Posted Sep 07, 2022, Updated Sep 13, 2024 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! Also try these delicious fall cookies: maple cookies and pumpkin chocolate chip cookies.
Apple Cookies: Ingredients and 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.
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.
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. 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). Then, add the dry ingredient mixture and beat on low speed until just combined. Slowly beat in the oatmeal on low speed until evenly distributed throughout the batter. Lastly, add the diced apples and cinnamon chips and stir until evenly distributed in the dough.
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.
Make the Glaze
If desired, make the glaze by whisking the ingredients together in a small bowl. 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.
Freeze the Dough
Instead of baking, you can also freeze the apple cookie dough balls to bake them later.
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. 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! 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 see your creations!
