 1 large Honeycrisp apple, peeled and cut into small chunks
- 3 Tablespoons brown sugar
- 2 Tablespoons vegan butter
- 1 Tablespoon lemon juice
- ½ teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
Spiced Cookies:
- ½ cup vegan butter
- ½ cup + 2 Tablespoons sugar (½ cup for dough, 2 tablespoons for rolling)
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- 1 flax egg (1 Tablespoon ground flaxseed mixed with 3 Tablespoons water)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste or vanilla extract
- 1 ½ cups + 1 Tablespoon all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Directions:
Make the Apple Pie Filling:
- Mix the cold water and cornstarch to create a slurry and set aside.
- Peel and finely chop the apple into small cubes.
- In a saucepan over medium heat, combine the chopped apple, brown sugar, vegan butter, lemon juice, and pumpkin pie spice. Stir and cook until the butter melts and the mixture starts bubbling.
- Add the cornstarch slurry, stirring continuously. Cook for another 5-10 minutes until the filling thickens and becomes glossy. Set aside to cool.
Make the Spiced Cookie Dough:
- In a mixing bowl, cream the room-temperature vegan butter, ½ cup white sugar, and brown sugar until fluffy (about 2 minutes).
- Add the flax egg and vanilla bean paste, then mix until combined.
- Gradually add the flour, baking powder, pumpkin pie spice, and salt. Stir until a thick dough forms.
- Cover the dough and chill in the fridge for 30 minutes to 1 hour.
Assemble & Bake:
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking tray with parchment paper.
- Remove the dough from the fridge and roll into 10 evenly sized balls. Roll each ball in the reserved sugar.
- Place the dough balls on the baking tray, spacing them at least 2 inches apart. Use your thumb to create an indent in the center of each.
- Spoon about 1 Tablespoon of apple pie filling into each cookie.
- Bake for 14-16 minutes or until edges are crisp and centers are set but still gooey.
- Let cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack.
Prep Time: 15 minutes | Cooking Time: 16 minutes | Total Time: 31 minutes
Kcal: 278 kcal per cookie | Servings: 10 cookies
A Perfectly Cozy Fall Treat
There’s something truly special about the aroma of baked apples and warm spices filling the kitchen. It’s a scent that instantly evokes memories of crisp autumn mornings, cozy sweaters, and the joy of indulging in homemade treats. These Vegan Apple Pie Cookies capture that essence perfectly, combining the nostalgic flavors of classic apple pie with the convenience of a soft, chewy cookie.
Why You’ll Love These Vegan Apple Pie Cookies
These cookies are a dream come true for anyone who loves apple pie but wants something a little more portable and snackable. They feature a tender spiced cookie base that’s rolled in sugar for a slight crisp on the outside, then filled with a gooey, caramelized apple pie filling. The result? A cookie that’s both soft and chewy, bursting with the comforting flavors of cinnamon, nutmeg, and sweet baked apples.
But the best part? They’re completely vegan! That means they’re dairy-free and egg-free, making them a fantastic option for those with dietary restrictions or anyone looking for a plant-based dessert that doesn’t compromise on flavor.
The Inspiration Behind These Cookies
Apple pie is a staple of fall baking, and while a traditional pie is always a great choice, sometimes you just want a quicker, more manageable dessert that doesn’t require rolling out pastry dough. That’s where these cookies come in.
The inspiration for this recipe comes from the love of classic thumbprint cookies—those delightful little cookies with an indentation in the center, often filled with jam or caramel. By replacing the jam with homemade apple pie filling, we get a cookie that feels like an individual-sized pie in every bite.
The Secret to a Perfect Apple Pie Cookie
While this recipe is straightforward, there are a few key steps that make these cookies truly shine:
1. Choosing the Right Apples
The type of apple you use can make a big difference. For this recipe, Honeycrisp apples work best because they hold their shape while baking and have the perfect balance of sweetness and tartness. If you prefer a slightly different texture, Pink Lady, Braeburn, or Cortland apples are also great options.
2. The Power of Pumpkin Pie Spice
Instead of just using cinnamon, this recipe incorporates pumpkin pie spice, which includes cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and cloves. This spice blend enhances the apple flavor and gives the cookies that classic autumn warmth. If you don’t have pumpkin pie spice on hand, you can make your own by mixing equal parts of these spices.
3. Chilling the Dough for the Best Texture
A crucial step in this recipe is chilling the dough before baking. This not only helps the cookies maintain their shape but also deepens the flavors, ensuring a perfectly chewy texture. Skipping this step could lead to cookies that spread too much or don’t hold the filling properly.
4. Baking to Perfection
The key to getting that soft and chewy texture is to bake the cookies just until the edges are crisp but the centers remain slightly gooey. They’ll continue to firm up as they cool, so resist the temptation to overbake!
Customizing Your Apple Pie Cookies
One of the best things about this recipe is how versatile it is. Whether you’re looking to switch up flavors, textures, or dietary options, here are a few ideas to make these cookies your own:
- Make Them Gluten-Free – Simply swap out the all-purpose flour for a high-quality gluten-free flour blend (such as Bob’s Red Mill 1-to-1 Baking Flour).
- Add Some Crunch – For a little extra texture, try adding chopped pecans or walnuts to the apple filling.
- Go Refined Sugar-Free – Use coconut sugar instead of brown sugar, and roll the cookies in a mix of coconut sugar and cinnamon for a natural sweetness.
- Drizzle with Icing – A light drizzle of vanilla or maple glaze on top of these cookies makes them even more irresistible.
Perfect Occasions to Serve These Cookies
These Vegan Apple Pie Cookies aren’t just delicious they’re also versatile enough to be served for a variety of occasions:
- Holiday Gatherings – Whether it’s Thanksgiving, Christmas, or a cozy autumn get-together, these cookies make a fantastic addition to any dessert table.
- Afternoon Treats – Pair them with a cup of chai tea, coffee, or warm apple cider for the perfect cozy afternoon snack.
- Gift Giving – Pack them up in a decorative tin or cookie box for a homemade holiday gift that will impress friends and family.
- Meal Prep Snacks – Since these cookies store well in the fridge or freezer, they’re great to make ahead and enjoy throughout the week.
How to Store and Keep These Cookies Fresh
If you’re lucky enough to have leftovers (which isn’t always the case!), you’ll want to store these cookies properly to keep them fresh.
- Room Temperature: Keep them in an airtight container for up to 2 days.
- Refrigerator: Store in a sealed container for up to 5 days just make sure to separate layers with parchment paper to prevent sticking.
- Freezer: These cookies freeze beautifully! Store them in a freezer-safe container for up to 1 month. When ready to eat, just let them thaw at room temperature or warm them up in the microwave for a few seconds.
Why These Vegan Apple Pie Cookies Stand Out
What makes these cookies truly special is their ability to bring together the flavors of a homemade apple pie in a format that’s simple, quick, and mess-free. They have the perfect balance of sweetness, spice, and texture, making them a great alternative to traditional apple pie for those who want something a little different.
They also prove that vegan baking can be just as rich, flavorful, and satisfying as traditional baking. Thanks to high-quality vegan ingredients, such as plant-based butter and a flax egg, these cookies achieve the same soft and chewy texture as their non-vegan counterparts.
Conclusion:
If you love apple pie but don’t always have the time to make one from scratch, these Vegan Apple Pie Cookies are the perfect alternative. They’re easy to make, full of warm autumn spices, and completely plant-based, making them a fantastic treat for any occasion.
Whether you’re baking them for a holiday gathering, a cozy weekend treat, or just because you’re craving something sweet, these cookies are sure to become a seasonal favorite. With their gooey apple pie filling, soft spiced cookie base, and hint of cinnamon-sugar crunch, they’re everything you love about apple pie in cookie form! 🍏🍪