These cinnamon apple oatmeal cookies are soft, chewy, and loaded with tender apples in every bite. No eggs or dairy needed!
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
With fall upon us, I've already baked these healthy apple pie baked apples, apple pie cookies, and air fryer apples. Now it's time for these cozy apple oatmeal cookies.
Best of all, these apple and oat cookies are easy to make with simple, inexpensive pantry staples (no eggs, no dairy, and no dough chilling required)! Customize them with mix-ins like nuts, vegan chocolate chips, or a drizzle of glaze (like this easy lemon glaze). However you make them, they're bound to become a favorite fall cookie.
Looking for more easy bakes? Try my vegan banana oatmeal muffins, easy protein banana bread, and lemon olive oil cake.
Ingredient Notes
This apple oatmeal cookie recipe comes together with 9 simple, inexpensive pantry staples.
- Apple: I used tart Granny Smith apple, though any crisp baking apple works, like Braeburn, Honey Crisp, Pink Lady, or Fuji apples. Avoid soft apples.
Recipe Add-Ins and Variations
- Pears: Substitute some or all of the apples
- Other spices: Add nutmeg, ginger, cloves, cardamom, or even apple pie spice.
- Orange zest: Add a tablespoon in the oatmeal apple cookies.
- Add-ins: Add ½-1 cup of toasted walnuts/pecans, dried fruit (cranberries, raisins, chopped dates, etc.), and/or some vegan chocolate chips/chunks. A few tablespoons of chopped candied ginger or shredded coconut also work.
- Cinnamon sugar: Sprinkle over the apple cinnamon oat cookie dough before baking.
- Add a glaze: Drizzle a plain, vanilla, maple, or cinnamon glaze over the top.
- Caramel sauce: Like this vegan peanut butter caramel to drizzle over the oat and apple cookies when serving.
- Vegan cream cheese frosting: To spread over the top.
How to Make Cinnamon Apple Oatmeal Cookies
Step 1: Preheat the oven to 350°F/175°C, and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper/a silicone mat. Then, core and finely dice the apple. Cream the vegan butter and sugar in a stand mixer or a large bowl with an electric mixer until light and fluffy (3-5 minutes).
Step 2: Mix in the applesauce and vanilla. In a separate bowl, whisk the flour, baking powder, and cinnamon.
Step 3: Mix the wet and dry ingredients until only just combined into a dough. Fold in the rolled oats and diced apples.
Step 4: Use a 2-tablespoon cookie scoop to drop the dough onto the baking sheet, two inches apart, lightly flattening them. Bake the apple oatmeal cookies for 12-15 minutes until lightly golden.
Step 5: Remove from the oven and cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely. Enjoy!
FAQs
I haven't tried chilling the dough, as I worry the apples will brown and release liquid into the dough. However, you could scoop the dough onto a parchment-lined tray, flatten it slightly, flash freeze until solid, and transfer to a Ziplock/Stasher for 1-2 months. Bake from frozen, adding 2-3 minutes.
No, it will soften when baked. However, remove it if preferred for a softer texture.
Sure! Just adjust the baking time accordingly.
Pro Recipe Tips
- Measure flour properly: To avoid dense apple and oatmeal cookies. Fluff it in its bag, spoon it into a measuring cup, then level with a knife.
- Use crisp apples: Like Granny Smith or Honeycrisp. Avoid soft apples, which can become mushy when baked.
- Don't over-mix: Otherwise, the cookies may become tough/dry.
- Lightly flatten the dough: These cookies don't spread a lot, so gently flatten them with the back of the scoop or your fingers before baking.
- Don't overbake: Remove when lightly golden, they'll still look soft and a little underbaked, but continue to cook and set as they cool.
Storage Instructions
Store: In an airtight container at room temperature for 2-3 days or in the fridge for 5 days. Remove the apple oat cookies from the fridge a few minutes before enjoying.
Freeze: Flash freeze until solid and transfer to a Ziplock/Stasher for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight, on the counter for a few hours, or quickly in a microwave.
More Vegan Apple Dessert Recipes
If you tried this apple oatmeal cookies recipe or any other recipe on my blog, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. Thanks!
Apple Oatmeal Cookies
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Ingredients
- ½ cup brown sugar
- ½ cup vegan butter softened
- ⅔ cup unsweetened applesauce
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
- 1 large Granny Smith apple cored and diced
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone mat. Set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, using a stand mixer or hand mixer, cream together the vegan butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy.
- Add the applesauce and vanilla extract to the bowl and mix until fully combined.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and cinnamon.
- Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix until just combined.
- Fold in the rolled oats and diced apples until evenly incorporated.
- Using a 2-tablespoon cookie scoop, drop the dough onto the prepared baking sheet, spacing the cookies about 2 inches apart.
- Lightly flatten each cookie with the back of the scoop or your fingers.
- Bake for 12-15 minutes, or until the cookies are lightly golden.
- Remove from the oven and allow them to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely before serving.
Notes
- Don't over-mix: Otherwise, the cookies may become tough/dry.
- Lightly flatten the dough: These cookies don't spread a lot, so gently flatten them with the back of the scoop or your fingers before baking.
- Don't overbake: Remove when lightly golden, they'll still look soft and a little underbaked, but continue to cook and set as they cool.
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