Hello and welcome to my Cotswold Kitchen Mom blog space! Are you hungry for a new back-to-school treat to make with your children? Look no further than my soft apple cookies recipe. This easy, kid-friendly recipe has become a “first day of school” tradition in my family.
I would love to share my soft apple cookies recipe, my baking tips, and even some of my homeschool helps with you all. In this post you will learn how to make delicious apple cookies with your children in tow. Plus, I will share some of my favorite back-to-school thrifted finds.
If this sounds fun to you- then come along for a homeschooling kitchen adventure. What are we waiting for? Let’s get started!
Creating Excitement for a New School Year:
Allow me to rewind a little here- for anyone who may be a new reader. Before moving to England and becoming a mom to four little ones, I was a home economics teacher. I loved teaching, and I loved my high school students! As a matter of fact, I would say that my teaching style was very similar to how I write this blog… lots of stories, lots of baking, lots of crafting, and lots of joy.
As each new homeschool year begins, I feel the same excitement I did as a public-school teacher. I try to relay that same eager enthusiasm to my children- as I hope they always have a love for learning and creativity. One of the ways I try to foster this creativity- and a love for learning- is by bringing my homeschool lessons into the kitchen arena.
*To see my “first week of homeschooling” blog post (which covers how my family begins each new school year), see my article here.
The Perfect Back to School Treat:
With each new school year, there are certain things my homeschool crew and I always do. For example, we like to get into the kitchen to kick things off on a sweet note. As previously mentioned, our favorite back to school kitchen activity is making soft apple cookies and wafer pencil cookies.
Personally, I believe starting the year off with a fun, team building activity is both beneficial and important. Baking treats in the kitchen with children is a wonderful way to mark an event or occasion. By making the beginning of a new school a celebration, children can learn to appreciate the gift that a homeschool education is.
Let us step into the kitchen…afterall, the world (and the home) is a child’s school room!
What Exactly is a Soft Apple Cookie?
A soft apple cookie is a twist on the classic rollout sugar cookie recipe. Almost cake-like in texture, an apple cookie is pillowy soft and light and airy due to the moisture that is added in the form of applesauce. The taste of an apple cookie is subtle. With the help of the golden syrup glaze- just the right amount of sweetness is added.
My soft apple cookie recipe is ideal for anyone who has a picky eater in their family. As a mom, I know it can sometimes be tricky to get the recommended amounts of fruit and veg into a child’s snacks and meals. I for one, have a child who is a particularly picky eater. He does not eat many fruits, but he will eat applesauce.
Anytime I can have my children help me in the kitchen I do. This is particularly helpful when the item being prepared is not their favorite food. Sometimes having a child help to prepare the “unliked” food (with you) gives them a connection to the food and helps encourage them to try something new. Mostly because their own hands helped to make it.
My Soft Apple Cookies Recipe:
Soft Apple Cookies (Biscuits)
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- In a large mixing bowl, cream both sugars and the softened butter until light and airy (approximately 1 minute).
- Add eggs, applesauce, and vanilla. Mix until smooth (scraping the sides down in between).
- Stir the dry ingredients in a separate medium sized mixing bowl.
- Pulverize the dehydrated apples in a food processor. Then add the ¼ cup apple powder to the cookie batter. Mix until all ingredients are just combined.
- Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator to chill. Overnight is best if you have the time- otherwise 2- 3 hours will suffice.
- Line baking sheet(s) with parchment paper.
- Once the dough is chilled, remove from the refrigerator. Lightly flour work surface. Roll the dough to ¼ inch thickness. Cut desired shapes out of the dough with metal cookie cutters.
- Place cut shapes on lined baking sheet (an inch apart) and place back in the refrigerator for 20 minutes. (Note: this helps the cookies to keep their shape when they go into the oven.)
- Preheat the oven to 350 ℉.
- Bake the cookies for 8-10 minutes-or until the edges are golden and firm. The tops will be firm but have soft centers.
- Allow the cookies to properly cool before adding a golden syrup glaze to the tops of the cookies.
- Sift powdered sugar into a medium sized mixing bowl.
- Using a small microwave safe bowl, melt the butter in the microwave.
- Add the melted butter, golden syrup, vanilla, cinnamon, and cream. Stir until well combined.
- Drizzle the glaze over the cooled cookies and enjoy!
How to Double the Apple Flavor- Using Applesauce and Dehydrated Apple:
This recipe has apple two ways…in the form of applesauce and in the form of pulverized dehydrated apple slices. You know how we moms are- sneaky when it comes to getting our kids to eat fruits and vegetables. (And yes, I do realize it’s a bit of a stretch to look at apple biscuits as healthy, but…you know.)
In fact, apple is a fun fall ingredient to utilize in many different recipes. I enjoy using applesauce in my baking, as it often adds moisture and a subtle sweet flavor.
Moreover, using a food processor to powder or pulverize any dehydrated fruit is a good trick to have up your sleeve. (See my post on pulverizing dried strawberries). Dried fruits, when turned into the powdered version, are perfect for toppings or for sneakily adding fruits to batters and doughs.
Perhaps this is why I enjoy baking so much- you can experiment with different ingredients to suit your individual needs and tastes.
How to Make Soft Apple Cookies (In Photo Format):
Please allow me to use my original photographs to illustrate how to make my soft apple cookies. Afterall, it is the photos that we all love to look at.
Step One: Invite the Children to the Baking Party
Children love being in the kitchen. Whether they are eating or helping to prepare a meal or treat with you, they can learn so many skills simply by observing you.
Having children involved in the cooking process allows them to take ownership and sometimes encourages the pickiest of eaters to try new foods.
Of course, inviting a child into the kitchen allows for more mess and a bit less precision- but I don’t mind that. In fact, I smile when I feel a little tug on my pant leg. As I look down and see a sweet, little face silently asking me to let them sit on the countertop and be a part of the fun. A short time later, they will be cheekily asking to lick the spoon. Unless of course, I am preparing vegetables- in which case, they won’t ask to sample at all.
Step Two: Begin the Soft Apple Cookies Preparation
Step 3: Making a Golden Syrup Glaze:
Now, if you have been following along with my writings, you may remember (from my Golden syrup post), that I said I would be featuring my homemade syrup in my upcoming recipe. This is that recipe.
Apple and caramel pair nicely together, so I thought it would be fun to use my Golden Syrup in place of caramel. I decided to make a delicious glaze to go on top of our apple biscuits.
By using a bit of heavy whipping cream, vanilla, and homemade golden syrup- we created a delicious light glaze to compliment the “hidden” apple in our recipe. See my handwritten recipe below- or check my soft apple cookies recipe (above) to find the golden syrup glaze recipe featured at the bottom.
Frequently Asked Questions on Making Soft Apple Cookies:
1. Can I use dried apple chips in place of dehydrated apple slices?
Yes, you can. Dehydrated apples can be hard to find. They are not the same as dried apples. While I prefer dehydrated apples (as they can be powdered much easier in the food processor), I have also used apple chips. Of course, the dehydrated apple could be left out altogether, if necessary, but it does add a more powerful apple flavor to the cookie dough. *See my dehydrated apples vs apple chips photos below.
2. What type of applesauce works best in this recipe?
I prefer to use a natural unsweetened applesauce from Aldi. However, for a slightly sweeter taste you may use sweetened applesauce. For a more prominent cinnamon flavor- cinnamon applesauce may also be sued.
3. If I am limited on time, can I freeze the cookie dough instead of placing it in the refrigerator for 2-3 hours or overnight?
I prefer to chill my cookie dough in the refrigerator the day before, but you can also cut time by wrapping the dough and placing in the freezer. If you are trying to cut the 2–3-hour refrigerator chill time, I would recommend adding the wrapped dough to the freezer for around 30-40 minutes before baking.
Apple cookie dough warms quickly and is then difficult to roll out. Therefore, cold cookie dough is highly recommended.
4. How do I store leftover apple cookies?
Leftover cookies can be stored in a Ziplock bag or an airtight container. Soft apple cookies are best served fresh, but they can also be eaten 2 days after being baked-if properly stored.
How to Thrift for School-Inspired Vintage Decorations
Now that our soft apple cookies are baked, I thought it would be fun to pop in a few school-inspired vintage thrift and antique items that I have been collecting. Consider this slight sidestep… a baking bonus!
I love the thrill of the find -not knowing exactly what will capture my fancy or what treasure will be discovered.
It is obvious by now that I love vintage books. Naturally, that is an easy one to relate to a post about schooling. Equally, I like vintage pen sets, and glass paperweights. I may even have an old Chinese abacus to include.
These back-to-school items are interesting tidbits that can be used in many interior spaces to add visual interest and intrigue. Think bookshelves, tabletops, and desktops.
All home spaces are an opportunity to add your own creative expression. If you visit a thrift store or antique store, be on the lookout for items that not only capture your eyes- but also your attention. If they beckon you to pick them up, inspect them, and appreciate their beauty, they are surely a worthwhile find. When an item “speaks” to you, it will often make a lovely, storied piece for your collection.
In this case…a storied collection of back to school treasures!
Final Thoughts Until Next Time...
Again, we find ourselves at the end of another fun blog post. My aim was to teach you all how to make soft apple cookies- yes-but I hope I also encouraged you to enjoy the small things in life with those you love. Hopefully this post has given you fresh ideas and new perspectives.
Speaking of fresh ideas, check out my homeschool activity (making homemade playdough) before you go. Or see my guide on homeschool education here.
Treasures are often all around us- if we only take the time to open our eyes and appreciate them. Or, in this case- take the time to bake love into them.
Remember, worthwhile treasures don’t have to cost a thing. Some of the biggest treasures are those you can hold in your arms and in your heart. So go ahead, bake with someone you love, share a treat with someone you appreciate, and take a moment to learn some new things from God’s world. For, it is filled with both treasures and opportunities.
See you all soon!
~Elizabeth~
Love it Lizzie!!
Thank you, we had fun creating. 🙂