Apple Dapple Cookies are moist spiced applesauce cookies loaded with chunks of apples, walnuts, oats, and toffee bits. A creamy frosting is the perfect finishing touch.
What are Apple Dapple Cookies?
Today’s delicious cookie recipe was inspired by a clipping shared in a cookie Facebook group that I follow. A fellow group member shared a screenshot of a recipe for “Danish Dapple Cookies” submitted by Joanne Bussing in 1982 to a community cookbook published by Harris Hospital in Tecumseh, MI.
We tried and loved them – a simple, spiced applesauce cookie with rolled oats and chopped walnuts – but felt they could use some extra texture and flavors. So we modified the cookie by adding in chunks of fresh apples and toffee bits. Then, inspired by our Apple Dapple Cake recipe, we decided to add a creamy, sweet frosting too!
We renamed the cookies Apple Dapple Cookies and we think you’re going to love them!
What does “dapple” mean?
Dapple refers to a spot or rounded patch of a different color, tone, or light from its background. The term is used as both a noun or adjective (a single spot or the mottled pattern itself) and a verb (to mark or become marked with spots, such as dappled sunlight filtering through leaves).
In regard to the original Danish Dapple Cookie referenced above, my research found that there doesn’t appear to be any sort of traditional Danish cookie known as a “dapple cookie” – so that might have been Ms. Bussing’s creative name for these flecked applesauce cookies.
Key Ingredients & Substitutions
- Vegetable Shortening
- Brown Sugar
- Eggs
- Applesauce (unsweetened or sweetened)
- All-Purpose Flour
- Baking Soda
- Ground Cinnamon
- Ground Nutmeg
- Table Salt
- Rolled Oats (not instant oats)
- Add–ins – Chopped walnuts, diced fresh apple chunks, and Heath toffee bits.
- Icing – Powdered sugar, vanilla extract, and heavy cream.
Cooking Tips & Tricks
- If you don’t have a stand mixer, you can mix the cookie dough by hand with a firm silicone spatula.
- Bake cookies on the upper oven rack to prevent the bottoms from over-browning as they bake.
- Dip the cookie scoop in a small bowl of warm water for easy release between scoops of cookie dough.
- The cookies puff up and only spread a small amount as they bake, so you can easily bake 12 per cookie sheet, lined up 3×4 rows.
Apple Dapple Cookies
Apple Dapple Cookies are moist, spiced applesauce cookies loaded with chunks of apples, walnuts, oats, and toffee bits, plus a creamy frosting on top.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour
- Yield: 4 dozen 1x
- Category: cookies
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
3/4 cup vegetable shortening
1 cup brown sugar
2 whole eggs
3/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg (loosely fill the teaspoon)
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup rolled oats (not quick oats)
1 cup walnuts, chopped
1 sweet and crunchy apple such as Cosmic Crisp, peeled, cored and diced small (about 1 3/4 cups)
1/2 cup Heath toffee bits
Glaze
2 cups packed powdered sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/2 cup heavy cream
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. with an oven rack in the upper third of the oven.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer, with the paddle attachment, beat the shortening for three minutes.
- Add brown sugar and beat to combine.
- Add eggs one at a time and beat in to combine.
- Add the applesauce and beat to combine.
- In a medium bowl, whisk flour, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt and rolled oats.
- Slowly add to wet ingredients with the mixer running on low.
- Stir in the walnuts, diced apple and Heath crunch by hand.
- Line cookie sheets with parchment paper.
- Use a one-ounce scoop and scoop 12 cookies per pan (3X4), dipping the scoop in a small bowl of water between each scoop. Do not press cookie down, bake as is. These do not spread all that much so 12 easily fit onto a cookie sheet.
- Bake for 12-14 minutes, or until slightly golden and a little bounce back when pressed.
- Cool on cooling racks to room temperature.
- While cookies are baking, mix powdered sugar, vanilla and heavy cream with a whisk.
- After cookies are cooled, spread the glaze over the tops of each cookie, using all the glaze.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Can I make Apple Dapple Cookies ahead of time? Yes, you can!
- How do I store leftovers? Store cookies in an air-tight container at room temperature for up to three days.
- Can I freeze? Yes, these cookies freeze well without the frosting.
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