Description
Deliciously soft and chewy Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal Cookies made with wholesome oats, fresh apples, warm cinnamon, and optional nuts and dried fruits. Perfect as a comforting snack or a sweet treat to brighten your day.
Ingredients
Scale
Wet Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup brown sugar, packed
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Dry Ingredients
- 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Add-ins
- 3 cups old-fashioned oats
- 1 cup peeled, chopped apples
- 1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans (optional)
- 1/2 cup raisins or dried cranberries (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking and ensure even baking.
- Cream Butter and Sugars: In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy, which helps create a tender cookie texture.
- Add Eggs and Vanilla: Add the eggs one at a time to the creamed mixture, beating well after each addition to fully incorporate. Stir in the vanilla extract for flavor depth.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, ground cinnamon, and salt to ensure even distribution of leavening agents and spices.
- Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients: Gradually add the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients, mixing just until combined to avoid overworking the dough.
- Fold in Add-ins: Gently fold in the old-fashioned oats, chopped apples, and optional nuts and dried fruits until everything is evenly distributed throughout the dough.
- Form Cookies: Drop spoonfuls of the cookie dough onto the prepared baking sheet, maintaining about 2 inches between each to allow for spreading.
- Bake: Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes or until the edges turn golden brown, indicating they are cooked through but still soft inside.
- Cool: Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely, which helps them set and prevents breaking.
Notes
- For extra moisture and flavor, use fresh, crisp apples like Granny Smith or Honeycrisp.
- Walnuts or pecans add a nice crunch but can be omitted for a nut-free version.
- You can substitute raisins with dried cranberries or leave dried fruit out entirely based on preference.
- Cookies will keep fresh in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
- To make them gluten-free, substitute all-purpose flour with a gluten-free baking flour blend.
