Easy Cinnamon Apple Oatmeal Cookies
on Jan 07, 2022, Updated Feb 18, 2023
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
These easy cinnamon apple oatmeal cookies are a soft, tender treat. They are easy for little ones to pick up and take bites from and can be served as a breakfast or a snack!
I love making healthy cookies for my boys and have peanut butter banana cookies and coconut cookies on rotation pretty often. Both of those cookies are sweetened with bananas, so I wanted to create something that was sweetened with another fruit. I came up with these easy cinnamon apple oatmeal cookies that are sweetened with apples and a little maple syrup, and they are a sweet treat the whole family can enjoy! I guarantee that you’ll love the smell your oven gives off as you’re baking these bad boys!
WHAT YOU’LL NEED
Here is what you’ll need to make these easy cinnamon apple oatmeal cookies:
- Rolled Oats: I love baking with rolled oats as they are packed with nutrition! Certified gluten-free rolled oats make these cinnamon apple oatmeal cookies gluten-free.
- Unsweetened Applesauce: For the main apple flavor in these cookies. Be sure to use unsweetened applesauce.
- Maple Syrup: For added sweetness to these cookies. You can adjust the amount of maple syrup added in to make them more or less sweet. You may also omit it altogether for a younger baby. If omitting, they won’t be as sweet since the applesauce alone doesn’t provide much sweetness, but a young baby likely will not mind!
- Peanut Butter: For added flavor and to help bind the cookies together since they do not contain eggs.
- Cinnamon: Provides an extra warm spice and subtle sweetness.
- Apple: For a little added sweetness and apple flavor! I used a Fuji apple in this recipe which is naturally sweet and crisp, but other varieties work as well.
PROCESS
- Whisk together the applesauce, maple syrup, and peanut butter in a bowl until smooth.
- Add in the oats and cinnamon and mix until well combined.
- Grate the apple using a box grater. I used the largest size hole on the grater. You may also chop the apples into small pieces!
- Fold the grated apple into the mixture until combined.
- Scoop out heaping tablespoon-sized portions and place them on a parchment paper lined pan. Press down on the cookies to flatten them. Make sure to flatten and shape the cookies beforehand because they will not change shape while baking.
- Bake the cookies at 350 degrees F for 10 – 12 minutes. Let them cool completely before serving.
STORAGE INSTRUCTIONS
Once cooled, store the cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days, or in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. To freeze, store in a freezer-safe Ziploc bag for up to 2 months.
SUBSTITUTIONS
- Apples: The apples may be replaced with finely ground nuts, raisins, or even chocolate chips!
- Peanut Butter: The peanut butter may be replaced with another type of natural butter like almond butter. It may also be replaced with a seed-based butter like sunflower seed butter.
RECIPE NOTES
- These cookies are soft and chewy. Their soft texture makes them great for baby-led weaning and toddlers!
- I like to use Fuji apples in baking recipes. They are naturally sweet and have a nice crunch to them.
- Make sure to flatten and shape the cookies beforehand because they will not change shape while baking.
- Feel free to omit the maple syrup for a younger baby, the cookies just won’t be as sweet but will still have some slight sweetness from the applesauce and apple!
Here are some other easy cookie recipes you may like!
Easy Cinnamon Apple Oatmeal Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 cup old fashioned rolled oats
- ½ cup unsweetenend applesauce
- 2 tbsp natural peanut butter
- 2 tbsp maple syrup
- ½ tsp ground cinnamon
- 1 medium apple, grated
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (180 degrees C).
- Whisk together the applesauce, maple syrup, and peanut butter in a bowl until smooth.
- Add in the oats and cinnamon and mix until well combined.
- Grate the apple using a box grater. I used the largest size hole on the grater. You may also chop the apples into small pieces!
- Fold the grated apple into the mixture until combined.
- Scoop out heaping tablespoon-sized portions and place them on a parchment paper lined pan. Press down on the cookies to flatten them. Make sure to flatten and shape the cookies beforehand because they will not change shape while baking.
- Bake the cookies at 350 degrees F for 10 – 12 minutes. Let them cool completely before serving.
Notes
- These cookies are soft and chewy. Their soft texture makes them great for baby-led weaning and toddlers!
- I like to use Fuji apples in baking recipes. They are naturally sweet and have a nice crunch to them.
- Make sure to flatten and shape the cookies beforehand because they will not change shape while baking.
- Feel free to omit the maple syrup for a younger baby, the cookies just won’t be as sweet but will still have some slight sweetness from the applesauce and apple!
What did you use for the drizzle on these in the photos? They look delish!
Hi Erika! I drizzled plain yogurt on top of the cookies😊
Hi! Super excited to make these. Could I use honey instead of syrup?
Hi Paige! Yes, you can use equal parts honey😊
Hi! I only have quick cooking oats at the moment .. does that work or does it mess up the recipe? Thank you we love your recipes!
Hi Raquel!😊 I haven’t tested these cookies using quick oats but worry that they may get a little soggy once cooked since they will be cooking through in the oven for 10 minutes.
What peanut butter do you use? Some brands don’t have added sugar or very little sugar and wondering if I should increase the maple syrup if using a peanut butter without added sugar.
Hi Jennifer! I usually use the Kirkland brand peanut butter from Costco! It doesn’t have any added sugar and the ingredients are just peanuts and salt. I hope that helps!😊
These are fantastic for so many reasons…
1. Clean & simple ingredients
2. Little AND big human approved
3. Great at any time of the day with any label (snack, treat, cookie, etc.)
4. Super easy
5. DELICIOUS
Thank you for great recipes. My family and I appreciate your time and effort.
I’m so happy to hear that you enjoy these cookies! Thank you for sharing your feedback, Mel!😊
How do I store these cookies? Should they be refrigerated?
Hi Jody! Once cooled, store the cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days, or in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. To freeze, store in a freezer-safe Ziploc bag for up to 2 months😊
These are so great! My one year old loves them and so do my husband and I!
I’m so happy to hear that you all love these cookies!😊
Great cookie idea. What is the white “stuff” on the cookie shown in the picture?
Hi Sherice! It is a drizzle of plain yogurt😊
Haha I was about to make a glaze to drizzle- glad I saw it was yogurt! These are so tasty, thanks for the recipe!
I’m so glad you enjoyed these, Amanda!😊
Can you opt for a nut free spread?
Yes, definitely! Something like sunflower seed butter or another nut free spread would work in a 1:1 ratio😊
Tried this recipe out for the first time today and I think I did great (if I do say so myself lol). But more importantly, my son loved his cookies! Will definitely make more in the future.
I’m so happy to hear that they came out well and that your little guy enjoyed them!! Thanks for sharing your great review!😊
Can the peanut butter be omitted or substituted due to nut allergy?
Hi! I would suggest replacing it with a nut-free spread such as sunflower seed butter. Since these cookies do not contain eggs, the spread helps serve as a binder to help hold the cookies together. I have not tested them out without it, but if you omit it altogether they would have a similar taste but probably not hold together as well. I hope that helps!