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These Copycat Crumbl Apple Crumb Cake Cookies are made with a chewy, tender brown sugar cookie, brown sugar glaze, cooked diced apples and cinnamon streusel! They have amazing flavor and are everything the perfect fall cookie should be!
Table of Contents
These gourmet Copycat Crumbl Apple Crumb Cake Cookies will take your breath away. They have the perfect blend of fall flavors in every bite. The ingredients are simple and the combination of chewy cookie, tender apples and spiced streusel is so good.
If you’re looking for a cookie to conjure up the feeling of fall or a way to use up apples from apple picking, these are it. I knew once I tasted them, I had to try and make my own version. And, I think I found the secret ingredient to an amazingly chewy cookie – applesauce!
The applesauce isn’t totally necessary, but highly recommended. I initially tried adding it to see if it would add much flavor to the cookies. While it didn’t add much to the overall apple flavor of the cookie, I fell in love with how the applesauce adds to the chewy cookie texture. If you don’t have applesauce on hand, you could just swap it out for a large egg. Both ways will give you an amazing cookie you’ll be making all Fall.
If you love fall dessert recipes, don’t miss my Caramel Apple Cookie Cups, Apple Fritters and Apple Snickerdoodle Cookies!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
These Copycat Crumbl Apple Crumb Cake Cookies are more than your average cookie. While I love all cookies, here are a few things that make these cookies special.
- Soft and chewy: These cookies have that perfect soft and chewy texture. They taste best when just slightly cool or at room temperature. A cool cookie is a firm cookie and these are best when they aren’t super cold.
- Use up apples: If you enjoy apple picking (or buying) at this time of year, like we do, these cookies are a great way to use up extras!
- Great flavor: These cookies have the perfect blend of apple flavor with brown sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg. They compliment each other perfectly without anything being overpowering.
- Easy to prep ahead: The cookies are very tender and can definitely be fully made a day or so before serving. You can even prep the cookies and apples a day ahead and then assemble them later. The apples hold up very well and don’t really brown after being steamed, which is super helpful.
- Perfect for an occasion: These cookies are perfect for any time, but their large size and pretty presentation also makes them perfect for an occasion. If you have a party or holiday coming up, these would be a great option for a simple dessert that feels special.
What You’ll Need
The brown sugar cookie base and toppings for these Apple Crumb Cake Cookies are all made with minimal ingredients. Check out the recipe card toward the bottom of this post for the full amounts.
Brown Sugar Cookie
- Flour: I use all-purpose flour here. Be sure to measure accurately or you could end up with dry cookies or cookies that spread too much. I recommend a food scale, but you could also use the spoon and level method.
- Baking Soda: I find that this leavening agent produces the most tender and chewy results in cookies.
- Salt: This amplifies the other flavors in the cookies. Without it, they’d be kind of bland.
- Unsalted Butter: Bring this to room temperature before you begin.
- Sugars: This recipe uses a combination of granulated and light brown sugar for the best flavor and texture.
- Egg Yolk: From 1 large egg.
- Applesauce: This is the secret ingredient for an amazingly chewy cookie! However, you are welcome to substitute it out with 1 large egg. If you use an egg, the cookies will be a touch thicker and a little firmer. However, if you let them sit with the toppings on them overnight, they will become super soft, too.
- Vanilla Extract: Use a high-quality brand for the best results.
Apple Topping
- Apples: I used Granny Smith apples but other tart varieties of apples, like Pink Ladies or Honeycrisp, will also work well.
- Lemon Juice: This is to help the apples not brown. Freshly squeezed is always best but you can use lemon juice made from concentrate if that’s what you have at home.
- Water: For steaming the apples in the microwave.
Brown Sugar Cinnamon Glaze
- Powdered Sugar: To thicken the glaze and give it a touch of volume.
- Light Brown Sugar: For flavor.
- Spices: Ground cinnamon and nutmeg add the perfect flavor to compliment the apples.
- Vanilla Extract: Also for flavor.
- Heavy Cream: For a creamy consistency. Add more or less to get the right consistency of glaze.
Cinnamon Streusel Topping
- Flour: I recommend using an all-purpose flour that has been heat treated, since this streusel is not baked.
- Sugar
- Spices: Ground cinnamon and nutmeg are used here as well.
- Unsalted Butter: You’ll want to use cold, cubed butter for the streusel. It will make it easier to cut it into course crumbles.
These really aren’t hard to make, but there are several steps. Let’s get started.
Prepare the Dough
- Heat Oven & Prep Pans: Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats. Set aside.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: Combine the flour, baking soda and salt in a medium sized bowl and set aside.
- Cream Butter & Sugar: Cream the butter and sugars together in a large mixer bowl on medium speed until light in color and fluffy, 2-3 minutes.
- Add Egg Yolk, Applesauce and Vanilla: Add the egg yolk and mix until well combined. Add the applesauce and vanilla extract and mix until well combined.
- Add Dry Ingredients: Add the dry ingredients and mix until the dough is well combined. It will be thick. Do not over mix. Once it’s combined, use a rubber spatula to help it come together to form a more cohesive ball.
Prepare Cookies and Bake
- Make Cookie Dough Balls: Create cookie dough balls of about 6 tablespoons (105g) of cookie dough per ball. You should get 8 balls.
- Flatten Into Discs: Place the cookie dough balls onto the prepared baking sheets. I baked 4 cookies at a time. Press the balls down a bit (I used underside of a cup). They should be a little more than 2 1/2 inches in diameter. They will spread a good bit.
- Bake & Cool: Bake the cookies for 12-15 minutes or until the cookies look done and are just about to brown on the edges. Allow the cookies to cool for 5-10 minutes, then move to a cooling rack to cool completely.
Prepare the Toppings
- Make the Apple Filling: While the cookies cool, make the apples. Combine the apples, lemon juice and water in a microwave-safe bowl and heat in 30 second increments, stirring between each, until apples are fork-tender or at your desired tenderness. It could take 3-5 minutes, depending on the size of your diced apples. Set aside to cool to about room temperature.
- Prepare the Streusel: To make the streusel, add the sugar, flour and cinnamon to a medium-sized bowl. Cut the butter into the flour mixture until the butter is fully incorporated and the mixture is crumbly. Set aside.
- Mix the Brown Sugar Glaze: To make the brown sugar glaze, combine the powdered sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla extract and 5 tablespoons of heavy cream. Whisk together until well combined. Add additional heavy cream as needed.
Assemble the Cookies
- Cover with Glaze: Spread 1-2 tablespoons of the glaze onto each cookie.
- Top with Apples: Divide the apples evenly between the cookies, about 1-2 tablespoons each.
- Sprinkle with Streusel: Sprinkle the streusel onto the cookies, dividing it evenly between the cookies.
- Enjoy! Serve either cool or at room temperature. Cookies are best if eaten with 3-4 days.
There are plenty of ways to prep these Copycat Crumbl Apple Crumb Cake Cookies ahead. You could completely make and assemble them ahead of time, if you like. They last very well and get more moist over time.
If you’re interested in making your sugar cookie dough a day in advance, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and store it in the refrigerator. Remove it from the fridge about an hour before you form your dough balls so it gets a chance to soften up.
You can also make the cookies and the apples a day ahead and they will hold up very well. The cookies stay tender and the apples do well in the fridge overnight. After being steamed, they won’t brown. In fact, the apples in the photos were made the day before and assembled before the photos were taken. As for the glaze and streusel, they would do fine being made ahead and refrigerated. The streusel just might stick together a bit.
Tips for Success
Aren’t you surprised by how easily these cookies come together? Check out the following tips to make sure they turn out just right.
- Measure Your Flour Correctly: Too much flour can give you cookies that don’t spread well and are dry. I always recommend a food scale to ensure accuracy, but if you don’t have one you can use the spoon and level method. Read more about measuring your flour accurately here.
- Don’t Overload the Top of the Cookie with Too Much Topping: While you might think more is better, be careful not to go overboard with the toppings. Adding a thin layer of each topping will balance out the flavors and make the cookies easier to eat. Plus, they’ll look a little prettier.
- Let the Cookies Cool Completely: If you add the glaze before your cookies have cooled to room temperature, it could get melty. Just be patient – I promise these cookies will be worth the wait!
- Enjoy sooner rather than later: Also keep in mind that the moisture from everything on top softens the cookies over time. I think that makes them taste even better, but they do get fairly soft. Store the cookies in an air-tight container in the fridge to extend their freshness. The cookies are best if eaten within 3-4 days.
Storage Instructions
Store the cookies in an air-tight container in the fridge. Serve slightly cool or at room temperature. These cookies are best if eaten with 3-4 days.
Can I Freeze These?
You can certainly freeze the cookies without all the toppings. Place them in an air-tight container or ziplock bag and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw them in the fridge before using.
While most of the toppings would freeze well, the apples could get a little mushy after thawing.
- Copycat Crumbl Cinnamon Roll Cookies
- Copycat Crumbl Pecan Pie Cookies
- Snickerdoodle Cookies
- Pecan Tassies
- Salted Butterscotch Cookies
- Chewy Brown Sugar Cookies
- No Bake Salted Caramel Coconut Macaroons
- Pumpkin Cheesecake Cookie Cups
- Prep Time: 1 hour
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 12 minutes
- Yield: 8 cookies
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Oven
- Cuisine: American
Description
These Copycat Crumbl Apple Crumb Cake Cookies are made with a chewy, tender brown sugar cookie, brown sugar glaze, cooked diced apples and cinnamon streusel! They have amazing flavor and are everything the perfect fall cookie should be!
Ingredients
For the Cookies
- 3 cups (390g) all-purpose flour (measured accurately)
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 3/4 cup (168g) unsalted butter, room temperature
- 1/2 cup (112g) packed light brown sugar
- 1/2 cup (104g) sugar
- 1 large egg yolk
- 1/4 cup (60ml) applesauce (or an additional egg)
- 1/2 tbsp vanilla extract
For the Apples
- 2 cups (213g) diced apple (I used Granny Smith apples)
- 1 tsp fresh lemon juice
- 2 tbsp (30ml) water
For the Brown Sugar Cinnamon Glaze
- 3/4 cup (86g) powdered sugar
- 2 tbsp (28g) packed light brown sugar
- 1/4 tsp plus 1/8 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/8 tsp ground nutmeg
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 5–6 tbsp (75-90ml) heavy cream
For the Cinnamon Streusel Topping
- 3 tbsp (24g) all-purpose flour, heat treated*
- 1/4 cup (52g) sugar
- 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/8 tsp ground nutmeg
- 2 tbsp (28g) unsalted butter, cold, cubed
Instructions
Prepare the Cookie Dough
- Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats. Set aside.
- Combine the flour, baking soda and salt in a medium sized bowl and set aside.
- Cream the butter and sugars together in a large mixer bowl on medium speed until light in color and fluffy, 2-3 minutes. You should be able to see the change in color happen and know it’s ready.
- Add the egg yolk and mix until well combined.
- Add the applesauce and vanilla extract and mix until well combined.
- Add the dry ingredients and mix until the dough is well combined. It will be thick. Do not over mix. Once it’s combined, use a rubber spatula to help it come together to form a more cohesive ball.
- Create cookie dough balls of about 6 tablespoons (105g) of cookie dough per ball. You should get 8 balls.
- Place the cookie dough balls onto the prepared baking sheets. I baked 4 cookies at a time. Press the balls down a bit (I used underside of a cup). They should be a little more than 2 1/2 inches in diameter. They will spread a good bit.
- Bake the cookies for 12-15 minutes or until the cookies look done and are just about to brown on the edges.
- Allow the cookies to cool for 5-10 minutes, then move to a cooling rack to cool completely.
Make the Toppings
- While the cookies cool, make the apples. Combine the apples, lemon juice and water in a microwave-safe bowl and heat in 30 second increments, stirring between each, until apples are fork-tender or at your desired tenderness. It could take 3-5 minutes, depending on the size of your diced apples. Set aside to cool to about room temperature.
- To make the streusel, add the sugar, flour and cinnamon to a medium-sized bowl.
- Cut the butter into the flour mixture until the butter is fully incorporated and the mixture is crumbly. Set aside.
- To make the brown sugar glaze, combine the powdered sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla extract and 5 tablespoons of heavy cream. Whisk together until well combined. Add additional heavy cream as needed.
Put it all together
- Spread 1-2 tablespoons of the glaze onto each cookie.
- Divide the apples evenly between the cookies, about 1-2 tablespoons each.
- Sprinkle the streusel onto the cookies, dividing it evenly between the cookies.
Notes
- To Store: Keep the cookies in an air-tight container in the fridge. Serve slightly cool or at room temperature for best flavor and texture. Cookies are best if eaten with 3-4 days.
- To Heat Treat your Flour: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper and spread the flour evenly onto the cookie sheet. Bake flour for about 5 minutes. You can use a food thermometer to check the temperature, if you like. It should heat to 160 degrees. Allow flour to cool completely before proceeding with recipe.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 575
- Sugar: 48 g
- Sodium: 313.7 mg
- Fat: 23 g
- Carbohydrates: 87.4 g
- Protein: 5.9 g
- Cholesterol: 81.7 mg
Keywords: apple cookies, copycat crumbl cookies, apple crumb cookies, copycat crumble apple crumb cake cookies
