This post may contain affiliate links, please see the privacy policy for details.
These soft and chewy apple pie muffin top cookies combine the best parts of a muffin with the ease of a cookie. Loaded with shredded apple, warm spices and real maple syrup, they’re perfectly cozy for autumn or any time you’re craving comfort. A quick vanilla maple glaze on top adds just the right touch of sweetness. This recipe is easy to make, packed with flavor and perfect for sharing at fall gatherings, bake sales or weekend treats.
Apple pie muffin top cookies are soft, warmly spiced and glazed with maple vanilla icing. They’re the perfect sweet treat for cozy fall days and they’re irresistible.
Fans of sweet treats might also enjoy pistachio muffins, DIY caramel apples, apple cinnamon fritters, or pumpkin cheesecake.
Why You’ll Love It
Soft and chewy texture: Like muffin tops in cookie form.
Cozy fall flavors: Cinnamon, ginger and real apple give serious autumn vibes.
Easy glaze finish: The simple maple icing adds extra sweetness and charm.
Quick to make: No chill time needed and baked in under 15 minutes.
Apple Pie Cookies Ingredients
A complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.
Butter: Softened for easy creaming and rich flavor. Also adds creaminess and flavor to the glaze.
Brown sugar: Adds moisture and a subtle molasses depth.
Egg: Helps bind the dough and keep the cookies soft.
Vanilla extract: Adds a warm, smooth undertone.
All-purpose flour: The base that holds everything together.
Baking soda: Helps the cookies rise slightly and stay soft.
Cinnamon: The key spice for that classic apple pie flavor.
Ground ginger: Adds a mild warmth and spice complexity.
Nutmeg: A small amount adds aromatic depth.
Maple syrup: Sweetens naturally and pairs beautifully with the apples.
Apple: Grated Granny Smith or Honeycrisp brings moisture, tartness and real apple flavor.
Icing sugar: Forms the base of the sweet, piped glaze.
Heavy whipping cream: Helps create a smooth, rich glaze texture.
How to Make Apple Pie Muffin Top Cookies
For more detailed instructions with weights and measurements, jump to the printable recipe card.
Cream the butter and sugar: Beat until light and fluffy.
Add wet ingredients: Mix in the egg and vanilla.
Mix dry ingredients: Combine flour, baking soda and spices in a separate bowl.
Combine all: Add flour and maple syrup in stages until just mixed.
Add apples: Fold in grated apple to distribute evenly.
Scoop and bake: Drop onto parchment-lined sheets and bake until golden.
Cool the cookies: Let them sit on the sheet before moving to a rack.
Make the glaze: Whisk glaze ingredients in a small bowl.
Decorate the cookies: Pipe or spread glaze once cookies are fully cooled.
Substitutions and Variations
Use different apples: Pink Lady or Fuji can be used for a sweeter option.
Add nuts: Stir in chopped walnuts or pecans for crunch.
Change the glaze: Try adding a pinch of cinnamon or using vanilla bean paste.
Add color: If you’re making these amazing apple cookies for a holiday, you can add some gel food dye to the vanilla maple glaze. Consider red for Christmas, or make half the mixture red and half green.
Serving Suggestions
With a hot drink: Enjoy your apple pie cookies with a boozy hot chocolate or whipped Dalgona coffee.
With a cold drink: Anything from a mango a-go-go smoothie or mango matcha smoothie to state fair lemonade would be good with them too.
How to Store Apple Pie Cookies
Store: Put them in an airtight container and keep them refrigerated. They should be good for 3 days and then they will start to dry out a bit.
Freeze: For freezing them, you need to let them completely cool down and then put them in freezer bags. They should be fine in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw: Thaw them at room temperature. Alternatively (if you don’t want to wait!) microwave them for 30 seconds on high or bake them for 10 minutes in the oven at 350 degrees F.
Top Tips
Don’t overmix the dough: Mix just until combined to keep cookies soft.
Use fresh grated apple: Pre-grated or packaged won’t give the same texture or flavor.
Let glaze set fully: Allow time for the icing to firm up before storing or stacking.
Apple Pie Muffin Top Cookie FAQs
No, applesauce is too wet and would affect the texture.
No, they hold their muffin-top shape well while baking.
Yes, the cookies are still tasty without it, but the glaze adds a sweet finish.
Absolutely, just use 2 pans and rotate halfway through baking.
Apple Pie Muffin Top Cookies Recipe
Apple Pie Muffin Top Cookies
Equipment
- Corer Optional
- Cookie Scoop Medium
- Pastry Bag Optional
Ingredients
- 3/4 Cup butter, at room temperature
- 1/2 Cup brown sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 Teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 Cup all purpose flour
- 1 Teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 Teaspoon salt
- 1 Teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 Teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/8 Cup ground nutmeg
- 1/2 Cup maple syrup
- 1 1/2 Cup apple, grated, Granny Smith or Honey Crisp
For the Glaze
- 1 Cup icing sugar
- 1 Tablespoon heavy whipping cream
- 1 Tablespoon butter, melted
- 1 Teaspoon maple syrup, real
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
- In a large bowl cream together butter and brown sugar on medium high speed until light and fluffy with an electric mixer.
- Add vanilla and egg and mix until combined.
- In a medium bowl whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt , cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg.
- Add a third of the dry mixture to the batter mix until just combined on medium low speed. Then add half the maple syrup followed by another third of flour. Finally add the remaining maple syrup and then the last third of flour until combined. Don't over mix!
- Fold in grated apples until evenly dispersed.
- Prepare 2 cookie sheets lined with parchment paper (or bake one batch at a time).
- Use a medium cookie scoop to drop batter onto the pan 2 inches apart on the cookie sheet – 12 cookies per sheet.
- Bake for 12 to14 minutes until lightly golden. Leave on the cookie sheet for 5 minutes to set and then transfer to a cooling rack to cool completely.
- While cookies are cooling, prepare the cookie glaze. In a small deep bowl, whisk together the confectioners sugar, whipping cream , melted butter and vanilla until smooth it will be slightly thick. Transfer to a ziplock bag and cut out a small corner to pipe on the cookies.
- Pipe cookies with glaze or spread with a butter knife.
Notes
Use fresh grated apple: Pre-grated or packaged won’t give the same texture or flavor.
Let glaze set fully: Allow time for the icing to firm up before storing or stacking.
Nutrition
Apple pie muffin top cookies are everything you want in a fall treat—soft, chewy, spiced and glazed with maple vanilla icing. Whether you serve them with coffee on a crisp morning, add them to a dessert board or enjoy one fresh from the rack, they’ll quickly become a favorite. They come together fast, use easy ingredients and bring cozy, nostalgic flavor to every bite. Try these glazed apple cinnamon cookies this season for a comforting and impressive homemade treat.
Other Recipes to Try
Bella Bucchiotti
Bella Bucchiotti is a Canadian-based syndicated food, travel, and lifestyle writer, photographer, and creator at xoxoBella. She founded xoxoBella in 2015, where she shares her love for food, dogs, sustainability, fitness, crafts, outdoor adventures, travel, and philanthropy to encourage others to run the extra mile, try new recipes, visit unfamiliar places, and stand for a cause. Bella creates stress-free and family-friendly recipes for weeknight dinners and festive feasts.
I love muffin top cookies. Saving these to try out.