On my parents property, they have numerous apple trees. As I was growing up, we would pick so many apples in the autumn and make all kinds of great things from apples - apple sauce, dried apple chips and apple sharlotka. To this day, I still love baking with apples. Whenever the kitchen starts to smell sweet from baked apples, it brings me back to those warm memories of picking apples with my siblings, from the ground and from the tree branches in the crisp but warm fall days. These cookies have such an uncomplicated loveliness - simple and quick to make and taste just as straightforward but enticingly tasty. I found the recipe from a Russian recipe forum and have been making them for years.
Yields: about 50 cookies
Ingredients:
4 eggs
1 cup sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla
2 sticks of butter, melted and slightly cooled
3 1/2 cups flour
1 1/4 teaspoons baking powder
3 apples, peeled, cored and chopped
Powdered sugar, to dust the cookies
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
In a standing mixer or with a hand mixer, mix the eggs and sugar until pale yellow and fluffy. Add the vanilla and butter. Mix to combine.
Meanwhile, whisk the flour and baking powder and then add to the dough just until incorporated.
Cut the apples right before adding to the dough to prevent browning as much as possible.
Add the apples and mix with a wooden spoon or a rubber spatula to combine.
Place rounded tablespoonfuls of cookie dough onto prepared baking sheets.
Bake for 12-14 minutes, until just beginning to brown around the edges. Dust with powdered sugar, if you like.
Hi Olga, What kind of apples did you use? Sour, sweet, tart?
Sweet. Use just about any kind of apple in here, even tart, unless it’s too sour.
Thank you so much! By the way, love your recipes so far ( I’m new to this blog). I appreciate the directions with pictures posted for every step because I am a novice when it comes to baking. You are very thorough. I made your “Spartak” cake last weekend along with the bees and it was gorgeous. Was gone in one day. This weekend I’m planning to make the lady fingers cake for our 4 yr anniversary. Looking forward to eating it! God Bless….
I made these cookies yesterday for kids as an after school snack. They were so quick to make. Instead of chopping the apples I just shredded them on the shredder. Kids really loved them warm. Thank you for all your wonderful recipes!!!
Thank you! These turned out wonderful! Everyone loved them! Definitely making them again and again!
Just made them and they are so delicious. Thank you
I was making this and realized it called for baking powder, but the instructions said baking soda, which one did you use? Thanks
Hi Alla, sorry for the typo. It’s baking powder. I just fixed it.
Thanks
They came out great!
I just made these and they came out delicious.. I love baking with apples as well and love that these are so easy to make and so moist..Thanks for sharing this!
I was wondering if you could share the recipe for Sharltka?? I am definitely going to try these cookies out!! especially in the fall and winter months:) I was looking through your recipes and more than half of them my mom makes exactly the same!!
Hi Diana,
I have a really great recipe for Sharlotka, at least in my opinion. We grew up with it; my Mom made it ALL the time in the fall. I’ll share it really soon.
I’ll be waiting:) Thank you for replying!!
Hi Olga! I wanted to try making these without the apples. Do you think the batter will still be ok without them? My kids don’t like fruit in cookies. I’ve made them once before and they picked all the apples out and ate the cookie part.
Ha ha!
I’ve never made them without apples, but I’m pretty sure the cookies will be fine without them. You could try them with nuts, raisins or chocolate chips, etc.
Thanks for the ideas. I’ll put some chocolate chips in. I know that they’ll eat that.
Hi Olga! I made these cookies yesterday, they are amazingly delicious!! my parents plant apple trees as well so we have apples in the house all year round
and this was a wonderful way that made even those who don’t like apple, including my 2y.o. son, fall in love with them! can’t wait to try other recipes from your blog! Thank you for sharing 
That’s wonderful, Bella!
These little cookies are great. i’m glad your family enjoyed them too.