I know everything is supposed to be red and green and blue and white this time of year.
I know…
But look for brown and delicious I made everything?
Ok… I’m being weird. Mostly because I, for some reason, can’t bring myself to make Christmas tree sugar cookies. I just don’t want to do it.
Besides, brown and delicious things come from butter and brown sugar and cinnamon and apples. Just let this happen.
I was surprised how much I loved the addition of soft, fresh fruit to these cookies.
These cookies have crisp edges, hearty oats and walnuts and tender apple bits. A dash of cinnamon sprinkled on top brings cinnamon right to your nose. It’s delicious. Don’t argue with me on this one.
Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal Cookies
makes about 18 cookies to 24 cookies
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter , softened
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 1/4 cup oats, old fashioned or quick cooking
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
scant 1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
generous pinch fresh grated nutmeg
3/4 cup coarsely chopped walnuts
1 medium apple, peeled, diced small (i used a granny smith apple)
1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
Place a rack in the center and upper third of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside.
Peel and dice the apple and toss with lemon juice. Set aside.
Beat the sugar and butter in the bowl of a stand mixer fit with a paddle attachment. Beat until creamy, about 3 to 4 minutes. Add egg one, beating for 1 minute.. Add the vanilla extract and beat until blended.
Whisk together the oats, flour, baking powder, baking soda, spices and salt. Add to the butter and egg mixture slowly beating on low speed until just incorporated. Stir in the walnuts and apple chunks last.
Bake at 350 degrees F for 10 to 13 minutes or until they’ve reached your desired doneness. I like mine a little underdone and cook them for 10 minutes. Allow to cool on the cookie sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely. Or you could just eat them warm. That’s probably the best idea. Makes about 2 dozen cookies.
Kristen Bryant-Brown
Joy!
I cannot tell you how much I love this recipe! I used it as the base for a cookie I make called American Pie cookies.
I omit the nuts and add 1/3 cup white chocolate chips and 1/3 cup Carmel bits.
Truly drool worthy. Give it a try, you will NOT be sorry! :)
Juska93
It’s similar to my recipe: http://kizikuki.blogspot.com/2015/04/ciasteczka-owsiane-z-musem-jabkowym.html I like it! :)
aunt jod
Just made them!!! I tweaked it a little to match my on-hand ingredients. I added dried cranberries & coconut… didn’t have any walnuts :( Despite the missing nuts… Ummmmm soooo yummy! Thanks for sharing the recipe!!!
Elizabeth mcKissick
Just made them for a bridge party cookie exchange. Delicious!
Nikki @ Tikkido
This was a truly *excellent* recipe. I used it in my Apple Oatmeal Cookie edition of The Hungry Games, and while it didn’t win, it came VERY close. Your cookie got my personal vote. ;-) I’ll definitely be making them again!
Nelissa
Hi Joy,
I love your recipes. Do you think it would be a good idea to cook the apples first so they are softer? Thanks!
Cheri
Absolute yummyness!
vanessa
I made the following changes:
*used 4 packages of quaker maple and brown sugar oatmeal and blended the oats
*used 6 tbl sp. butter rather than 8
*used whole wheat flour instead of all purpose
*used 1/4 cup pecans rather than walnut
*hand mixed everything with a whisk (and then my bare hands) because I don’t have a mixer ;)
DELICIOUS!!!!
Natalia
how do you make them so flat??? mine came out quite glob shaped, but they taste amazing!!!!!
Bree
These are so delicious! they were a little too soft for me the first time I made them so I cooked them about 7 mins more the second time around and they were perfect. :)
Caryn
I have made these a couple of time and they are delish! But, for some reason the next day it’s like they are under cooked in the middle. All of my ingredients are good and they were done when I took them out of the oven. I had to rebake them the next day. Any ideas?
Helen B. @ Blue Eyed Beauty Blog
This looks amazing! I am making some right now and posting a link to this on my blog!
Helen
Blue Eyed Beauty Blog
Jessica
Just made these – they’re perfect. I got 3 dozen small cookies from the recipe and tried different baking times on them – the underbaked ones are so soft and chewy and the others are browned and crisp and perfect – the apple is all melty – divine. All this to use up the apples in my fridge! I’m taking some over to my new neighbors now. :)
Marijke
Just made these. Truly delicious!
Monica
These cookies are great! Thanks Joy :)
Alyssa
Hi!
I made these cookies for a bake sale and they were a hit! They were pretty easy to make and tasted amazing! The leftovers were quickly enjoyed by my roommates and neighbors :)
Faith
Hey,
so I’ve looked at a few of the recipes on here, havent tired any for real yet. But these apple cinnamon oatmealcookies look amazing and my boyfriend LOVES oatmeal cookies. But if I dont have nutmeg and lemon juice will they turn out all wrong or should I just try and find another recipe. I really wanna try these but I dont know if they’ll be good without those things.
Courtney
So not to be a troll or creeper… but I made these cookies last night with a friend. We’d gone apple picking a week before and I was running out of ideas for what we could do with our 40# of apples! These cookies were easy to make and oh so delicious. An absolutely perfect autumn treat :)
Thanks Joy.
Violet
I tried to make the cookies, taste so nice, but I wonder how long it can keep as the apples inside the cookies are still wet.
DQ
These are absolutely lovely! I added a tsp of almond extract for a little bit of an unexpected flavor, and because I didn’t have walnuts.
Nikki
I just made these but left out the cinnamon and added cinnamon chips. So good. So comforting. Perfect with coffee.
Thanks for sharing.
June
What great cookies! I made a few tweaks because I’m on a diet. I didn’t use sugar but used 1/2 cup of maple syrup instead. I also added a second apple, skipped the nuts and used whole wheat flour. They were great! It tasted like a mini-apple pie. :D
Hana
I make these regularly now, they are SO good for my 18 mo old and we just love them. I opt the fruit, the best ones I think are with fresh apricots. I also put a bit less sugar in it, like about 3/4 cup alltogether and they still taste great. Thanks for the greatest baking blog ever!
Sara
Joy, I love your blog. Your pictures and commentary have a lot of grace to them. I try to learn how to cook with my boyfriend using recipes from here, and bake alone with the cats. Thank so much for this blog!
Allison
I love this recipe! I added 1/2 cup raisins to the mix and oh my goodness, so delicious. I’m off to eat the whole batch now!
Julianne
Making these for my sister tomorrow! They look so yummy. :)
Karley
Deeeeeelicious! I just made them with the first of the apple harvest from the farm, the only thing I did differently was use wholemeal flour. I make a similar cookie that is slightly more healthy (no sugar just maple and rice syrup and the fat is oil and I use Walnut or sweet almond or apricot kernel) and has banana and walnut – give it a go with this recipe the warm banana is just delicious!!
Brittany
So I made these and they were ABSOLUTELY DELICIOUS. I loved the apple in them. I don’t typically like oatmeal cookies but these were incredible.
My only problem was, they fell apart. They basically crumbled as soon as you picked them up. Does anyone have any idea on how to fix this? I live in a town that has high elevation (about 5800 feet) and I’m wondering if that’s part of the problem. I have never asked for advice like this on a blog, but these were so good that I’d love a tip on this. My email is threeyearsdown [at] gmail [dot] com.
Marinda
MAKE these COOKIES NOW. I don’t care what time it is, make them NOW. Make just as directed, do not change a thing and watch your family fall in love.
Marinda
Oh thank you for this warm, comforting cookie. It’s been cold, wet and grey. I baked these and the sun came out. This cookies worked a miracle!
Elizabeth
Very good, I’m going to make these again for sure !
Grace
These are ABSOLUTELY fabulous right out of the oven! By the way, Joy, how did you get them thinner and so even in the end without getting them burnt?
Ari
Made these with my 9 y.o. He didn’t want the walnuts, but I insisted. He LOVED them – called them a “make again” cookie. Ours didn’t flatten as much as the ones in the pictures, but they were scrumptious, absolutely. Like another above mentioned, I never comment on blogs, but these were comment-worthy. I’m making them again tonight and substituting unsweetened coconut flakes for the walnuts. We’ll see how it goes.
Veggie
Hi Joy. I baked this cookies today. It was pretty easy and very yummy.
I enjoy reading your blog. Thank you sharing your wonderful recipes.
jlou
i do believe i just baked the best cookies ever!! can always count on joy for inspiration!
Zohar Avgar
Just baked them and ate so many… It’s a great recipe. I’m with you regarding the 10 minutes in the stove. I tried one pan for 10 min, and one for 13. 10 min is much better!
Thanks for a great recipe!!
Jessie
yes, please. (pardon me as I wipe the saliva off the computer screen from where I licked it…)
nicole @ our three reasons
these look soo yummy! i tried an apple oatmeal cookie recipe earlier this year and they were a total flop. maybe i’ll have better luck with this on! :)
Judy
These were so good! (Notice past tense!!) I just wish they stayed crispy, but that would be hard with the apple pieces. I love them!! Thanks for the recipe.
Kathleen
I’m seriously considering substituting these for my breakfast oatmeal. Seriously. These look fantastic.
maki
Hi Joy. I just finished these. Soooooo yum. I used transfat free shortening insted of butter.It also yum.
Thanks for sharing this recipe.I will put them as a gift for Christmas for my friends. Thank you again.
maki
Kandice
Why, oh why, do I read your blog at night? When I shouldn’t be rummaging around the kitchen for a snack? Definitely going to try these.
EBux
I have never commented on any sort of blog before, but this time I absolutely couldn’t help myself. These cookies are nothing short of AMAZING!
Wei-Wei
Oh, my goodness. This kind of epitomises fall.
Angela
Natasha, let me know how the caramel apple-cinnamon comes out. Are you melting the caramel int o it, or are you coating/icing the cookie?
Karen
I made these last night…yum!!
Justeen @ Blissful Baking
mmm apple cinnamon oatmeal in cookie form!! fabulous!
PaulaMc
My Dad LOVES oatmeal cookies. Since I’ll be seeing him in a couple of days, I will be sure to bake him a batch of these. Thanks for sharing! Hope your holidays are lovely!
homegrown countrygirl
Don’t argure with you on this one??? Hey, I wouldn’t argue with you about this one… or any one… your recipes always rock!!! And these look fantastic!
Natasha @ Saved by the Egg Timer
I have a bag of mini caramel balls that are looking for a cookie. I think they just found their home! Delish looking, apples and oatmeal are a fave.
Baking Serendipity
I love oatmeal cookies with crispy edges! Apples sound like a perfect addition! I’m all over accepting this as a Christmas cookie :)
kangli
To cinnamony goodness!!!
Andrea
I sure do love oatmeal cookies. Adding an apple is sheer genius. I do that with bran muffins to add some moisture and I’m sure it does the same thing with these cookies.
Mama Maria
YUM!
Making these for breakfast.
It’s a breakfast food, right?
Linda
Oh I think that’s really funny cuz I am feeling the same way. I have been making slice and bake and easy drop cookies. My daughter came home from school and requested that I start making my famous decorative cookies again because “her Teacher’s really don’t know what I can make”. Mind you, she doesn’t even like royal icing. :) I thought it was quite cute.
Mariya P
I think I know what I’m making this weekend.
Carrie
I agree… I’m sick of Christmas sugar cookies and red-and-green everything!
I’m totally making these tomorrow…
Jennie @ Oh, Sweet Day!
Great cookies! I love seeing fresh fruit in cookies like this! and brown is pretty :)
Bren
Mmmmm. So good! My only problem was my cookies came out VERY thin and flat. Don’t know why!
Mother of Pearl
Oats, apples, walnuts, and cinnamon? Yum! Sounds like breakfast to me!
Kate
These sound incredible! I don’t think I’ve ever tried apple in a cookie before!
xx
Linzleh
Have followed for a couple years, but 1st comment. Wonderful blog. Shall be baking these!
laura @ alittlebarefoot
these look so friggin good.
Naijamodel
Thanks for the zucchini bread recipe. It was AWESOME.
I just tried the Vegan pumpkin walnut bread…it didn’t turn out so well…The crust is like a rind. It is really tough and chewy. And the underside is kinda “burnt”. The flavor is great, but I’m wondering if I should add some applesauce next time so it can be moist. I’m not sure how much I should put…
Mackenzie@The Caramel Cookie
These look so homey and delicious!
Michelle
I appreciate food that doesn’t have food coloring added to it, so this is much more pleasing to me than most of the other stuff out there. Thanks!
Trevor
Yay! Something I can make in this country! Im super excited to try them!!!!! Right now, Im making my friend a Tres Leches cake for his Birthday! Its soooooo yummy
Katy
My mom accidently made a similar cookie once. We ran out of regular oatmeal, so she made up the difference with apple-cinnamon oatmeal packets. Om nom nom!
Teale
Oatmeal cookies are one of my faves. I can not wait to bake some of these bad boys. As a matter of fact, I have everything I need to make them RIGHT NOW… Bye!
Jessica @ bake me away!
Yeah, I haven’t gotten too much into the holiday baking this season, so no arguments from me! I think my sister would especially love these (sans nuts) because she’s a bit of a baked apple fiend. I bet pears would also be awesome!
Lydia
WHAT. How did you know I found 2 apples in the fridge this morning that are so badly bruised they’re only okay for baking? I was like, dang, now I have to think of something to use these in. And then you solved my problem. These look amazing, I’ll try to make them soonest. Thanks!
Gen
Yum! If only I had read this recipe before! Now I know how to use apples in a cookie!
Susan
This is really right up my alley! I love the idea of apples in cookies! :)
Teagan
Mmmm apples in cookies?!?! Trying these today ^_^ I cant help myself :)
Rachel
I’ve made cran-apple oatmeal cookies before and they were simply amazing. Like bacon… I think apples make everything better :)
Maria
I know these will be a new favorite!
Cathy B. @ Bright Bakes
cookies are never bad…can’t wait to try ’em!
Catherine
Wow Joy! These look, sound, and probably smell really delious!! But you know what would be really yummy in these cookies? Carmel!! :) Happy Holidays!
Georgia @ The Comfort of Cooking
You can never go wrong with the lovely combo of apples, cinnamon and oatmeal. I just love these cookies. So warm and comforting. Thanks for sharing, Joy, and happy holidays to you and your family!
Natalia - a side of simple
Apples and cinnamon? So this is a breakfast food..right!?
Laura @ GotChocolate
Oh boy, those look delicious! How about adding some Chocolate Chips in them next time??? Sorry, you know I HAD to say that!
HAHAHAHAHA!!!
Erica Lea {Cooking for Seven}
Amen, and amen! Frosted Christmas trees are cute, but I’ll go for brown + delicious any day! Such a lovely idea — apples in cookies!
Have a Merry Christmas, Joy!
Jennifer S
Sounds amazing. My kids love apple cinnamon oatmeal, now I can make it into cookie form! Thanks!
Sarah-Anne
Apple cinnamon oatmeal in a cookie. Yum!
Sarah-Anne
Heather (Heather's Dish)
these sound amazing and so easy…perfect for this time of year!
Jenné @ Sweet Potato Soul
Lovely!
Every time I visit your blog, I feel compelled to bake something. Even when I’m up reading at 2 am, or like right now, when I’m running to work and I know I don’t have time to bake Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal Cookies : )
Amanda (Eating Up)
When I first started eating oatmeal, I only liked the instant flavored kind–the apple cinnamon was my favorite! These will bring me back.
Half Assed Kitchen
But I bet you’d rock the Christmas tree shaped cookies!
Katie (The Boston Marathoner)
This sounds amazing- I eat cinnamon apple oatmeal for breakfast all the time, but I would MUCH prefer it in cookie form. Yum.
HappyWhenNotHungry
These look delicious! I love the apple/cinnamon combo. Thanks for sharing :-)
Yum Yum Tables
Mmm, I’ll have to try this recipe…there’s nothing like a good batch of yummy cookies for the holidays!
Samantha Angela @ Bikini Birthday
These cookies sound a bit too healthy for Christmas! LOL.
Maybe I’ll try making them after the holidays are over and I’m done baking solely with butter and sugar.
Caroline
Give me one of these cookies anyday over a christmas tree sugar cookie! I love sugar cookies, don’t get me wrong, but I would much rather have a cookie full of flavor when I’m deciding what to eat off of the platter! Beautiful cookies!
Lauren
You certainly won’t find me arguing… I love anything with apples and cinnamon & these cookies look wonderful! Who needs holiday colors on cookies, anyway? ;)
Kylie @ A Hungry Spoon
I’m loving this apple-oatmeal theme today–after all the fudge, and Oreo truffle, and peanut butter ball business that’s been going on in my kitchen over the last week, I’ll gladly take a break from it for some apple-oatmeal goodness!
Hope you’re enjoying the holiday season :)
jenna laughs
I love these! Apple cinnamon oatmeal is my favorite. Add butter and flour to turn these into cookies = even better.
CAMILLE STYLES
These look amazing, and although they’re not red & green (thank goodness!) the flavors couldn’t be more seasonal…
Jessica
Ooh, what a great idea to add in some fresh fruit!
Reem Bawazeer
Yum! these look fantastic, I have 8 apples in the refrigerator that I have no idea what to do with, guess I’m gonna be baking a lot of these cookies :P hahaha
Sarah
Definitely added to my baking list for the weekend =D
Thanks Joy =D
Emma
mmmm, apples + spices + walnuts = win. Lovely looking cookies (red and green is overrated, I’m already over it tbh)
The Blue-Eyed Bakers
YUM. We’ll take apple cinnamon cookies anytime…! They sound completely delicious…!
Tiffany @ Conor & Bella
I would crumble these on top of my oatmeal. I’m always looking for an excuse to add cookies to breakfast! :D
Lynn @ Loco Cocoa's Treats
Glad to see someone else go for just a good cookie and not give in to the holiday pizazz, I actually did a similiar cookie called an Apple Drop this year for my cookie swap, so props to you! (Although I still love sugar cookies)
Estela @ Weekly Bite
Yum! Its like a bowl of oats in a cookie :)
Katrina
I love the look of these cookies! Great recipe :)
Jessica @ How Sweet It Is
What a delicious cookie combo!
Lauren at KeepItSweet
these are such a refreshing change to seeing the same old cookies over and over again, they also sound delicious
Silvia
Sounds perfect to me… I’ll try them soon, maybe after the frantic rush of Xmas baking.
Jenny
I have a recipe for apple cinnamon oatmeal cookies but I hardly ever make them because… while they’re great fresh from the oven, half a day and they’re a mushy mess. I don’t know why this happens. Tell me these aren’t like that.
notyet100
they look perfect,love the combi of ingredinets
Aimee
Thanks so much for this! This looks delicious.
My family doesn’t eat nuts, so I was wondering what I can replace the nuts here with?
joythebaker
just leave em out.
maki
Yum Yum!! I will try this.
Joy, thank you for sharing your sweet. I love here!
Stephanie
I love them! Those are now officially the cookies my brand new measuring cups and measuring spoons will be inaugurated. Because I love apples and walnuts and there are oats in my cupboard noone wants to eat in yoghurt. (I don’t know why.) But I will have to wait until after christmas because we have sooo many yummy little biscuits! :)
Thank you!