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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.
Master Bath + 7 years = calling professional to finnish
Oh we have a list of home improvement projects that we’ve attempted and had to abandon mid-way and call in the professionals for. I guess I’m overly optimistic about our abilities!
Remodeling is a bit of a roller coaster ride, but worth it in the end. Just have a little “buffer” of money, there are always some surprise expenses. And.. a little “buffer” jar of these cookies would be a great idea too!
homemade apple pie spice?? that just got all of my attention when hearing such an exotic spice! thanks for sharing this post with us! check out my baking blog, i would love to have more viewers :D
I made these tonight, and they were delicious. I never made cookies with apples before. what a great idea, apples and peanut butter are amazing together, especially in cookie form. Thanks for the great cookie recipe.
Awesome idea to combine PB and apples into a cookie. I will definitely have to try these soon!
You’re scaring me – Dan and I are about to start a HUGE home renovation project where walls will be knocked down, new rooms put in, kitchens and bathrooms gutted… should I fear for my life?
What a great combination! These sound fabulous!
Thankfully I’ve never had to attempt any home improvements because I’ve always lived in an apt. At least for my adult life. Part of me is thankful for that, but part of me would like my own place…
These cookies look amazing. Ill take a few please :) Ok, ok, Ill just make some myself. They look amazing. Yay for new appliances though! So much fun
I love apples with peanut butter so I know I’ll love these!