Description
Delightful apple cider whoopie pie cookies blend seasonal warmth with nostalgic charm. Creamy filling and tender cake-like cookies promise a comforting autumn treat you’ll savor with each delicious bite.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups (480 ml) all-purpose flour
- ¾ cups (180 g) brown sugar, packed
- ½ cups (113 g) unsalted butter, softened
- ½ cups (120 ml) applesauce
- 1 large egg
- 1 cups (240 ml) apple cider (to reduce to ¼ cup)
- 4 oz (113 g) cream cheese, softened
- 1 ½ cups (180 g) powdered sugar
- 1 tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp baking powder
- 1 ½ tsp cinnamon
- ½ tsp nutmeg
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ cups (60 g) unsalted butter, softened
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
- Cider Concentration: Simmer apple cider in a saucepan over medium heat until reduced and thickened, creating an intense flavor profile. Cool to room temperature.
- Oven Preparation: Preheat to 350F (175C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper for optimal cookie baking and easy removal.
- Dry Ingredient Fusion: Whisk flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg in a mixing bowl to ensure even spice distribution.
- Butter Transformation: Cream butter and brown sugar until light, fluffy, and pale, developing a silky smooth base for the cookies.
- Liquid Integration: Blend egg, vanilla extract, applesauce, and cooled apple cider reduction into the butter mixture until completely incorporated.
- Dough Formation: Gently fold dry ingredients into wet ingredients, mixing until just combined to maintain a delicate cookie texture.
- Cookie Placement and Baking: Drop tablespoon-sized dough mounds onto the prepared sheet, spacing 2 inches apart. Bake for 10-12 minutes until tops set and edges turn golden.
- Cooling Process: Transfer baked cookies to a cooling rack, allowing them to reach room temperature completely.
- Filling Creation: Beat cream cheese and butter until smooth, then gradually mix in powdered sugar, cinnamon, and vanilla extract until light and fluffy.
- Whoopie Pie Assembly: Spread or pipe filling onto the flat side of one cookie, then sandwich with a second cookie, creating the classic whoopie pie structure.
- Flavor Melding: Refrigerate assembled whoopie pies for 30 minutes to enhance taste and texture, or serve immediately for an instant treat.
Notes
- Reduce Apple Cider Carefully: Simmer the cider slowly to concentrate flavors without burning, watching closely to achieve a thick, intense syrup that intensifies the apple essence.
- Control Mixing Technique: Fold dry ingredients gently into wet ingredients, stopping just when combined to prevent tough, dense cookies that lack the desired soft, cake-like texture.
- Optimize Baking Temperature: Watch cookies closely during the 10-12 minute baking window, looking for subtle golden edges and set tops to ensure perfectly moist, tender whoopie pies.
- Chill for Enhanced Flavor: Refrigerate assembled whoopie pies for at least 30 minutes to allow filling to set and flavors to meld, creating a more harmonious and rich taste experience.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 13
- Calories: 200
- Sugar: 18 g
- Sodium: 120 mg
- Fat: 9 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 28 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg