Get ready to cozy up with the perfect fall cookie! These Apple Oatmeal Cookies are packed with warm spices and soft apples, all topped with a sweet cream cheese drizzle that’s impossible to resist.
Table of Contents
What are Apple Oatmeal Cookies?
Apple oatmeal cookies are the ultimate mashup of classic oatmeal cookies and a hint of fall magic. They’ve got that chewy, hearty texture from old-fashioned oats, but what really sets them apart is the sweet and tart diced Granny Smith apples mixed into the dough. The apples soften as they bake, creating little pockets of juicy, fruity goodness in every bite.
What takes these cookies to the next level is the cream cheese frosting! The tangy, sweet icing drizzled on top adds a silky richness that contrasts beautifully with the oatmeal base. These cookies are perfect for holiday gatherings, afternoon snacks, or just as a cozy pick-me-up when you need a little something special.
Ingredients You Need
- All-Purpose Flour – This gives structure to the cookies and helps hold everything together.
- Rolled Old-Fashioned Oats – We love using old-fashioned oats for a chewy texture that makes these cookies extra satisfying.
- Ground Cinnamon – This adds a warm, spiced flavor that pairs beautifully with the apples.
- Baking Soda – We add this to help the cookies rise and stay light.
- Salt – Just a little salt balances the sweetness and brings out the other flavors.
- Unsalted Butter – Using softened butter helps create a rich and tender cookie base.
- Light Brown Sugar – This sugar gives the cookies a deep caramel-like sweetness and keeps the cookies moist.
- Granulated Sugar – A touch of granulated sugar adds sweetness and helps the cookies spread.
- Egg – Adding an extra yolk makes the cookies softer and gives them a rich texture.
- Vanilla Extract – This enhances all the flavors with a subtle sweetness and aromatic warmth.
- Granny Smith Apples – These apples are tart and firm, adding fresh, bright flavor without making the cookies too sweet.
- Chopped Walnuts (Optional) – We love the crunch and nutty flavor walnuts bring to these cookies, but they’re totally optional!
Cream Cheese Icing:
- Cream Cheese – This adds a smooth, tangy richness to the frosting that complements the sweet cookies.
- Powdered Sugar – This fine sugar is perfect for creating a silky smooth icing with just the right amount of sweetness.
- Milk – A splash of milk helps thin out the frosting to just the right consistency.
- Vanilla Extract – Adding a little vanilla to the frosting brings all the flavors together.
How to Make Apple Oatmeal Cookies
- Mix the dry ingredients. Add the flour, oats, cinnamon, baking soda, and salt to a large bowl and whisk until everything is evenly combined.
- Cream the butter and sugars. Using a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment or a hand mixer, beat the butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until light and fluffy.
- Add the wet ingredients. Beat in the egg, then add the yolk and beat again. Continue mixing while adding the vanilla extract, making sure everything is well-mixed.
- Combine everything. Slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing until just combined. Fold in the diced apples and walnuts (if using) until they’re evenly distributed.
- Scoop the dough. Use a large cookie scoop or measure about 4 tablespoons of dough to form each cookie. Place them on a baking sheet, leaving enough space between them to spread as they bake.
- Bake the cookies. Bake until the edges are golden and the centers are just set. Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to come to room temperature.
- Make the icing. Add the cream cheese to a bowl and beat until smooth. Then mix in the powdered sugar, vanilla, and a little milk. Adjust the consistency by adding more milk or powdered sugar as needed. Drizzle the frosting over the cooled cookies.
Variations
- Apples – Try using Honeycrisp or Fuji apples for a sweeter bite.
- Chocolate Chips – We can never get enough chocolate! Use dark chocolate chips, milk chocolate chips, or even white chocolate.
- Cranberries – Dried cranberries bring a tart, chewy texture that pairs beautifully with the apples.
- Spice – Swap the cinnamon for pumpkin spice or apple pie spice.
- Nuts – Use pecans or your favorite nut instead of walnuts.
- Glaze – Skip the cream cheese frosting and drizzle with a simple powdered sugar glaze.
Can I Store Leftovers?
Yes, you can absolutely store apple oatmeal cookies! But since they have a cream cheese-based frosting make sure to keep them in the fridge!
Refrigerating them in an airtight container will help them stay fresh for 5-6 days.
You can also freeze the cookies for up to three months and frost them once they’re thawed.
More Fruity Recipes
Looking for more fruit-filled sweets? Take a peek at some of our favorites!
Fakhfakhina (Egyptian Fruit Salad)
Peaches and Strawberry Fruit Ice Cream
Cheesecake Fruit Tart Recipe with Shortbread Crust
Easy Apple Oatmeal Cookies
The perfect fall dessert, these apple oatmeal cookies feature warm spices, sweet apple chunks, chopped nuts, and a tangy cream cheese icing!
Ingredients
Apple Oatmeal Cookies
- 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour scoop and level to measure
- 1 1/4 cup rolled old fashioned oats
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 cup unsalted butter softened
- 2/3 cup packed light brown sugar
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg + yolk
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 cup finely chopped peeled Granny Smith apple 1/4-inch cubes or smaller
- 1/2 cup chopped walnuts optional
Cream Cheese Icing:
- 2 ounces cream cheese
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- 2-3 Tablespoons milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
For the Cookies:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line two 18 by 13-inch baking sheets with silicone baking mats or parchment paper.
- In a mixing bowl whisk together flour, oats, cinnamon, baking soda, and salt for 20 seconds, set aside.1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour, 1 1/4 cup rolled old fashioned oats, 1 tsp ground cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon baking soda, 1/4 teaspoon salt
- In the bowl of an electric stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment cream together butter granulated sugar and brown sugar until combined. Mix in egg, stop and scrape, then beat mix in the yolk and vanilla extract.3/4 cup unsalted butter, 2/3 cup packed light brown sugar, 1/4 cup granulated sugar, 1 large egg + yolk, 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- Add flour mixture and mix until combined, then mix in apples, and walnuts, if using.1 cup finely chopped peeled Granny Smith apple, 1/2 cup chopped walnuts
- Scoop dough out using a large cookie scoop, or 4 tablespoons at a time, and drop onto prepared baking sheets spacing cookies 2-inches apart.
- Bake one sheet at a time in preheated oven until cookies are set, about 13 – 14 minutes.
- Let cool on baking sheet several minutes then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. Store cookies in an airtight container.
For the Icing:
- In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese until smooth. Then, add the powdered sugar, 1 Tablespoons of milk and vanilla. Beat just until combined. Do not over mix. Taste and add a pinch of salt and more vanilla if desired. Add a Tablespoon more of milk at a time until reach desired consistency. If you want it to drip down a dessert, you’ll need a little more. If you want it thicker, use less or add a Tablespoon more of powdered sugar. Drizzle on the cooled cookies.2 ounces cream cheese, 1/2 cup powdered sugar, 2-3 Tablespoons milk, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Equipment
2 (13 inch) Baking Sheets
1 Electric Mixer Fitted with a Paddle Attachment
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Nutrition
Serving: 1serving | Calories: 173kcal | Carbohydrates: 22g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 26mg | Sodium: 58mg | Potassium: 58mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 11g | Vitamin A: 225IU | Vitamin C: 0.3mg | Calcium: 19mg | Iron: 1mg
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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