Oatmeal Apple Cookies

Jump to Recipe

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.

These oatmeal apple cookies are crispy on the outside and chewy in the center. They’re richly flavored with vanilla, cinnamon & nutmeg and bursting with fresh apples. This apple cookies recipe is easy to make – no chilling required.

5 Oatmeal Apple Cookies with glaze, one has a bite taken out of it


I’m always trying to find new ways to enjoy the abundance of fresh apples in the fall – and these Apple Cookies are one of our favorites (along with this apple pie, apple crisp, apple galette and cinnamon apples).

These oatmeal apple cookies are crispy on the outside with soft and chewy centers. They’re richly flavored with vanilla, cinnamon & nutmeg and are packed with fresh apples and cinnamon chips!

If that’s not enough to entice you to make them, this apple cookies recipe is easy to make – no chilling required!

4 Oatmeal Apple Cookies with glaze

Apple Cookies: Ingredients and Substitutions

overhead photo of the ingredients in this Oatmeal Apple Cookies recipe
  • All-purpose flour. Use gluten-free all-purpose baking flour to make this recipe gluten-free.
  • Salted butter. Unsalted butter is a good substitute.
  • Oatmeal: For the perfect, chewy texture use old-fashioned (or rolled) oats. You can use quick oats, just be aware it will change the texture of the cookies.
  • Light Brown Sugar. If you like a little bolder, molasses taste use dark brown sugar. 
  • Granulated Sugar. white sugar, organic cane sugar, and coconut sugar are all good choices.
  • Sea salt. I bake with pure, fine sea salt. If you are using iodized salt I recommend decreasing the amount of salt by half. 
  • Cinnamon chips. Adding cinnamon chips is optional, but recommended. You can use ½ cup of total of different mix-ins such as white chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, dried fruit, nuts, etc.
  • Apples. Use your favorite variety, be sure to finely dice them for the best texture.
a stack of 4 Oatmeal Apple Cookies

How to Make Apple cookies

Let’s walk through this apple cookies recipe step-by-step, and don’t forget to watch the video.

Finely Dice Apples

Begin by finely dicing the apple of your choice. You can peel them if you’d prefer, but we leave the skin on. You want to ensure there are little pieces of apple in every bite.

photo showing how to dice apples for apple cookies

Make the Dough

Once the apples are finely diced, combine the flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg in a small bowl. Then set it aside.

two photos showing How to Make Apple Cookies - combining dry ingredients

Then, beat the softened butter, granulated sugar and brown sugar in the bowl of a standing mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, or in a large bowl with a hand mixer, until light and fluffy (about 60 seconds)  

Next, add the egg and vanilla and beat on medium speed until the mixture is light (about 30-60 seconds). 

two photos showing How to Make Apple Cookies - beating together butter, sugar, egg and vanilla

Then, add the dry ingredient mixture and beat on low speed until just combined.

two photos showing How to Make Apple Cookies - adding dry ingredients

Slowly beat in the oatmeal on low speed until evenly distributed throughout the batter.

two photos showing How to Make Apple Cookies - adding oatmeal

Lastly, add the diced apples and cinnamon chips and stir until evenly distributed in the dough.

two photos showing How to Make Apple Cookies - adding apples

Portion/Roll Dough & Bake

Once the dough is ready, use a 1 ½ to 2 Tablespoon cookie scoop to measure out the dough for the apple cookies.

Then, roll the dough into balls and place them on the prepared cookie sheet about 1 ½ inches apart. Repeat until all the dough is used.

Bake the apple cookies in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes until the top is just set.

Then, let them sit on the baking pan for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool.

apple cookie dough on a baking sheet before and after baking

Make the Glaze

If desired, make the glaze by whisking the ingredients together in a small bowl.

two photos showing how to make a cinnamon glaze for apple cookies

Then, you can drizzle the glaze over the top of the completely cooled cookies, or you can dip the tops of the cookies into the glaze.

Let the cookies sit at room temperature until the glaze is hardened.

8 Oatmeal Apple Cookies on a wire rack being drizzled with glaze

Freeze the Dough

Instead of baking, you can also freeze the apple cookie dough balls to bake them later.

  1. Place the measured and rolled cookie dough balls on a cookie sheet and put them in the freezer for 1-2 hours or until firm. 
  2. Once firm, transfer the dough balls to an airtight, freezer-friendly container (I recommend either a glass storage container or a freezer-friendly ziplock bag). 
  3. Freeze for up to 2 months. 
  4. To bake: remove dough from the freezer and let it come to room temperature. Then bake according the the recipe instructions. 
4 Oatmeal Apple Cookies on a wire cooling rack

To Store/Freeze Cookies

Store these oatmeal apple cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or in the freezer for up to 1 month.

up close photo of an apple cookie with glaze

Oatmeal Apple Cookies Recipe FAQs

Here are some frequently asked questions about these apple cookies! If you have additional questions I did not address in this post, please leave a comment and I will answer them!

Are old fashioned oats and quick oats the same?

No! Old fashioned (or rolled) oats are whole-grain oat kernels that have been rolled flat. Quick-cooking oats are also rolled, but the oat kernel is cut into smaller pieces so it can cook faster. 

Can you use quick oats instead of old fashioned in oatmeal cookies?

Yes, you can, just be aware that it will change the texture of the cookies and they will be less chewy and more “fluffy” or cakey. 

What can I do with one old apple?

Use it to make these apple cookies!

What are the best apples to bake with?

Pink Ladies (aka: Crisps Pink)
Granny Smith
Fuji
Honeycrisp
Jonagold 
Jazz 
Braeburn
Gala
Golden Delicious

6 Oatmeal Apple Cookies

If you make and love our recipes, it would mean so much to me if you would leave a comment and rating! And don’t forget to follow along with us on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, and Youtube – be sure to tag @joyfoodsunshine and use the hashtag #joyfoodsunshine so we can your creations!

Oatmeal Apple Cookies Recipe

Laura
These oatmeal apple cookies are crispy on the outside and chewy in the center. They’re richly flavored with vanilla and cinnamon and bursting with fresh apples. This apple cookies recipe is easy to make – no chilling required.
5 from 8 votes
Course cookies, Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 14 cookies
Calories 180
Prep Time20 minutes
Cook Time10 minutes
Total Time30 minutes

Ingredients  

Glaze (optional)

  • 1 cup Powdered sugar
  • 1-2 Tablespoons Milk
  • ½ teaspoon pure vanilla ectract

Instructions 

Make the Apple Cookies

  • Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
  • Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper. Set aside.
  • In a small bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt and cinnamon. Set aside.
  • Place softened butter, granulated sugar and brown sugar in the bowl of a standing mixer and beat until light and fluffy (about 60 seconds)
  • Add egg and vanilla and beat on medium speed until the mixture is light (about 30-60 seconds).
  • Add dry ingredient mixture and beat on low speed until just combined.
  • Add oatmeal and beat on low speed until combined.
  • Add diced apples and cinnamon chips and stir until evenly distributed in the dough.
  • Use a 1 ½ to 2 Tablespoon cookie scoop to measure out the dough.
  • Roll the dough into balls and place them on the prepared cookie sheet about 1 ½ inches apart. Repeat until all the dough is used.
  • Bake in preheated oven for 10-12 minutes until the top is set.
  • Let sit on the baking pan for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool.

Make the Glaze

  • If desired, whisk together the glaze ingredients in a small bowl.
  • Drizzle the glaze over the top of the cooled cookies, or dip the tops of the cookies into the glaze.
  • Let set at room temperature until the glaze is hardened.

Video

Notes

Ingredient substitutions
  • All-purpose flour. Use gluten-free all-purpose baking flour to make this recipe gluten-free.
  • Salted butter. Unsalted butter is a good substitute.
  • Oatmeal: For the perfect, chewy texture use old-fashioned (or rolled) oats. You can use quick oats, just be aware it will change the texture of the cookies.
  • Light Brown Sugar. If you like a little bolder, molasses taste use dark brown sugar. 
  • Granulated Sugar. white sugar, organic cane sugar, and coconut sugar are all good choices.
  • Sea salt. I bake with pure, fine sea salt. If you are using iodized salt I recommend decreasing the amount of salt by half. 
  • Cinnamon chips. Adding cinnamon chips is optional, but recommended. You can use ½ cup of total of different mix-ins such as white chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, dried fruit, nuts, etc.
  • Apples. Use your favorite variety, be sure to finely dice them for the best texture.
To freeze the cookie dough:
Instead of baking, you can also freeze the apple cookie dough balls to bake them later.
  1. Place the measured and rolled cookie dough balls on a cookie sheet and put them in the freezer for 1-2 hours or until firm. 
  2. Once firm, transfer the dough balls to an airtight, freezer-friendly container (I recommend either a glass storage container or a freezer-friendly ziplock bag). 
  3. Freeze for up to 2 months. 
  4. To bake: remove dough from the freezer and let it come to room temperature. Then bake according the the recipe instructions. 
Store/Freeze
Store these oatmeal apple cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or in the freezer for up to 1 month.

Nutrition

Serving: 1cookie | Calories: 180kcal | Carbohydrates: 27g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 29mg | Sodium: 183mg | Potassium: 71mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 17g | Vitamin A: 227IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 23mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Did you enjoy this recipe? Have a question? Leave a comment below!

More Apple Recipes




latest recipes

Post a Comment or Ask a Question!

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




2 Comments