apple cinnamon snickerdoodles

One thing I love about my mother in law is how she’s always trying to give us food. Anytime we stop by their house, we come home with a loaf of bread or a mason jar full of soup. Each fall she gives us boxes and boxes of peaches and pears for canning. This year she also gave us grapes, plums, and apples! We didn’t have quite enough apples to justify pulling out the old canner again, so I tried to come up with some creative ways to use them instead.

I saw these cinnamon apple cookies on Pinterest and was intrigued enough to give them a go. I only had 4 tablespoons of butter, so I substituted 4 tablespoons of cream cheese for the rest, and it was awesome! These cookies may be a little plain and homely, but they are incredibly tasty. We ate them Sunday night while we watched the Doctor Who midseason finale (sniff) with my brother and my nephew, and they got rave reviews. Seriously, no one could stop eating them! I think Geoff ate 6 within a five minute period. The apples make the cookies moist, with just a subtle apple flavor. My nephew commented that they taste like apple fritters. This is definitely one to make again!

Apple Cinnamon Snickerdoodles
Lulu the Baker

1 cup butter, at room temperature
3/4 cup granulated sugar, plus 2 Tablespoons for rolling
3/4 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
3 cups flour
2 teaspoons cream of tartar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup grated apple
2 teaspoons cinnamon for rolling

Combine butter, 3/4 cup granulated sugar, and brown sugar in a large bowl and beat until fluffy. Add eggs and beat to combine. In a medium bowl, combine flour, cream of tartar, baking soda, and salt. Add dry ingredients to butter and sugar and stir until just combined. Stir in apples. Chill dough for 1 hour until firm. Preheat oven to 400°F. Line cookie sheets with parchment paper or silpats. Combine remaining 2 Tablespoons sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl. Scoop chilled dough, roll into 1″ balls, roll in cinnamon sugar, and place on prepared cookie sheets. Bake for 8 minutes. Makes 3-4 dozen.