Apple cinnamon oatmeal cookies are soft, chewy oatmeal cookies loaded with diced Granny Smith apples and finished with a sweet vanilla icing drizzle. The apples bake into the cookie and stay tender. The icing sets firm on top.
These are the cookies I make when apple season hits and I want something faster than a pie. No mixer required for the icing. Just confectioners sugar, a splash of milk, and a fork.
Why These Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal Cookies Work
Granny Smith apples hold their shape. A sweeter apple like Fuji or Gala breaks down in the oven and the cookies turn mushy. Granny Smiths are tart and firm. Dice them small, about the size of a raisin. They soften just enough while the cookies bake but do not disappear.
Quick oats, not old-fashioned rolled oats. Quick oats are thinner and cut smaller. They absorb moisture faster and give the cookie a softer, more uniform chew. Old-fashioned oats work in a pinch but the texture comes out coarser.
Vanilla icing makes the cookie. The cookie itself is spiced and full of oats with little bursts of tart apple. The icing adds the sweetness that balances it. Confectioners sugar, milk, and vanilla stirred together with a fork. Drizzle it across the cooled cookies and let it set for ten minutes before stacking.
Do not overmix. Cream the butter and sugars until smooth, beat in the eggs, stir in the dry ingredients until just combined. Do not overmix or the cookies get tough.
Chill the dough for thirty minutes if your kitchen is warm. Softened butter plus warm hands makes the dough sticky. A quick chill firms the fat so the cookies hold their shape in the oven.
How to Make Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal Cookies
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line cookie sheets with parchment paper.
- Peel the Granny Smith apple. Slice it thin, then dice the slices into small pieces about the size of a raisin. Set aside.
- Beat the softened butter until smooth. Beat in the granulated sugar and brown sugar until smooth and creamy. Add the eggs one at a time, beating after each. Add the vanilla and stir.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, baking soda, and salt.
- Slowly beat the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients until just incorporated. Add the quick oats a little at a time until combined. Gently fold in the diced apple.
- Scoop the dough onto the lined cookie sheets using a number 40 cookie scoop, about one and a half tablespoons per cookie, spaced two inches apart.
- Bake for 10 to 11 minutes, until the edges are golden brown and the centers look set. Let the cookies cool on the sheet for 10 minutes before transferring to a wire rack. Cool completely before icing.
- Make the icing. Combine the confectioners sugar, milk, and vanilla extract. Stir until smooth. Drizzle over the cooled cookies. Let the icing harden completely before storing.
Quick Tips
- Use Granny Smith apples. They are tart and firm. Sweeter apples turn to mush.
- Dice the apple small. Raisin-sized pieces distribute evenly through the dough.
- A hand mixer makes this recipe quick and easy to make vs. mixing by hand.
- Do not skip the icing. It balances the tart apple and warm spice.
- Chill the dough if your kitchen is warm. Thirty minutes in the fridge.
- Cool the cookies completely before icing. Warm cookies melt the icing into a puddle.
Make Ahead and Storage
Store baked cookies on the counter in an airtight container for up to 5 days. Place wax paper between layers so the icing does not stick.
The cookie dough freezes well. Scoop it into balls, freeze on a tray, then transfer to a freezer bag. Bake from frozen and add a minute or two.
More Apple Recipes
For more apple baking, try my apple cinnamon roll bake for a warm breakfast casserole. My caramel apple coffee cake is another fall favorite.
📖 Recipe
Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal Cookies Recipe
Ingredients
Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal Cookies
- 1 cup unsalted butter - softened
- ½ cup sugar
- 1 cup packed brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 eggs
- 1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 3 cups quick oats
- 1 cup diced Granny Smith Apple
Icing
- 1 ½ cups confectioners sugar
- 2 ½ tablespoons milk
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
Make the Oatmeal Cookies
- Preheat oven to 350°F and line cookie sheets with parchment paper.
- Peel and dice the Granny Smith apple.
- Beat the softened butter until smooth.
- Beat in the granulated sugar and the brown sugar until smooth.
- Add eggs one at a time and blend well.
- Add in vanilla, and stir to combine.
- In a separate bowl, combine the all-purpose flour, salt, and baking soda.
- Slowly beat the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients until incorporated.
- Add the quick oats a little at a time until combined.
- Use a #40 cookie scoop (or scoop by 1 ½ tablespoonsful of dough) and scoop cookie dough onto the cookie sheets, leaving 2 inches of space between each cookie.
- Bake for 10-11 minutes.
- Remove the cookies from the oven and allow them to cool for 10 minutes before transferring them to a wire cooling rack to cool completely.
- Cool completely before icing.
Make the Oatmeal Cookie Icing
- Combine the confectioner's sugar together with the milk and vanilla extract.
- Mix until the icing is smooth.
- Once the cookies are completely cooled, drizzle the prepared icing onto the cookies.
- Allow the icing to harden completely before storing.
Notes
- Use Granny Smith apples. They hold their shape.
- Dice the apple small, about the size of a raisin.
- Cool the cookies completely before icing or the icing will melt.
- Store on the counter in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
- Freeze dough balls for up to 3 months. Bake from frozen, add a minute.
Nutrition
Nutritional information is an estimate based on third-party calculations. Actual values may vary due to ingredients, measurements, and serving sizes.
© Mama Needs Cake
Tried this recipe?
Let us know how it was!Dana is an experienced recipe creator who crafts easy and delicious recipes for all levels of home cooks.
Her recipes range from classic comfort foods to healthy and nutritious meals, and she is always on the lookout for new and exciting ways to bring flavor and variety to the table.
These look easy and delish!!!
These cookies look delicious! I love just about anything with apples in it! We are taking our kids apple picking soon and gathering recipes to try with all the apples we bring home this one is going in our recipe binder.
I admit I’m no good at baking but this recipe looks delicious, will have to ask my sis to bake them for me. Lol
Oh.my.goodness! These look delicious! Baking these will make my house smell so good! I will be pinning this recipe for sure!
these look so good i totally need to make these
These look so delicious! Not too hard to make so this would be a great recipe for my boys and I to try!