Applesauce and Walnut Cookies
Enjoy the comforting flavors of applesauce and a hint of cinnamon with walnuts for the perfect transition from late summer to early fall.
Prep Time15 minutes mins
Total Bake Time33 minutes mins
Chill30 minutes mins
Total Time1 hour hr 18 minutes mins
Course: Cookies
Cuisine: American
Difficulty: Easy
Servings: 30 cookies
Calories: 213kcal
COOKIE DOUGH
- 1 cup (227 g) Butter unsalted room temperature
- ½ cup (100 g) Sugar white
- ½ cup (110 g) Light brown sugar
- 1 (1) Egg
- ½ cup (122 g) Unsweetened applesauce
- 1 teaspoon (1 teaspoon) Vanilla Extract
- 2 ½ cups (312.5 g) All-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon (0.5 teaspoon) Baking powder
- ½ teaspoon (0.5 teaspoon) Kosher Salt
- ½ teaspoon (0.5 teaspoon) Ground cinnamon
- 1 cup (78 g) Chopped walnuts
ICING
- ½ cup (113.5 g) Butter unsalted
- 1 ½ cups (180 g) Powdered sugar
- 2 Tablespoons (2 tablespoon) Unsweetened applesauce
- ⅛ teaspoon (0.5 teaspoon) Ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon Apple juice
- 1 Tablespoon (1 tablespoon) Half & Half
- ½ cup (58.5 g) Chopped walnuts for topping
COOKIE DOUGH
Weigh or measure the light brown and white sugars into a bowl and set aside. Weight or measure the flour, salt, baking powder, and cinnamon into a bowl and run a whisk through to blend and set aside.
Cream the butter for about a minute or two before adding the sugars. Mix on medium mixer speed for about 3 minutes Add the egg, vanilla extract, and applesauce and blend. Turn the mixer speed down and gradually add the flour mixture. You may have to scrape down the bowl. Add the chopped walnuts and blend for another 15 seconds until incorporated. Cover and put into the refrigerator for 30 minutes.
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C or 180°C) and line 2 pans with parchment paper. I use a medium cookie scooper and add 12 scoops to a cookie pan — Bake for 10-12 minutes. After pulling the cookies out of the oven, let them sit on the cookie sheet for a minute before moving them to a cooling rack. Don't overbake, or the cookies could be dry inside.
APPLESAUCE ICING
Cream the butter in a mixer for a minute or two. Then add the cinnamon, applesauce, apple juice, Half & Half, and powdered sugar. Start on a slow speed until the powdered sugar is incorporated. Next, turn the mixer to a medium-high speed for 3 minutes. Scrape down the bowl and return the mixer to a medium-high speed for another 2 to 3 minutes.
I use a butter knife and spread the icing on each cookie. Finish by adding a few pieces of walnuts on top.
Calories: 213kcal | Carbohydrates: 22g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 0.4g | Cholesterol: 30mg | Sodium: 51mg | Potassium: 52mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 13g | Vitamin A: 296IU | Vitamin C: 0.1mg | Calcium: 19mg | Iron: 1mg