1-Preheat your oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line two baking sheets with parchment paper for easy cleanup.

2-In a medium bowl: combine 3 cups of all-purpose flour, 1 tsp baking soda, and 1/2 tsp salt; set this aside for later.

3-In a stand mixer or large bowl: cream 3/4 cup softened unsalted butter with 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar and 1/2 cup granulated sugar until light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes.

4-Add 1 large egg yolk, then 1/4 cup applesauce (or 1 large egg for thicker texture) and 1/2 Tbsp vanilla extract; mix until fully blended.

5-Gradually mix in the dry ingredients from step 2 until the dough forms; avoid over-mixing to keep it tender.

6-Divide the dough into eight equal balls, each about 6 Tbsp, and flatten them into 2.5-inch discs on the prepared sheets.

7-Bake for 12-15 minutes until the edges are lightly golden; let them cool on the sheet for 5-10 minutes before moving to a wire rack.

For the apple filling, place 2 cups diced Granny Smith apples, 1 tsp lemon juice, and 2 Tbsp water in a microwave-safe bowl. Heat in 30-second bursts, stirring each time, until tender, about 2-3 minutes total.

To make the streusel, whisk 3 Tbsp heat-treated flour, 1/4 cup granulated sugar, 1/2 tsp cinnamon, and 1/8 tsp nutmeg in a small bowl. Cut in 2 Tbsp cold butter until it forms coarse crumbs.

For the glaze, whisk 3/4 cup powdered sugar, 2 Tbsp light brown sugar, 3/8 tsp cinnamon, 1/8 tsp nutmeg, 1/2 tsp vanilla, and 5 Tbsp heavy cream until smooth; add up to 1 more Tbsp cream if needed.

Once cooled, spread glaze on each cookie, add the apple mixture, and top with streusel. For more baking insights, visit tips to improve your cookie baking.