What's better than a soft, chewy oatmeal cookie? These delicious fall-inspired Apple Oatmeal Cookies! Ready in just 30 minutes, these cookies are easy to make and on the healthy side with whole grain oats, apples, applesauce, and nuts! They're sweetened with maple syrup and have warm notes of salty bacon mixed in.
These Applesauce Oatmeal Cookies are sweet enough for snack time and healthy enough for breakfast! Better yet, they're delightfully dairy-free and gluten-free with no refined sugar.
Table of Contents
- Applesauce Oatmeal Cookies
- Why You'll Love These Healthy Apple Oatmeal Cookies
- Ingredients
- Best Oats for Cookies
- Best Apples for Cookies
- How to Make Apple Oatmeal Cookies
- Recipe Tips
- Recipe Variations
- How to Store These Oatmeal Cookies
- How to Freeze Apple Oatmeal Cookie Dough
- How to Freeze Baked Oatmeal Apple Cookies
- Frequently Asked Questions About Oatmeal Cookies
- More Delicious Cookies
Applesauce Oatmeal Cookies
These are the best chewy oatmeal cookies because they are made with only the freshest and tastiest ingredients. Just look at them and you can see all the different textures that work together to produce unforgettable apple cinnamon oatmeal cookies.
Apples are a quintessential fall dessert and these oatmeal apple cookies stand out among the legions of other fall apple desserts. If you have a bunch of apples to use up, these cookies are my go-to along with other favorites like French apple pie or cinnamon apple Hello Dolly bars.
Why You'll Love These Healthy Apple Oatmeal Cookies
Rolled oats - give these apple cinnamon oatmeal cookies a boost of fiber.
Dairy-free - no milk in sight!
No eggs - the almond butter holds them together
No refined sugar - they are sweetened with pure maple syrup and unsweetened applesauce
Absolutely no flour - so they are naturally gluten-free when using gluten-free rolled oats
Ingredients
Here's what you'll need for these chewy and soft oatmeal apple cookies:
- Almond butter
- Pure maple syrup
- Unsweetened applesauce
- Pure vanilla extract
- Apples
- Ground cinnamon
- Oats
- Pecans or walnuts
- Bacon
- Salt
Best Oats for Cookies
Old-fashioned rolled oats are best for making oatmeal cookies.
Quick-cooking or instant oats will not give the same chewy, nutty texture because they are thinner and smaller in size.
Steel-cut oats have a crunchy texture of grain (like rice) and take much longer to soften so they are not good for cookies.
Best Apples for Cookies
Any baking apple is great for these cookies. Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, Fuji, Jonagold, or Pink Lady are good choices.
How to Make Apple Oatmeal Cookies
So how easy are these maple apple oatmeal cookies? Super easy, taking only 10 minutes from prepping to oven and no mixer needed. And since you use parchment paper to line the cookie sheets, cleanup is a breeze. That's a win-win in my book.
- In a medium bowl, place almond butter, maple syrup, applesauce, and vanilla extract.
- Stir until well combined.
- Peel and seed an apple and dice into small pieces. Sprinkle with cinnamon and stir to coat.
- In a large bowl, place oats, chopped bacon, pecans, and cinnamon apples.
- Mix well.
- Add the wet and dry ingredients together.
- It will be a stiff mixture but stir until the ingredients are all moist and evenly distributed.
- You should be able to form a ball with the dough and have it stick together.
- Using a medium cookie scoop, drop balls of dough onto parchment-lined cookie sheets. (This makes cleanup a breeze!)
- Flatten with the bottom of a glass, a measuring cup, or even easier, your fingers.
- Once flattened they are ready to bake.
- Bake at 350 degrees for 18 minutes. Let them cool completely on the cookie sheet.
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Once cool, enjoy these little healthy bites of deliciousness with milk, a cup of coffee, or even orange juice for a quick pick-me-up at breakfast, after a workout, or at snack time.
Recipe Tips
- Chop the apples into tiny pieces to help evenly distribute them in the cookies.
- Be sure to cook the bacon until crispy and chop it into small bits.
- Use a cookie scoop to evenly portion out the cookie dough.
Recipe Variations
- Apple Oatmeal Raisin Cookies - Substitute the pecans with raisins.
- Maple Brown Sugar Oatmeal Cookies - Substitute half of the maple syrup with brown sugar.
- Apple Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies - Substitute the almond butter with peanut butter.
- Oatmeal Apple Chocolate Chip Cookies - Substitute the pecans with chocolate chips.
- Vegan Apple Oatmeal Cookies - Omit the bacon.
How to Store These Oatmeal Cookies
Store the cookies in an airtight container or plastic zip-top bag.
Because the cookies contain bacon they need to be stored in the refrigerator. Bacon can go rancid at room temperature. They will last up to 5 days in the fridge. However, I have kept them on the counter in my house, which I keep cool, for 3 days and they've been fine.
How to Freeze Apple Oatmeal Cookie Dough
Prepare the cookies as directed all the way up to pressing the dough portions on baking sheets. Instead of baking, put them in the freezer.
Once the cookie dough portions are frozen, transfer them to a freezer bag or freezer-safe container. They will last in the freezer for up to 3 months.
When you're ready to bake the cookies, you can bake them from frozen. You'll need to add 1 to 2 extra minutes of baking time.
How to Freeze Baked Oatmeal Apple Cookies
Once the cookies have cooled completely, place them in a plastic freezer bag or freezer-safe airtight container with a piece of parchment paper between each layer of cookies.
To thaw, place them on the counter for a few hours or until they come to room temperature. You can also thaw them in the refrigerator overnight.
Frequently Asked Questions About Oatmeal Cookies
Oatmeal cookies have more fiber, vitamins, and minerals than cookies without oats. Applesauce is also good for you because it contains vitamin C and antioxidants. They have healthy properties, but they should still be treated like the dessert that they are.
While oatmeal cookies have some healthy aspects, they contain sugar (or sweeteners) and carbohydrates which should be consumed in moderation.
It depends on the ingredients in the cookies. This particular recipe is when using gluten-free oats. However, some cookies will not be gluten-free if they contain regular flour like all-purpose or whole wheat.
It depends on the ingredients in the cookies. Oatmeal cookies with eggs, dairy products, or honey are not vegan.
More Delicious Cookies
- Apple Crisp Bars have an oatmeal crust, fresh apple filling, and caramel drizzle.
- Gluten-Free Peanut Butter Cookies are soft and chewy.
- Gluten-Free Oatmeal Cookies with chia seeds, chocolate chips, and pecans.
- Key Lime Cookies are made with key lime juice and coated with powdered sugar.
- Peanut Butter Banana Cookies topped with a chocolate drizzle.
Find lots more cookie recipes here on 2CM!
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Apple Oatmeal Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 cup almond butter
- ¼ cup pure maple syrup
- ¼ cup unsweetened applesauce
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- ⅔ cup apples peeled and diced small
- 1 ¼ teaspoons cinnamon
- 2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
- ½ cup pecans, chopped (almonds can also be used)
- 4 slices bacon cooked & crumbled (about ½ cup)
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Line cookie sheets with parchment paper or silicone mats.
- In a large bowl, combine first 4 ingredients, stirring well.
- In a medium bowl, toss apples with cinnamon.
- Add remaining ingredients with cinnamon apples and mix well.
- Combine with liquid ingredients until mixture sticks together when squeezed into a ball.
- Using a medium cookie scoop, scoop dough and place on prepared cookie sheets. Press down to flatten slightly. You want about a 2" round cookie.
- Bake for 18 minutes. Remove from oven and cool on cookie sheets.
- Store in an airtight container on the counter for 3 days (if your house is cool) or up to 5 days in the refrigerator.
Notes
- Chop the apples into tiny pieces to help evenly distribute them in the cookies.
- Be sure to cook the bacon until crispy and chop it into small bits.
- Use a cookie scoop to evenly portion out the cookie dough.
Want to save this recipe?
I'll email this recipe to you & you can come back to it when you're ready. Plus you'll get delicious seasonal recipes from me a couple times a month!
Nutrition
This post has been updated with new photos and step-by-step directions. It was first published on February 11, 2018.
Barrie says
I love making soft chewy cookies with oatmeal! But I MUST try the additions you add to your cookies! I'm out of town visiting my kiddo, but am going to make these when I get home!
Linda Warren says
That's great! If you try them let me know what you think. And hope you had fun with your kids. Those are my favorite trips to make.
GG says
Oatmeal raisin cookies are yummy!
Margo Goldberg says
Cookies look delish, glad i found your blog via Vocalpoint.
Linda Warren says
Thanks so much! I've got to thank Vocalpoint for sending you my way then. Appreciate your visit and hope you enjoy the recipes.
Howell says
I like my oatmeal with maple syrup.
Laura says
Sound delicious!
Sara M says
I make Quaker old fashioned oats for breakfast every morning. Sometimes I make them with grated apple, cinnamon, nutmeg & walnuts; or I use coconut milk, almonds & blueberries; or oconut milk, strawberries & chia seeds.
Linda Warren says
Coconut milk sounds like a tasty addition to up the flavor. Now I'm thinking of making some pina colad oatmeal cookies.
Megan Campagna says
These look delicious! Such a great on-the-go breakfast! My favorite way to use oats is overnight oats for the convenience - I like to mix up the add ins for variety 🙂
Linda Warren says
I'm always looking for quick but healthy breakfasts too. And using oats is always a great start.
Judy Dehne says
I love to make Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies
Lacey says
I eat oats for breakfast with apple and cinnamon.
mary pirmorac says
oatmeal cookies of course
Natalie Douglass says
I usually eat my oatmeal with butter, syrup, fruit and granola!
brenna says
Might have to try these with the gluten-free oats. Looks delicious
Linda Warren says
I've made them with gluten-free oats for the other Cookin' Mama. They're just as tasty as these.
Linda Sanders says
My favorite way to eat Quaker Oats is with butter, sugar and milk for breakfast. I know, you think that's boring. lol
Linda Warren says
lol Nope, not boring at all! Actually sounds perfect for breakfast.
Colleen Garcia says
Keeping it simple with butter and cinnamon/sugar
Cheryl Ford says
I love to make oatmeal cookies
DeAnn says
My favorite is soft and chewy oatmeal raisin cookies.
Deborah says
I used to only like oatmeal if it was sweetened and with butter. But after losing 50 pounds on Weight Watchers, my way to get the bit of sweetness and the creaminess of the butter is to cut up a banana (hopefully a bit ripe so it is sweet) in my bowl and add a little half and half or fat free half and half. If I'm going all out, I'll add just a bit of granola on top or chop a few pecans or almonds for just a little bit of crunch. Oh, and cinnamon! And by the way, these cookies sound really good; who wouldn't love a cookie for breakfast or with an afternoon cup of tea!
Linda Warren says
My thoughts exactly! And congrats on losing all that weight! Love the banana as sweetener and I'm a big fan of almonds & cinnamon. Great combo without all the sugar.
linda lemons says
my fave has always been with some butter and brown sugar
Avra Williams says
Oatmeal with fresh berries! But these look good!
Linda Warren says
I'm with you! I never pass up fresh berries if I have them in the house. And they sure taste great on that oatmeal!
Eugenie says
I know its unconventional but I love to put grated cheddar cheese in my oatmeal since i prefer savory to sweet.
Linda Warren says
Now you've got me thinking. I bet cheese would be great in oatmeal. How about an oatmeal muffin with cheese and jalapeno on the order of a corn muffin. Bet it would be delicious. Thanks for the inspiration.
HARVINDER KAUR BRAR says
use steel cut oats...soak overnight and eat raw with friuts!
Abby says
Awesome!!
Linda Birdsell says
I love Quaker oats as breakfast with milk and sugar!
Linda Warren says
Just the way my mom used to serve it to our family every morning. It sure has a way of warming you up on these cold winter days.
Laurie Hertz says
Oatmeal raisin cookies cookies are my farite
Katie Prettyman says
I love oatmeal in cookies and desert bars!