Cinnamon Oatmeal Apple Cookies recipe

Nothing will put you in a fall spirit like these soft Apple Oatmeal Cookies. Full of chewy oats, grated fresh apple and fall flavors. They are a great way to satisfy a sweet tooth without breaking the calorie bank.

Indulging in delicious treats while staying committed to a lower calorie plan may seem like a distant dream, but with our Low-Calorie Oatmeal Apple Cookies recipe, that dream becomes a mouthwatering reality! These cookies are not just a healthier alternative; they're a delectable guilt-free pleasure that will have you reaching for seconds. 

Don't wait any longer. Grab your apron, gather your ingredients, and let the aroma of Low-Calorie Oatmeal Apple Cookies draw you into the kitchen. Eating healthily has never been this delightful! Great any time of year.

Jump to:

• What makes this skinny?
• Recipe Ingredients Notes
• How to make it
• Variations
• Optional Glaze
• How to store
• How to freeze
• More recipes you'll love!
• Recipe

What makes this skinny?

Oatmeal Apple Cookies can range up to 200 calories per cookie! Ours are 46 calories or 2 WW Points per cookie.

• Lower amount of sugar. Using white sugar which is a sweeter for a lesser amount, sweet apples and unsweetened applesauce all make the delicious oatmeal cookies 'just right' sweet without loading up on lots of processed sugar calories.
• Less butter. Our friend unsweetened applesauce carries some of the load of regular fat and lets less butter work in these cinnamon apple oatmeal cookies. 
• Fresh apples. Grated fresh apple gives flavor with low calories and also allows for more cookies by increasing the dough amount, again with fewer calories.

Recipe Ingredients Notes

Full ingredient list and amounts can be found in the printable recipe card at the end of the post. All ingredients are available at a regular grocery store.

• Quick-cooking Rolled Oats. These give a homey flavor and structure (and fiber) to the cookies. Use quick oats so they will cook in the cooking time and soften; do not use old-fashioned oat for this recipe.
• All-purpose flour. Regular or gluten-free measure-for-measure flour can be used.
• Ground Cinnamon and Nutmeg. These warming spices are a perfect pairing with cooked apples. They give the oatmeal apple cookies a classic flavor.
• Granulated sugar. Granulated white sugar is sweeter for the amount than brown sugar. So using it sweetens the cookies with fewer calories and lesser amount.
• Unsalted butter. Be sure to soften the butter before starting the recipe.
• Unsweetened applesauce. This ingredient adds more apple flavor along with moisture and binding. It's a great substitute for some key baking ingredients (refer to the Skinny Swaps) with low calories.
• Grated apples. Choose big flavor apples like Honeycrisp apples that will add flavor and sweetness. Be sure to grate the apple; do not use diced apples or apple chunks for this recipe. TIP: I use the grating blade of the food processor to make it easy!

How to make it

STEP 1. Preparation

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.

STEP 2. Make the cookie dough

In a large bowl whisk together the dry ingredients: flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and nutmeg (photo 1).

In a separate bowl with an hand electric mixer or in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy (photo 2). Add the wet ingredients: egg, vanilla extract and applesauce; beat to combine (photo 3).

Add the flour mixture and beat to combine (photo 4).

Stir in the quick oats and grated apple (photo 5). 

STEP 3. Scoop and Bake

Use a 1 tablespoon cookie scoop to scoop the dough and add cookie dough balls to the prepared cookie sheet leaving 2 inches in between (photo 6). Bake for 10 minutes or until the edges turn golden brown.

STEP 4. Cool

Remove the baked cookies from the baking sheet from the oven and allow the cookies to cool on the sheet for 5 minutes. Then transfer to a wire rack to fully cool (photo 7).

Variations

• Change up the spices. Try pumpkin pie spice, allspice or other favorite spices that give all flavors.
• Add some raisins. If you are a fan of oatmeal raisin cookies you can stir in ½-1 cup of raisins. If the calorie count matters be sure to add that to the base recipe.

Optional Glaze

The healthy cookies are lightly sweet with a natural sweetness. If you want to bump up the sweetness you can add a glaze. 

• ½ cup powdered sugar
• ¼ teaspoon cinnamon (this can also be omitted)
• 1 ½ tablespoons milk or apple juice (if you want more apple flavor).

Calories: 

• Milk version: + 6 calories per cookie
• Apple juice version: + 10 calories per cookie

NOTE: either version of glaze adds 0 WW Points!

How to

1. When the cookies are cool, prepare the glaze by whisking together powdered sugar, cinnamon and milk OR apple juice until smooth.
2. Drizzle the glaze over the top of the cookies and allow it to harden before serving (photo 8 above).

TIP: place parchment paper, wax paper or foil underneath the cooling rack. Drizzle the glaze while they are on the rack and allow the glaze to set. This helps with easy clean up and keeps the cookies from sitting in excess glaze.

How to store

Due to the high amount of fresh apples in the cookies store in an airtight container in the refrigerator (instead of room temperature) for up to 5 days. Line the container with paper towels to absorb any excess moisture.  

NOTE: storing in the refrigerator will soften the cookies.

How to freeze

Allow the cookies to fully cool before placing in an airtight freezer safe container for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator before consuming.

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