These apple cider snaps are perfect for Fall. They have crunchy edges, soft center, and great for dipping in some hot coffee! They're sort of like a ginger snap mixed with a molasses cookie and has a little apple cider thrown in. They're totally unique and taste AMAZING!
Apple Cider Snaps
For the creative cookie exchange, the theme was apples. I happened to have a half gallon of apple cider in the fridge. So, I went to work with writing down ideas and ingredients. Before I knew it, I had jotted down a recipe for apple cider snaps. To make my snaps, I had to make some apple cider molasses.
It was a timely recipe, but definitely worth it. These cookies are amazing and full of spicy apple flavor. They definitely shout fall. I love it.
My son has just started really enjoying apples. What a perfect time to do so too. I've only let him have a few sips of the apple cider because that could be a terrible mess, but I just introduced him to apples and peanut butter. Like myself, he found them heavenly. I came to this conclusion by the loud MMMMMM after every bite he takes. Gosh, he is so cute.
I love the cracked look of these cookies. They have a great snap to them but are also chewy. They are a beautiful golden brown color and coated with a dusting of sugar before they are baked. Seriously, you have to put the time in and make these. Also, did them in some coffee. I'm in love.
What is Apple Molasses (apple cider molasses)
For me, it's apple cider that's been cooked down into a thick, syrupy molasses. It can really take some time and patience to get it to the molasses consistency. So if you're wondering about boiled apple cider, it turns into a molasses. The apple flavor gets super intense which is great because you don't have to worry about added a large amount to the cookie recipe and making it runny.
Apple Molasses Recipe
So my apple molasses recipe comes out to make the perfect amount for this apple cider snap cookie recipe. You obviously don't need to make the cookie if you just want the molasses though.
To make apple molasses, start by adding 4 cups of apple cider to a saucepan and simmering it on low heat until it looks like molasses. If your heat is too high, you will probably end up with a scorched pan or rock hard molasses. Keep it low and slow. It doesn't really need a lot of hands-on until the last 30 or so minutes. Then stir pretty often until it looks about ⅓ of a cup.
If you plan on adding the apple molasses to the apple cider snaps, line a bowl or measuring cup with tin foil or plastic wrap. Spray with a cooking spray and pour the molasses in. Let it cool in the fridge. When you're ready to use it, just turn it out into the cookie dough and it releasing perfectly. There's no need to try to scrap the bowl for every last bit of apple molasses doing it this way.
How to make Apple Cider Snaps
Apple Cider Snaps
Ingredients
- ⅓ cup apple cider molasses
- ½ cup vegetable oil
- ¾ cup brown sugar packed
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 1 egg
- ¼ tsp. salt
- ¼ tsp. ground cloves
- ½ tsp. ground ginger
- 1 tsp. ground cinnamon
- 1 tsp. baking soda
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- ¼ cup granulated sugar garnish
Instructions
Apple Molasses
- Place 4 cups of apple cider into a saucepan. Heat the cider to a boil over medium/high heat. Once the cider comes up to a boil, reduce heat to medium/low. Let the cider simmer until it reduces to a thick molasses. Mine took 3 - 4 hours to cook down. It doesn't need much attention until the last half an hour when the cider has cooked down substantially. Then stir often to avoid burning. Just cook it down to ⅓ of a cup and let it sit at room temperature as you prepare the cookie dough.
Apple Cider Snaps
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line cookie sheet with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, add in vegetable oil, brown and granulated sugar. Mix on medium until combined. Add in the eggs and cider molasses and mix on medium until incorporated.
- In a separate bowl, sift all the dry ingredients. Pour them into the wet mixture and mix on low until combined.
- Scoop the dough and roll into the ¼ cup granulated sugar. Place on cookie sheet. Space them 2" apart. I only had 6 scoops on my cookie sheet.
- Bake for 14 minutes until golden brown. Let them cool on the baking pan about 5 minutes before trying to move them with a spatula onto a cooling rack. Move to the cooling rack and let them finish cooling.
Nutrition
(Nutrition facts are an estimate and not guaranteed to be accurate. Please see a registered dietitian for special diet advice.)
This recipe was first posted October 15, 2013.
Tara says
Love the apple cider molasses!! Your cookies look so very good. I need to go and get some apple cider, it is so fall like!!
Renee says
Oh my heavens what wonderful cookies! And apple cider molasses - oh yea!! I have cider in the fridge and it is going into a pot asap. Awesome.
Stacy says
I just love when I learn something new from fellow bloggers! I've never thought about making my own cider molasses. Your cider snaps look like my husband's favorite store-bought ginger snaps, Miranda, but I am sure he would love these even more. Pinning to my Recipes to Try board!
Rebecka says
What a lovely way to use apples for this months theme! Really genius! I'll be making homemade cider molasses for my favorite molasses sugar cookies in the next few weeks. I can't wait to taste the rich apple flavor. Thank you so much for joining us as a co-host in the Creative Cookie Exchange!
Felice/All That's Left Are The Crumbs says
Your cookies look so good, and I'd love to try making cider molasses but I haven't seen it in any stores here yet. Hopefully within the next couple of weeks and then I can try these cookies.
Sophie Remer says
Ohh these look and sound absolutely delicious! I will have to try them. I looove ginger snaps, and adding cider! Mmm. 🙂
Miranda says
Thank you!
Greenthumb says
tHey sound really good I like the idea of the cider molasses.
Karen @ Karen's Kitchen Stories says
Wow, 4 cups of cider down to 1/3 cup! That's some concentrated flavor. Your cookies are beautiful and sound delicious.
The Ninja Baker says
You're right, Miranda. These are some seriously great cookies. I sooo would like 2 or 3 or 10 of those lovely crisp and chewy cookies just about now!
Laura says
LOVE the idea of apple cider molasses--these look seriously delicious! Thanks for joining us!
Vanessa says
These are wonderful. I love a good snap! The molasses scares me a bit but I'm willing to try anything. I can't believe how many recipes I want to cook from this months challenge!
Christine says
I have a question-when is the creative cookie theme announced each month? Can anyone join? Your cookies look wonderful...I'm going to have a quick peek at the rest of your blog;)
Miranda says
Anyone can join! The link to the group is https://www.facebook.com/groups/569013336490518. It's a closed group so just ask to join. We know we ahead of time what the themes are each month. We normally reveal them on a Tuesday in the middle of the month. Next month is the 21st and the month after that is the 18th. It's a really wonderful group of people. 😀
Dina says
oh they look yummy!
Miranda says
Thank you 😀
Lori Who Needs A Cape? says
These would be a HUGE hit at my house! Pinning for next fall 🙂
Miranda says
They were so delicious! I can't wait for you to try them! You'll have to let me know how they turn out for you. 😀
Jackie says
I can't wait to try these!
LydiaF says
I'm pretty sure I will be saying "mmmmm" too. Thanks for showing us how to make the apple cider molasses. I was afraid I wouldn't be able to make these as I've yet to come across *any* type of molasses where I live.
Catherine says
Dear Miranda, These gingersnaps look perfect. Beautiful autumn cookie dear. xo, Catherine
Kathy says
These cookies are wonderful. My family went crazy over them. I just finished making the cider molasses for a second batch! Thank you for sharing this awesome recipe.
Miranda says
awww Kathy! I'm so glad your fam loved the cookies! You've made my day. 😀
Kate says
#fail
I don't know what happened... followed instructions exactly. Once I let the molasses cool, it completely hardened in the pan. I turned the heat back on to soften it but the second I tried to add it to the mixing bowl, it hardened again. What did I do wrong?!?!
Miranda says
Hi Kate. It sounds like you need to cook your apple cider on a lower temperature and for a shorter period of time. To get an idea of what mine looked like before I took it off the burner, watch the video.
Shauna says
This recipe looks amazing! I can’t wait to try it. How much dough do you use for each cookie? Have you tried doubling the recipe? Thanks for sharing!
Miranda says
I use a 1 1/2 tablespoon scoop for each cookie. I've never tried doubling the recipe. If you do, let me know how it turns out!
Erin Clarkson says
Oooooh these look perfect!
Richa Gupta says
I would love to have those cookies right away!
patricia says
Just "tried" to make the apple cider cookies and mine did not turn out at all like the picture. They are flat and really too much trouble. I just added a bit more flour and chilled the dough, so we will see if that helps. I won't be making them again.
Miranda says
Oh no. I'm so sorry they didn't turn out like the picture. It sounds like maybe the cider molasses wasn't thick enough.
Gloria says
I still have my mom's gingersnap recipe that I make every year. I have not had a version made with apple cider. What an interesting addition to the recipe ingredients. I will have to give this version a try too.
Miranda says
It really is quite an interested addition!
Sarah says
Woah! I didn't know that you could boil apple cider down that much! I wonder what would happen if you started with a concentrate. I looooove apple cider but sometimes we buy more than we can drink- this would be a great way to use it up!
Miranda says
That's a good question!
Lisa says
I absolutely love the look of these cookies -- they are absolutely perfect and that crinkled top with sparkly sugar makes them so inviting. We do a cookie swap every year and everyone is trying to one-up the other -- I think these could my new secret weapon. Love the sound of the apple cider molasses, too. Bet it would be good just spooned over ice cream.
Tina says
Wow I have never heard of apple cider molasses before. I love this idea. I bet your house smelled lovely while it was cooking down. Your cookies look beautiful with all of those cracks, i agree. Love this idea, saving for later. This will be super fun to do with my daughter. Thanks for sharing your recipes!
traci says
This looks like a good one to put on my "make that" list! Love all the ingredients and always have them on hand...so, win win! Just in time for the holidays too! Thanks for the recipe 🙂
Carmy says
I loooove fall because of apple cider. These cookies are going to be my new favourite because hello, apple cider snaps? The crackly top on your cookies are perfect as well! I can't wait to get a batch of these in the oven (and of course freeze a few for the rest of the year haha).
Tracy says
Oh my gosh it's SO fun introducing little ones to new flavors! What a great cookie to make with him when he's old enough. Cooking memories are the best - especially when they involve amazing cookies like this!
Sues says
These cookies are seriously gorgeous!! I love the cracked look of them, too. And I absolutely love that they involve a homemade apple cider molasses.... Sounds like something I'd just want to straight up drink 🙂
Dana says
Holy cannoli these are amazing! I've always loved ginger snaps, and I'm a total sucker for apple cider *everything* (pumpkin spice has got nothin' on spiced apples). These cookies are perfection.
Debra says
Those cookies look beautiful. Great idea to boil down the cider into a syrup of concentrated flavor. Looking for something a bit different for the neighborhood cookie swap. I think this is it!!
Tina says
I have never heard of apple molasses before, but I definitely have to try out this recipe to see what it's all about. The cookies look incredible! The spicy mixture looks like it will definitely compliment the apple molasses.
Marisa Franca says
Oh my, these cookies are just the perfect treat for the Fall season. From the apple cider to the ginger and molasses the taste is bold and spicy. I know of four young grandsons who would love to have them as a treat.
Amanda says
I LOVE cooking with boiled down apple cider. The flavor gets so beautifully concentrated and it's perfect for baking and any dish really where you want that depth of cider flavor. These cookies are beautiful! I'm such a fan of any cookie with crackles like that, especially with both a snap to the texture, and chewy. These wouldn't last long in my house!
Matt Freund says
These cookies were really good. I love them.
Yjung says
Everyone in my family loved these cookies. And I was very happy to use up a lot of good apple cider that probably would have gone to waste otherwise
Unfortunately, I overcooked the cider - 100% my error - so it was more like stiff taffy than molasses. I went ahead and used it anyway, mixing a little longer to incorporate with the oil and sugars, and the dough came out smooth and roll-able, albeit with bits of the sticky cider incorporated throughout. After baking, the tough cider pieces turned into crunchy candy that had a texture like toffee. Not what I had originally hoped for but still delicious!
Someday I’d like to try these again, and hopefully not mess up the molasses, but just wanted to say to other bakers: if you overcook the molasses a little, the cookies can still be salvageable 🙂 Thanks for this great recipe!
Miranda says
Thanks for the feedback! I'm glad the family enjoyed them. 😀
Beth says
DELICIOUS! I used my Boiled Apple Cider from King Arthur and it worked perfectly. This is going into my permanent fall baking rotation.
Beth says
Have had this recipe pinned for a while and finally had the chance to make them. Worth the wait and wished I’d made them sooner! Making the apple cider molasses was quite simple and the flavor derived from the molasses was spot on. Crisp on the outside, chewy on the inside with big cider flavor. A keeper for sure!
Dawn says
I LOVE LOVE LOVE these cookies! One question though. My cookies are much flatter than yours pictured here? Am I missing something? Dont gey me wrong, they are tasty, just look different than yours. 😉
Miranda C. says
So glad you like these cookies! Maybe your baking soda is old- when leaveners get older, they tend to lose their rising power so the cookies may not puff up at much when they bake. I hope this helps!