If fall had a flavor, it would taste exactly like these chewy apple cider cookies made with thick, glossy apple cider syrup. They’re warmly spiced, perfectly soft, and taste like a caramel-apple orchard wrapped in a cookie. If you love cider doughnuts, mulled cider, or anything autumn-baked, these cookies are about to become your obsession.

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Why Apple Cider Syrup Makes These Cookies Special

Most apple cider cookie recipes rely on cinnamon and a splash of cider—but reducing apple cider into a thick syrup intensifies that real orchard-fresh flavor.

Apple cider syrup gives these cookies:

Extra chewiness
Deep apple flavor (way more than using plain cider)
Natural caramel notes
A warm, cozy scent that basically is fall

If you’ve never made apple cider syrup before, just simmer cider until it reduces by about 75%. You’ll end up with a dark, sweet-tart syrup that stores beautifully and transforms everything it touches. You can find the recipe HERE.

What These Cookies Taste Like

Imagine a snickerdoodle crossed with a cider doughnut.

They’re:

Soft in the center
Lightly crisp on the edges
Loaded with apple spices
Glazed with a drizzle of apple cider syrup confection (optional… but is it really?)

Perfect with chai, coffee, or a chilly fall morning.

How to Make Apple Cider Cookies

Here’s the quick rundown:

Make (or use) Apple Cider Syrup

Reduce fresh apple cider by bringing 1 cup to a boil and reduce until thick, glossy, and spoon-coating. You can find a full recipe HERE. You can also purchase apple cider syrup HERE.
Cool completely before using in the dough.

Mix the Dough

Cream 1 stick of softened butter with 3/4 cup dark brown sugar.
Add 1/4 cup plus 1 tbsp apple cider syrup, 1 large egg, and 1 tsp vanilla extract. Mix well.
In a separate bowl, combine 2 cups all-purpose flour, 1 tsp baking soda, 2 tsp apple pie spice, and 1/2 tsp salt.
Add dry ingredients to the wet until thoroughly combined. Dough will be sticky.

Drop & Bake

Drop batter by teaspoonfuls onto a parchment lined baking sheet.
(Optional) Roll in apple pie spice and sugar for that classic cider-doughnut feel.
Bake at 350 degrees until just set so they stay chewy, about 10 minutes.

Cool and Drizzle

Allow cookies to cool completely. Drizzle cookies with 1 cup powdered sugar mixed with 6 tbsp apple cider syrup for maximum fall flavor.

Ways to Use Leftover Apple Cider Syrup

Lucky you—extra syrup means extra fall deliciousness. Try it on:

Pancakes or waffles
Vanilla ice cream
Oatmeal
Pork tenderloin
Tea or cocktails
Yogurt bowls
Roasted sweet potatoes

It’s the liquid gold of autumn.

If you want a cookie that tastes like fall, smells like fall, and basically is fall, these apple cider cookies are it. The apple cider syrup packs in all the flavor of an orchard visit—without leaving your kitchen.

Get ready to bake a double batch. One for you… and one for anyone lucky enough to be in your house when these come out of the oven.