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.
Chelsea F. says
I like making baked oatmeal with berries and banana.
Karen says
I have been making all different kinds of Oatmeal cookies foe the last 50 years my favorite is with cranberry and chocolate chips Can't waite ti try his new one
Linda Warren says
Oh, I've got to try some with cranberries. That sounds sooo good!
Dawn says
Love Quaker Oatmeal in the morning with fresh fruit and brown sugar!
Linda Warren says
I'm definitely a fresh fruit & oatmeal person too! Sounds like a great way to start any day.
Paula D says
My favorite way to eat Quaker Oats is in homemade cookies!
Doris Lee says
I eat my oats with dried cranberries and chopped walnuts. So good for you!
Linda Warren says
I'm going to have to try mine with the cranberries. Great way to sweeten them up without added sugar.
Andrea Williams says
Love it with some cream for breakfast or making some No Bake Cookies for the family.
Linda Warren says
Yum! Nothing's better than no bake cookies with oats.
Patricia Kastenholz says
I like my oatmeal in a snack bar, a cookie, or a high fiber bread.
Linda Warren says
So agree! And that high fiber bread sounds delicious!
sandra says
in traditional oatmeal raisin cookies
Della Dabner says
I'm a plain girl. Give me some oatmeal with some butter and salt and a touch of milk and I'm good.
Betty G. says
I love making oatmeal with raisins and a little brown sugar. My all time favorite though, is apple crisp. Makes me look forward to the fall apple season.
Linda Warren says
Now you've made me hungry! Apple crisp sounds awesome!
SandiAKK says
This looks delicious!
Linda Warren says
Thanks! Hope you get a chance to try them.
Marisela Zuniga says
Oatmeal with bannas!
Cayla Hardesty says
This is my fav!
Linda Warren says
Thanks!
Amy says
I make overnight oats every evening so that I have a quick and healthy breakfast every morning. Greek yogurt for protein, nut butter for good fat and fruit - it's so good! I look forward to it every day!
Linda Warren says
I'd look forward to that too! Yum!
Jen Alamilla says
I love to eat my Quaker Oats in cookies!
Andrea Beebe says
I love oatmeal cookies!!
Olga says
I love making homemade granola and topping my homemade yogurt with it,yummy!
Lesa Caputo says
I love Quaker Oats on a cold winter morning!
Robin Brink says
I love Quaker Oats cooked up with a little brown sugar and a touch of peanut butter!
Karen Blasier says
My favorite way to eat Quaker Oats is in any type of Gluten Free recipe.
Linda Warren says
Isn't it great that Quaker has gluten-free oats. When I cook for my daughter I use them in anything from cookies to coatings for chicken or fish.
RebeccaR says
My favorite ways to eat oats is to make a flour of them in my blender cup and use in place of some of the white flour in cookie recipes. As far as eating as a hot breakfast, just lots of butter, dash of cinnamon and a glop of brown sugar.
Linda Warren says
Oat flour is such a healthier substitute to white flour. Great idea!
Amy says
Overnight oatmeal everyday!
Debbie S. says
Can't wait to try this recipe. One of the 1st things I learned to bake as a teen was Quaker Oatmeal cookies, I still have the lid where I got the recipe from.
Linda Warren says
Very cool! You can't go wrong with Quaker oats in anything!
Patricia C says
I love to eat quaker oats in Dickie Doo Fudgies - no bake cookies
Linda Warren says
I'm not sure what Dickie Doo Fudgies are but they sure sound yummy!
Lamia Murphy says
I can't wait to try these. They look awesome!