Description
Warm, spiced Apple Oatmeal Cookies bring autumn’s comfort to your kitchen, blending sweet orchard fruit with hearty rolled oats. Crisp edges and chewy centers invite home bakers to savor seasonal comfort in each delightful bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 ½ cups old-fashioned rolled oats
- 1 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup diced apple (peeled, Granny Smith or Honeycrisp work best)
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
- ½ cup brown sugar, packed
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
Spices and Seasonings:
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon nutmeg (optional)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Optional Add-ins:
- ½ cup chopped walnuts or pecans (optional)
- ½ cup raisins or dried cranberries (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare the workspace by setting the oven temperature to 350F (175C) and lining a baking sheet with parchment paper for optimal cookie preparation.
- Combine the dry ingredients in a medium mixing bowl, thoroughly whisking oats, flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg to ensure even distribution of spices and leavening agents.
- In a separate large bowl, cream together butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until the mixture becomes light, airy, and develops a fluffy texture, which takes approximately 2 minutes of vigorous mixing.
- Incorporate the egg and vanilla extract into the butter-sugar mixture, stirring until the ingredients are completely smooth and well integrated.
- Gradually fold the dry ingredient mixture into the wet ingredients, stirring gently to create a cohesive dough without overmixing, which can result in tough cookies.
- Gently fold in diced apples, chopped nuts, and raisins, distributing them evenly throughout the cookie dough to ensure each bite contains a delightful blend of flavors and textures.
- Use a tablespoon to portion the cookie dough onto the prepared baking sheet, spacing the dough balls approximately 2 inches apart to allow for proper spreading during baking.
- Place the baking sheet in the preheated oven and bake for 12-14 minutes, watching for golden-brown edges while maintaining a soft, slightly underbaked center for optimal cookie texture.
- Allow the cookies to rest on the baking sheet for 5 minutes to set their structure, then carefully transfer them to a wire cooling rack to complete the cooling process and achieve the perfect chewy consistency.
Notes
- Customize the texture by adjusting the apple chunk size, which impacts moisture and chewiness of the cookies.
- Choose firm, tart apples like Granny Smith for a sharper flavor and better structural integrity during baking.
- Replace butter with coconut oil for a dairy-free version that maintains a rich, tender cookie consistency.
- Toast nuts before adding to enhance their nutty flavor and provide an extra layer of depth to the cookie’s overall taste profile.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Snacks, Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 12
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 7 g
- Sodium: 90 mg
- Fat: 6 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 22 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 15 mg