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–+ servings
A tray of apple butter cookies.
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4.56 from 9 votes

Scottish Tea Cookies with Apple Butter

The cookies made with apple butter are a Platter Talk Exclusive, inspired by my love of apples and the Mennonite Community Cookbook
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time20 minutes
chill1 hour
Total Time30 minutes
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: scottish
Servings: 36 servings
Author: Dan from Platter Talk

Ingredients

  • 1 cup shortening
  • 1/2 cup butter
  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • 4 eggs
  • 3 cups flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla
  • 1 cup apple butter

Instructions

  • Combine salt, sugar, shortening and butter.
  • Add flour a bit at a time, working in like a pastry to a crumbly consistency.
  • In separate bowl, beat eggs and and vanilla.
  • Add egg mixture to flour mixture and mix till smooth.
  • Chill dough in fridge for at least one hour.
  • Shape chilled dough into balls 1 inch in diameter.
  • Place dough balls on greased baking sheet about 2 inches apart and flatten with palm of hand.
  • Use thumb to create well in center of each cookie.
  • Place a few tablespoons of apple butter in small zip-lock bag.
  • Snip corner of bag with scissors to create small opening.
  • Squeeze apple butter into each well, filling slightly above level of dough.
  • Bake at 350 degrees F for 20 minutes or until light brown in color.

Notes

Here are my three top tips for making Scottish Tea Cookies with Apple Butter:
  1. 🧊 Chill the Dough for Better Shape
    Letting the dough rest in the fridge for at least an hour helps the cookies hold their form and prevents excessive spreading during baking. This step also improves the texture for a tender, biscuit-like crumb.
  2. 🥄 Use a Zip-Top Bag for Neat Filling
    For cleaner and more precise results, spoon the apple butter into a small zip-top bag and snip a corner. Pipe it into the thumbprint wells for a professional finish without the mess.
  3. 🔥 Bake Until Just Lightly Golden
    Keep an eye on the bottoms and edges of the cookies. They should be lightly browned. Overbaking can dry them out and take away from that soft, buttery bite that makes these cookies so special.

Nutrition

Calories: 145kcal | Carbohydrates: 15g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 25mg | Sodium: 63mg | Potassium: 25mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 107IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 6mg | Iron: 1mg

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