Apple Cranberry Walnut Swirl Cookies

5 from 1 vote

Apple Cranberry Walnut Swirl Cookies

These apple cranberry walnut swirl cookies have tender apple pieces, tart cranberries, and crunchy walnuts wrapped in a soft cookie with a beautiful swirl pattern. Perfect for fall and holiday baking.

Prep Time45

Total Bake Time39

Chill1 2

Total Time1 3 24

Course: Cookies, Holiday, Nuts

Cuisine: American

Difficulty: Hard

Servings: cookies

Calories: 183kcal

Ingredients

APPLE CRANBERRY JAM

1 ½ cups (1) Granny Smith apple diced
1 ½ cup (150 g) Fresh cranberries
1 ¼ cup (250 g) Sugar white
¼ cup (59.15 g) Water
1 teaspoon Christmas spice blend*
1 Tablespoon Lemon juice
1 Tablespoon Lemon zest

COOKIE DOUGH

1 cup (227 g) Butter unsalted room temperature
4 ounces (113.4 g) Cream Cheese softened
1 ½ cups (300 g) Sugar white
2 Eggs
½ Tablespoon Apple juice
1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
3 cups (375 g) All-purpose flour
½ teaspoon Kosher Salt
1 ¼ teaspoon Baking powder
½ cup (58.5 g) Chopped walnuts Handful sprinkled on top of the jam before rolling

Instructions

APPLE CRANBERRY HOMEMADE JAM

Peel, core, and dice the Granny Smith apple. Zest and juice the lemon into 2 bowls and set it aside.
In a medium-size (3-quart) saucepan, add the cranberries, diced apple pieces, water, and sugar. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat then reduce to a medium heat. Do not worry about the size of the cranberries. They will pop open and become small. Stir constantly for about 10 minutes until the cranberries open and the apple pieces soften.
Next, add the lemon zest, lemon juice, and the Christmas spice blend*. Stir and cook until it become syrupy (about 2-4 minutes). Transfer to glass container to cool. This recipe makes enough jam for 2 rolls.

COOKIE DOUGH

Weigh or measure the sugar into a bowl and set it aside. Weigh or measure the flour, baking powder, and salt, then run a whisk through to blend. In a stand or handheld mixer, mix the butter and cream cheese together on medium speed for about 1 minute. Add the sugar and blend for another 3 minutes on medium speed. Scrape down the sides and across the bottom, then mix for another 30 seconds. Add the vanilla extract and apple juice along with one egg. Mix thoroughly before adding the second egg. Turn the mixer down to low and add the flour mixture about a third at a time.
On a floured pastry sheet, transfer the cookie dough and mix it by hand to make sure all the ingredients are incorporated. The dough will be tacky, so add a little flour if needed to shape it. Divide the dough in half and shape each half into a rectangle. Wrap each rectangle in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours.
Place one of the wrapped cookie dough rectangles onto a well-floured pastry sheet. If you do not have a pastry mat, use a piece of parchment paper. You will need to be able to lift the pastry mat on one side to help with rolling the log. Take your apple cranberry homemade jam and spread it over the rolled-out dough. I take a handful of chopped walnuts and sprinkle them on top of the jam.
Start rolling the dough and lift the pastry sheet to help it along until you reach the end. Next, tear off a piece of plastic wrap and slide it under the edge of the log so you can roll the log right onto the wrap. Finish wrapping the log and shape it a little if needed. Lay the roll in a baguette pan (mine has 3 sections for baguette bread). Place the baguette pan with the logs in the refrigerator overnight.
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C or 180°C) and line your cookie sheet pans with parchment paper. Take one of the cookie logs out of the refrigerator and slice it into ½-inch slices. Line the cookies about 2 inches apart (I get 12 to a pan) and bake for 13 to 15 minutes. You do not want any shiny dough on top. Take them out of the oven and leave them on the pan for 1 to 2 minutes before moving them to a cooling rack.

Notes

*Christmas Spice Blend

I found a recipe that I really like at Caroha.com. I have a small jar I keep it in that has a screw on lid that will last for the whole holiday season of baking. But of course if you have your own special blend just substitute yours for this one.

3 Tablespoons - Ground cinnamon
2 teaspoons - Ground ginger
2 teaspoons - Ground cloves
1 teaspoon - Ground allspice
½ teaspoon - Ground nutmeg

Nutrition