These soft-baked cookies taste like a cross between an apple muffin and a cozy spiced dessert. With a maple glaze on top, they’re perfect for fall baking or holiday trays.
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
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.