This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
This easy, delicious recipe for Apple Oatmeal Cookies is a wonderful way to showcase fresh apples! Filled with hearty oats, warm spices, and diced apples, they’re exploding with cozy apple flavor and absolutely perfect for the fall season.
These healthy apple oatmeal cookies are just the thing to make to get you in the mood for the fall season! They are easier & quicker to make than apple pie, more portable, healthier, and still a major hit. Serve them at potlucks, fall celebrations, and, of course, as a quick snack at home. They’re super tasty and kids enjoy them too!
Why you’ll love this recipe
- Irresistibly delicious: Not only is the warm, cozy flavor amazing, but these are perfectly soft and tender with great texture. We recommend doubling the recipe because these disappear fast!
- Hearty & satisfying: Unlike most cookie recipes, these apple cookies are filled with nutritious ingredients. The base is made with oats and whole wheat flour, and they’re naturally sweetened with agave or maple syrup.
- Easy to make: Simply, mix the dry ingredients in one bowl and the wet ingredients in another, combine, and add the apple chunks. You don’t even need an electric mixer to make these!
- Great for meal prep: Store these in the fridge and they will keep fresh for longer, to enjoy throughout the week. We also love to keep a batch in the freezer, perfect to grab when you’re craving something sweet.
Ingredients needed to make these healthy oatmeal cookies
This apple oatmeal cookie recipe is made with simple, healthier ingredients. You could even enjoy a couple of them for breakfast! Here’s everything you’ll need to make them:
- Old-fashioned rolled oats: For the best chewy texture, we recommend using old–fashioned rolled oats.
- Whole wheat flour: We love the nuttiness and extra nutrition that whole wheat flour provides, but feel free to use all-purpose flour, if you’d prefer.
- Baking staples: This recipe calls for baking powder (not baking soda!) and salt for proper baking.
- Spices: Ground cinnamon and nutmeg add spicy warmth.
- Coconut oil: Just 2 tbsp of coconut oil gives these the right amount of moisture without having to use butter.
- Egg: You’ll need one egg to give these structures and help bind the ingredients together.
- Vanilla: A must for yummy baked goods.
- Sweetener: Use either agave syrup or maple syrup for natural sweetness.
- Apple: Any favorite apple variety will work for this recipe.
- Lemon juice & zest: Brightens the apple flavor!
How to make this recipe
- In a bowl, combine the dry ingredients: oats, flour, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt.
- In a second bowl, whisk all the wet ingredients: coconut oil, egg, vanilla, and agave syrup. Add the dry over the wet and stir until combined.
- Finely chop the apple, add the zest, and squeeze over the lemon juice, tossing to coat almost all the pieces. Add the chopped apple to the bowl with the batter and stir to incorporate. Refrigerate for 15 minutes.
- Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 325ºF and line a large sheet pan with parchment paper. Scoop the cold batter onto the prepared sheet pan; you should have around 8 scoops. They’ll slightly flatten as you finish scooping the last one. Bake for 12-15 minutes, then cool on the pan.
Expert Tips
- Peeling the apple: It is not necessary to peel the apple before dicing it and adding it to the batter. They are diced so small, you won’t even notice the peel.
- Don’t over-mix dough: If you over-mix the ingredients, you’re more likely to end up with flat cookies that are overly dense.
- Chill the dough: For best results, be sure to chill the dough for at least 15 minutes. Chilling keeps them thick and chewy and prevents them from spreading too flat when baking.
- Don’t grease the pan: Line your baking sheet with parchment paper or a nonstick mat to prevent sticking. Greasing the baking sheet creates an overly greasy foundation, which will cause too much spreading.
Frequently asked questions
We love Honeycrisp apples! They’re tart with just enough sweetness, and they’re firm enough to hold up to baking. They’ll bake up nice and tender, but not get overly mushy. Other great options are Granny Smith, Fuji, Braeburn, and/or Pink Lady.
Whether or not something is healthy is subjective. However, with regards to cookies and desserts, these are healthier than most. They are made with whole grains and are naturally sweetened with agave or maple syrup. They also don’t contain any butter, and just a small amount of oil.
These cookies have a little over 200 calories each and only 5 grams of fat. All of the other nutrition information can be found in the recipe card.
Variations
We love these cookies as-is, but here are a few suggestions to change them up:
- Add a glaze for extra sweetness and decadence! Make a glaze by mixing 1/4 cup confectioners’ sugar with 1 to 2 teaspoons milk. Mix until smooth and drizzle over the cooled cookies.
- If you love nuts in cookies, add some finely chopped pecans or walnuts to the batter.
- Drizzle caramel over the tops once these have cooled to give them that caramel apple taste.
Storage recommendations
- To store: These can be kept at room temperature for the first day or two, then stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 to 7 days.
- To freeze: Allow the cookies to completely cool, and then transfer them to an airtight container lined with wax or parchment paper or a freezer-safe bag before storing them in the freezer for up to 2 months. Once ready to eat, simply thaw at room temperature.
More apple recipes
- Homemade Applesauce
- Cinnamon Apple Pie Chia Pudding
- Healthy Apple Walnut Bread
- Apple Cinnamon Muffins
- Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal
recipes you may also like
- Blueberry Coconut Chia Pudding
- Peaches and Cream Overnight Oats
- Mango Smoothie Recipe
- Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie
- Carrot Cake Energy Bites
- Avocado Smoothie
If you try a recipe and you like it, leave us some feedback in the comment section below, and don’t forget to rate it! We would love it if you shared it with friends and family.
Finally, please use our hashtag #healthyfitnessmeals on INSTAGRAM for a chance to be featured! FOLLOW Healthy Fitness Meals on FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | PINTEREST | TWITTER for all of our latest blog posts and recipes.
Apple Oatmeal Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 cup old-fashioned oats
- 1 cup whole wheat flour, or all purpose flour
- 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
- pinch of fine kosher salt
- 2 tbsp melted coconut oil
- 1 large egg, at room temperature
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 2/3 cup agave syrup , or maple syrup
- 1 large apple of choice, finely diced
- 1-2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- 2 tsp lemon zest
Instructions
- In a bowl, combine the dry ingredients: oats, flour, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt.
- In a second bowl, whisk all the wet ingredients: coconut oil, egg, vanilla and agave syrup. Add the dry over the wet and stir until combined.
- Finely chop the apple, add the zest, and squeeze over the lemon juice, tossing to coat mostly all the pieces. Add the chopped apple to the bowl with the batter and stir to incorporate. Refrigerate for 15 minutes.
- Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 325ºF and line a large sheet pan with parchment paper. Scoop the cold batter onto the prepared sheet pan; you should have around 8 scoops. They’ll slightly flatten as you finish scooping the last one. Bake for 12-15 minutes, then cool in the pan.
Notes
- Oats: use rolled oats
- Chop apples really small
- Use any sweetener of your choice
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Thanks to you @healthyfitnessmeals.com for your beautiful recipes ❤️
This is so good I have try it
Hi there.
Can I use almond flour instead of whole wheat or white?
I am not sure how it will turn out since i didn’t test it. The consistency will change. Almond flour needs more eggs to bind, so maybe if you decide to use almond flour use 2 eggs and 2 tablespoon of ground flaxseed. I hope it works. lmk
Hello again,
I really wanted to recipe to work out so I ended up buying whole wheat flour and using 3/4 and only 1/4 of almond flour. I’ll push the envelope more and do half and half and let you know how it goes.
Delicious recipe! Thank you
Ok let me know! I am curious. Thanks for the feedback
This recipe was very good & simple Definitely will continue to make
Thanks
Thanks Debbie. Glad you loved it
OMG! There were a huge hit! So tasty
What you would recommend using in place of the coconut oil.
My husband is allergic to coconut.
These cookie look delicious!
Hi. Any neutral tasting oil works. Or you can use melted butter