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Grated apples combine with creamy peanut butter to create a fun and unique spin on a classic combination. Serve these Apple Peanut Butter Cookies alongside a glass of ice cold milk and you have the perfect after-school snack for a chilly fall day.
Sometimes recipe inspiration comes from the most mundane and random of places.
Like slicing up and apple and giving it to your kid alongside a big spoonful of peanut butter when she gets home from school.
I love peanut butter and usually think about pairing it with jelly (in Peanut Butter and Jelly Bars) or chocolate (in Peanut Butter Cup Cookies), but serving Elle her after-school snack made me think about how well peanut butter goes with apples!
WHAT ARE APPLE PEANUT BUTTER COOKIES?
How many times as a kid did you find yourself dipping apple slices into peanut butter? If you’re anything like me, you probably still find yourself snacking on apples and peanut butter pretty regularly.
These Apple Peanut Butter Cookies are the cookie version of that classic snack!
But these cookies aren’t quite like classic peanut butter cookies. They are a bit puffier and chewier and of course have a hint of apple in each and every delicious bite.
HOW TO MAKE APPLE PEANUT BUTTER COOKIES
Start by gathering your ingredients:
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon homemade apple pie spice
- 1/2 cup grated peeled apple, lightly squeezed to remove excess moisture (about 1 large apple)
Using an electric mixer, cream together the softened butter and the peanut butter with the sugars until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. If you forgot to set your butter out to soften, don’t worry – I have some tips for how to soften butter quickly.
Beat in the egg and the vanilla. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, and apple pie spice.
Gradually add the dry ingredients to the peanut butter mixture, mixing until combined, then stir in the grated apple.
Drop the dough by rounded tablespoonfuls onto a parchment-lined baking sheet. These cookies do spread during baking, so be sure you still leave a couple of inches between each cookie.
Bake the cookies for 10-12 minutes or until they’re golden brown. Let them cool on the baking sheet for about 5 minutes before trying to transfer them to a cooling rack.
FREEZING TIPS
If you’re anything like me, you like to freeze cookies for snacking on later. These Apple Peanut Butter Cookies are a great one to freeze!
You can freeze the cookie dough or the baked cookies. If you want to freeze the dough, just follow the steps in my guide on how to freeze cookie dough.
This is my favorite option because there’s nothing better than having freshly baked cookies on demand.
If you prefer to freeze the baked cookies, that’s an option, too. Just pop the cooled cookies into an airtight container or a zip-top freezer bag and freeze them for up to 2 months.
Apple Peanut Butter Cookies
Equipment
Ingredients
- ½ cup unsalted butter softened
- ½ cup creamy peanut butter
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup packed light brown sugar
- 1 large egg
- ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon homemade apple pie spice
- ½ cup grated peeled apple lightly squeezed to remove excess moisture (about 1 large apple)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl with an electric mixer, cream the butter, peanut butter and sugars until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Beat in egg and vanilla. In a medium bowl, combine flour, baking soda, salt and apple pie spice. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the creamed mixture, mixing until combined. Stir in grated apple.
- Drop by rounded tablespoonfuls 2 inches apart onto the prepared baking sheet. Bake in preheated oven for 10-12 minutes or until golden brown. Cool for 5 minutes before removing to wire racks.
Video
Notes
- Makes about 2 dozen cookies.
- If you want a little crunch, feel free to substitute crunchy peanut butter for the creamy.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
My hubs redid our kitchen just about a year ago, and he did an awesome job. He did the demo of the old cabinets, installed the new ones, and put in a new range. (The other appliances were new enough that we didn’t want to change them.) We let the pros do the quartz countertop and sink. I really didn’t have to live/work out of boxes, because he left most of the old cabinets, with their stuff, in various parts of the house, and left the counter holding the sink until the last possible moment, so I only had to wash dishes in the bathroom for a few days. He installed the new range before he did the demo, so I was always able to cook. I even did some baking. : ) It’s as close to a dream kitchen as we could get without moving. I still love all the changes, and tell him so on a regular basis.
Oh, the cookies sound wonderful!
What a natural and delicious combo! Great idea, can’t wait to make these!
You’re making me so hungry!
Mmm, I’ll take these as a reward any day. And as far as home (apartment) improvements go, it’s times like these when I’m glad my landlord won’t let me change *anything.* :)
No matter how careful you plan, remodeling always holds a few surprises in store. In the end though, you have beautiful new KA appliances and that alone will sooth over any rough spots. Lovely cookie recipe…I’m sure your Dad and brother will volunteer again should you promise to cook and bake for them.
Having been through it, I can definitely agree that home renos are not for the faint of heart – and kitchens are probably the hardest, because it takes so long to do, and how do you EAT for all that time?!
But anyway, I want a cookie for breakfast. Send me some?
Apple pie spice in cookies – perfect, Jamie!!
These cookies sound truly delicious. I totally understand putting a big renovation project on hold too…whoa. SO much work! When it happens though we’ll all be excited to see the process and finished result :)
Home renos require a stiff upper lip – they are tough! And can really test a relationship. Hehe.
These cookies, however…they look like they could mend any domestic disputes! :)
Those look fabulous! I love peanut butter, and incorporating it with fall flavours is genius!