Rustic Apple Cookies

Rustic apple cookies are a delicious take on classic cookies, enriched with the flavor and juiciness of apples. Here’s how to make them Italian style.

Ingredients

• 300 g of flour
• 100 g of brown sugar
• 100 g of butter at room temperature
• 1 large egg
• 1 teaspoon of baking powder
• 1 pinch of salt
• 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon (optional)
• 2 large apples (for example, Fuji or Gala varieties)
• Icing sugar for decoration (optional)

Preparation

1. In a large bowl, mix the flour with the baking powder, cinnamon (if using), and a pinch of salt.
2. In the same bowl, add the brown sugar, the egg, and the softened butter cut into pieces. Work the ingredients with your hands or with an electric mixer until a homogeneous dough is obtained.
3. Peel the apples, remove the cores, and cut them into small cubes. Add the apple cubes to the dough and mix gently until they are evenly distributed.
4. Cover the dough with cling film and let it rest in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes.
5. Preheat the oven to 180 °C and line a baking tray with parchment paper.
6. Form walnut-sized balls of dough and place them on the tray, slightly flattening them.
7. Bake the cookies for about 15-20 minutes, or until they are golden.
8. Remove the cookies from the oven and let them cool on a wire rack.
9. If desired, once cool, dust them with icing sugar for a sweet finish.

Curiosity

Rustic apple cookies are perfect to accompany a cup of tea or coffee in the afternoon. In Italy, the apple is much appreciated in pastry for its versatility and nutritional qualities. These cookies take advantage of the natural sweetness of apples and the rustic texture that the fruit confers inside. They are a great way to use those apples that may have stayed a little too long in the fruit bowl and have lost a bit of their initial crunchiness.