An apple crisp in cookie form! These Caramelized Apple Oatmeal cookies are packed with apple cinnamon flavour.
Fall is in full swing and I am loving every minute of it. As I type this, it’s dark and rainy outside, the trees are changing color, and there are pumpkins everywhere. Love it! Ryan thinks I’m crazy, of course, loving the gloomy weather, but to me it is the ultimate in coziness. All I need is a blanket, a book, some hot tea in my favourite pumpkin mug, and the fire going. Except that we have an electric fireplace, which kinda sucks, and I don’t actually have time to read. Nevertheless, I still love it. And I love Fall baking!!
This week’s Fall-themed recipe is these Caramelized Apple Oatmeal cookies that are basically like an Apple Crisp in cookie form.
These were a bit of an experiment to be honest. Instead of just using applesauce or dried apples for flavour, I wanted to include chunks of fresh apple. Mostly because I already had some sitting on the counter waiting to be used. Apples release a lot of moisture when cooked, and I was worried they would ruin the cookies when baked, so I decided to cook out some of that moisture before putting them into the batter.
I diced up 2 medium Granny Smith apples (but any good baking apples will do) and caramelized them with some butter and sugar. This helped get some of the moisture out, and the caramelization added a ton more flavour too! I used my Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe and basically just swapped the chocolate chips for apple chunks. I am grateful that they turned out perfect.
The chunks of fresh apple in these cookies really add great texture and flavour, but you could use dried apples instead and skip the whole caramelization part.
A simple sugar glaze finishes off these pretty apple oatmeal cookies. If you love Apple Crisp – and who doesn’t? – you will love these cookies!
Caramelized Apple Oatmeal Cookies
INGREDIENTS
Apples:
- 2 cups granny smith apples peeled and diced, approx. 2 medium
- 2 tsp unsalted butter
- 4 tsp light brown sugar packed
Cookie Dough:
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp cinnamon ground
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 cup unsalted butter room temperature
- 1 cup light brown sugar packed
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs room temperature
- 2 tsp vanilla
- 3 cups rolled oats
Glaze:
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1 Tbsp water
INSTRUCTIONS
Apples:
- Place butter, sugar, and diced apples into a medium frying pan. Cook over med-high heat, stirring occasionally, until tender and golden. Spread out on a paper towel to cool.
Cookie Dough:
- In a medium bowl, whisk flour, cinnamon, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
- In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat butter and sugars on med-high until pale and fluffy (approx. 3 minutes).
- Add eggs one at a time, fully incorporating after each addition, and beat on high for 1 minute. Add vanilla.
- Turn mixer to low and add flour mixture, mix until combined. Add oats.
- Fold in caramelized apples and mix until just combined.
- Chill dough in the fridge for at least an hour.
- Preheat oven to 350F and line a baking sheet with parchment or a Silpat.
- Using a medium cookie scoop, place cookies on baking sheet 2" apart. I did 6 cookies per sheet.
- Bake for 12-15 mins or until edges are browned but center is still soft and unset.
- Cool for 5 minutes on baking sheet, then transfer to cooling rack to cool completely.
Glaze:
- Combine sugar and water in a bowl or measuring cup. Drizzle over cooled cookies with a spoon.
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I’m making a Fall cookie platter for work. I have my pumpkin cookies done, cinnamon roll cookies next and your caramel apple oatmeal’s are just what I needed! Cookies are in the frig waiting to be baked… but the dough was pretty yummy! Shhh… Thanks for posting your recipe!
Hi Alanna! I hope you like these as much as I do!
Is it really supposed to be 2 tsp butter and 4 tsp brown sugar vs. tablespoon?
Hi Paige! Yes, it’s just a small amount of apples that you’re caramelizing. You can add more if you like though.
How do you carmelize the apples?
Hi Barbara! It’s listed in the recipe:
Place butter, sugar, and diced apples into a medium frying pan. Cook over med-high heat, stirring occasionally, until tender and golden. Spread out on a paper towel to cool.
Would you recommend freezing the baked cookies or the dough? I’ve never frozen dough with apples so I wasn’t sure…
Thank you!
Hi Brooke! There should be no problem freezing the cookies or dough as long as they are sealed in an airtight bag or container :). I often freeze baked cookies!
So I just made these and the flavor is AMAZING!! I followed the recipe to the best of my ability and the texture turned out more soft and cakey rather than chewy but maybe I did something wrong. I can’t wait to share these with my co-workers in the morning. Thank you so much for the recipe 🙂
Hi Valarie! I’m so glad you liked these :D.
“apple crisp in cookie form” = awesome!
I love the thickness of these cookies and of course, the caramelized apple chunks. Yum!
Thanks so much Janice! They were super yummy 🙂
just clarifying, it is 2 tsp of butter for caramelizing the apples?
Thanks!
Hi Harriet! Yeah, I just used a tiny bit, but you can use more if you’d like!
How long do they stay fresh?
Hi Regina, they should stay fresh in an airtight container for 3-5 days. Or, you can freeze them and they will last for weeks!
These look great for the holidays! All of you cakes look amazing! I am truly inspired to make some yummy desserts for my blog!
Thank you Amber!!
I am having major fall envy right now living in Australia – this is just fuel for the fire! these cookies look like perfection.
Thanks Ruby!! I imagine it’s a bit hard to think of fall when you’re Full-on in Spring mode! A chilly/rainy spring evening could be the perfect setting for these though :).
Just pinned these because they are one darn fine looking cookie! Gorgeous Liv!
Thanks so much Jess!
These are SO perfect for fall! I’m running short on time these days too, but I might have squeeze in some time by the fire with a book, tea, and some of these cookies 😀
Sounds pretty perfect :D.
These cookies are super yummy! Love the apple and cinnamon flavour – so perfect for fall! I’ve gotta give these a try soon!
Thanks Jess!
These look so good! Love apple crisp and love cookies, so a mash up of both sounds right up my alley! Pinned! i guess we’re twinning on fusion cookies today; mine’s a cinnamon roll/sugar cookie hybrid.
Awesome! Love cinnamon cookies 🙂 And thanks!
These look like they could be a great breakfast cookie for the kiddos. I’m sure they wouldn’t complain! Thanks for the recipe 🙂
I hope you try them! Let me know what the kids think :).
lovely cookies.
Thank you!
Olivia these look amazing! LOVE that you caramelised your own apples just for the cookies – absolutely perfect with the oats and cinnamon. So autumnal! <3
Thanks so much Claudia!
I am reeeeaaallllly wanting these right now! fall flavors for sure – making this week, FOR SURE!
Yay! Let me know how you like them. They are so perfect for fall!
These look like the perfect fall cookie! Love the idea of using fresh caramelized apple, I’m sure it lends a wonderful flavor to these 🙂
Thanks June! The flavour was so yummy :). xo