A traditional oatmeal cookie made into a fall favorite, these Apple Oatmeal Cookies are topped with a cream cheese frosting.
These cookies are soft, chewy, and full of apple flavor.
I hope you’re not over apples already. I’ve already shared a fantastic recipe for baked apple fritters, and the best ever apple pie recipe that you’ll keep in your back pocket for when you need an extra special dessert.
Apple Oatmeal Cookies
This is such a fun apple oatmeal cookie recipe. The delicious blend of apple cookies made with apples, oatmeal, and cinnamon is irresistible.
I couldn’t resist topping the cookies with a sweet cream cheese frosting. They are absolutely perfect for the fall season.
These apple cookies will keep you coming back for more, but since they’re made with fresh apples, it’s basically eating a fruit, right?
Apple Oatmeal Cookies are just what you need to add to your fall dessert collection.
While pumpkin might be the king of fall, apple certainly is right there alongside it.
Apple Cookie Recipe
You should start by preheating your oven to 350 degrees. While your oven heats up line your cookie sheets with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat, so your cookies don’t stick to the cookie sheet.
Next, whisk together your dry ingredients in a small bowl and set them to the side.
In a large bowl mix your butter and sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy. This usually takes around 2 minutes.
Now it’s time to add your eggs. You will add them to your butter and sugar mixture one at a time being sure to mix them well before adding the next egg. Next, add vanilla extract to your large mixing bowl.
Now, you will combine your dry ingredients with the wet ingredients in your large mixing bowl. Be sure to mix them well until they’re incorporated thoroughly.
Next, you want to add oatmeal to your mixture. Once that’s done, it’s time to add the apples to your dough.
Peel and chop the apples and add them to the cookie batter, and you’re done.
Finally, use a cookie dough scoop or spoon to divide your dough. Roll the cookie balls in your hand and slightly flatten them onto the cookie sheet.
It will take about 12-15 minutes to bake so set a timer, and while they’re cooking, you can make the cream cheese frosting.
Keep in mind that this step is optional. Feel free to enjoy your cookies sans frosting, they’ll be just as delicious.
Cream Cheese Icing for Cookies
Beat the butter in a large bowl until it’s smooth and add cream to your butter. Mix them both together until the mixture is smooth.
Now add powdered sugar gradually and beat everything together until your dough is smooth. Finally, you will add the vanilla to the mix, and you’re done.
Your cookies should be done soon after you make your frosting, so place them on a wire rack to cool.
Once your cookies have cooled off, you can add as much or as little frosting as you like.
Once you’ve tasted that Cream Cheese Frosting, you’re going to want to try a batch of these pumpkin cookies with cream cheese frosting too.
Let me know if you make this recipe, leave a rating, and tell me how it went in the comments below!
Apple Recipes
Try Baked Apple Cider Donuts, Caramel Apple Puff Pastries, Apple Dumpling Bake, or Caramel Apple Crumb Bars for a few more great apple desserts.
This French Apple Cake from Once Upon A Chef looks delicious too.
Apple Cookies with Cream Cheese Frosting
Ingredients
For the apple cookies
- 2 1/2 cups flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1 cup 2 sticks butter, unsalted, at room temperature
- 1/2 cups brown sugar
- 2 eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla
- 2 1/2 cups quick cooking oats
- 2 cups apple peeled and chopped
For the cream cheese frosting
- 1 4 oz package cream cheese, softened
- ¼ cup ½ stick butter, unsalted, softened
- 2 cups powdered sugar sifted
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
Cookie Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line cookie sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mat. In a small bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg and set aside.
- In a large bowl, cream the butter and sugar until fluffy and light, about 2 minutes.
Add eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Add vanilla, mix well. - Gradually add the dry ingredients, and mix just until incorporated. Stir in oatmeal. Peel and chop apple, stir into batter.
- Using a cookie dough scoop divide dough. You may need to roll in your hands to form a ball. Slightly flatten before baking if you are going to frost the cookies.
- Bake about 12-15 minutes or until golden brown around the edges. Cool completely on wire rack.
Frosting Instructions
- While the cookies are baking, beat the butter in a large bowl until smooth. Add cream cheese and vanilla, and beat again until smooth. Gradually add powdered sugar and beat until smooth.
- After the cookies are fully cooled, frost with cream cheese frosting, sprinkle with cinnamon sugar, if desired. Store in refrigerator in an airtight container
Notes
Nutrition
{originally published 10/6/19 – recipe notes and photos updated 1/5/21}
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Pgm says
Your recipe calls for only 1/2 brown sugar. In the instructions it says add white sugar and brown. The picture of the ingredients does not show white sugar. Please edit this because beginning bakers will not know what to do.
I am asking them with brown sugar only. They will be fine since I will be putting the I ing on them. But without another type of sugar added they will taste very unsweetened.
Mary says
These cookies only need the brown sugar. I’m not sure why I had white sugar listed in the post. Thanks for catching that!
Paula says
In place of the butter could I use margarine?
Mary says
Paula, My preference is always the real thing but, yes you could.
Kzy says
These were not very good. Dry and almost tasteless. They NEED the icing to redeem then and make them edible. Without the icing they aren’t at all sweet.
Mary says
Sorry, you had that experience. I am a bit puzzled why that happened. They always come out chewy and moist, especially with the apple chunks in them. I do agree that they are not overly sweet on their own which is why the icing compliments the cookie so well.