These sweet apple oatmeal cookies are loaded with apples, rolled oats, and warming spices, perfect for a fall treat. The thin cookies are going to be your favorite seasonal treat.
Oatmeal cookies are severely underrated, at least in my opinion. They don't have the fanfare anywhere near chocolate chip or oatmeal cookies. However, every time I take a bite of an oatmeal cookie, I wonder why I don't make them more often. That is especially the case with these apple oatmeal cookies.
These apple cookies take the staples of a traditional oatmeal cookie and load them up with apples and warming spices for a fall twist. The warming spices of cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and cloves make the cookies so homey and comforting. The tiny chunks of the apple add a sweet and tart flavor to the cookie, making your tastebuds dance.
Unlike traditional oatmeal cookies, these apple oatmeal cookies run on the thin side. They reminded me a lot of silky, brown sugar lace cookies. The brown sugar does something similar in these cookies by spreading out and creating an almost caramel-like flavor in the oven. It's the twist on the cookie you never knew you needed.
Looking to bake with more apples? Try my apple chai scones and apple pie cookies.
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Fall Favorite - Apples are in peak season, meaning the apple flavor in these cookies is unmatched.
- Simple - The cookies are very simple to make. No chilling is required before putting them in the oven.
- Pantry-friendly - Most of the ingredients needed to make these cookies are pantry staples.
Ingredients Needed To Make Apple Oatmeal Cookie
- Oats - Traditional rolled oats are best for this recipe.
- Apple - Any type of apple will be great if it is apple season. If not, use Granny Smith or Honey Crisp.
- Brown Sugar - Gives the caramel-like flavor to the cookies.
- Warming Spices - I use a mix of cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and cloves
- Butter - Use butter softened to room temperature.
Directions For How To Make Apple Oatmeal Cookies
- Prepare.
Preheat the oven to 350 and prepare a cookie sheet with parchment paper. Set to the side.
- Mix dry ingredients.
Mix together the flour, baking soda, spices, and salt in a small bowl. Set to the side.
- Cream the butter and sugar.
In a stand mixer or with a hand mixer, cream the butter for 1-2 minutes. Then, add in the sugar and mix until light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes. Add in the eggs, followed by the vanilla, and mix to combine.
- Make the dough.
Add the flour mixture to the butter mixture in two parts. Then, add in the oats and the apples.
- Form and bake the cookies.
Use a cookie scoop to scoop the cookie dough. Place 6-8 cookie dough balls on your cookie sheet. Bake the cookies for 8-12 minutes.
- Cool.
When the cookies are done, let them cool on the cookie sheet for 1-2 minutes before moving them to a cooling rack.
Serving Suggestion
These apple oatmeal cookies are great for snacks and desserts and excellent with a cup of tea.
Make Ahead and Storage
- Make Ahead: The apple oatmeal cookies can be made 1-2 days ahead of time. Store the cookies in an airtight container until ready to serve.
- Store: Store any extra cookies in an airtight container or plastic bag for 5-7 days.
- Freeze: The cookies can be stored in a plastic bag or airtight container and kept in the freezer for 2-3 months.
Tips and Variation
- Apple Season - If you make these cookies during apple season, any variety of apples will be great to add to the cookie. The fresh and sweet flavors of the apple will be present no matter the variety.
- Spreading - These cookies will spread a lot in the oven. To make them round again, use a cookie cutter and give them a good swirl when they come out of the oven. This will give them a round shape once again.
- Spices - If you prefer a "spicer" cookie, double the amount of spice in the batter.
FAQs
Apple oatmeal cookies are still cookies at the end of the day, but they are healthier than some other varieties of cookies because of the fruit and oatmeal.
Rolled oats will work the best in this recipe.
No, the dough does not need to chill for these cookies. They spread and are rather thin, however, so keep that in mind.
Apple Oatmeal Cookies
Equipment
- hand mixer
- stand mixer
- cookie sheet
- mixing bowls
- Measuring spoons
Ingredients
- 1 ¾ cup all purpose flour
- ¾ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground ginger
- ¼ tsp cloves
- ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
- 1 ½ sticks (12 tbsp) softened butter
- ¾ cup brown sugar
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 ½ cup rolled oats
- ¾ cup apples, peeled and roughly chopped
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 and prepare a cookie sheet with parchment paper. Set to the side.
- Mix together the flour, baking soda, salt, and spice in a medium-sized bowl. Set to the side.
- In a large bowl with a hand mixer or in the bowl of a stand mixer with a paddle attachment, cream the butter for 1-2 minutes. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and add in the sugar. Cream the butter with the sugar until light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes. Then, add in the egg and vanilla, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed.
- Add the dry ingreidents to the butter mixture in two incriments, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed.
- Add the rolled oats and apples, making sure they are distributed evenly throughout the dough.
- Use a cookie dough scoop to scoop the dough. Place 6-8 balls of the cookie dough on the prepared baking sheet and place in the oven. Bake the cookies for 8-10 minutes, until the edges are set.
- Take the cookies out of the oven and let them cool on the cookie sheet before moving them to a cooling rack. The cookies may spread in the oven. If they do, use a round cookie cutter and place it around the outside of the cookie. Swirl the cookie cutter in a round motion around the outside of the cookie to form it back into a circle.
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