Spiced Apple Oatmeal Cookies (gluten-free, whole grain, dairy-free)
These soft and chewy spiced apple oatmeal cookies are gluten-free, dairy-free and 100% whole grain.
I’m super excited about today’s post! A few weeks ago, I was asked if I’d like to contribute some gluten-free recipes to My Baking Addiction. I’d been a huge fan of Jamie’s since long before I started blogging, so you can imagine how shocked and excited I was. I had to reread the email a few times before I actually believed it. My reaction was something along the lines of – “Huh? ME? No way. Was this supposed to go to one of the other Erins…?”
For my first post, I wanted to make something without any unusual ingredients. These gluten-free apple spice cookies are the very first gluten-free recipe on My Baking Addiction and I wanted to make it as friendly as possible for non-gluten-free households. I didn’t use my usual almond and coconut flours (I will be posting recipes with those later on!) but oats and oat flour. That means anyone with a bag of oats can make these apple cookies! If you don’t have oat flour and you don’t know how to make it yourself, go check out my post on MBA.
I initially tried these cookies with butter, and while they came out decently, I preferred them with coconut oil. Additionally, using coconut oil makes them dairy-free, which I know makes many of you happy. They’re also 100% whole grain, so you can get your fiber while downing these cookies. Aren’t apples also high in fiber? Why, yes they are! I just calculated that if you eat half a batch (which would be 18 cookies), you’ve met your entire fiber intake for the day! You’re welcome. :D
If spiced apple oatmeal cookies aren’t your cup of tea, you can switch out or leave out the spices and add whatever add-ins you want. The cookies are softer than gluten-containing cookies and therefore more fragile. Chocolate chips, chopped nuts, or fruit would be acceptable, but ensure the pieces aren’t too large, as this may cause your cookies to come out in unusual shapes and potentially fall apart slightly. So keep it chocolate chip-sized or smaller, and you should be good. :)
Spiced Apple Oatmeal Cookies (gluten-free, whole grain, dairy-free)
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups (188 grams) oat flour if you're gluten-free, use GF oat flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1/2 teaspoon cardamom
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 cup (168 grams) coconut oil
- 1/2 cup (134 grams) natural almond butter
- 1 1/4 cups (250 grams) light brown sugar
- 2 large eggs 50 grams each out of shell, room temperature
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 2 3/4 cups (248 grams) quick oats if you're gluten-free, use GF oats
- 1 1/2 cups (162 grams) apple chunks about 1/4" in size
- 1/4 cup (50 grams) granulated sugar for rolling
Instructions
- In a medium mixing bowl, stir together the oat flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom and salt. Set aside.1 1/2 cups (188 grams) oat flour, 1 teaspoon baking soda, 1 teaspoon baking powder, 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg, 1/2 teaspoon cardamom, 1/2 teaspoon salt
- In a large mixing bowl, stir together the melted coconut oil, almond butter, sugar, and vanilla extract. Beat in the eggs.3/4 cup (168 grams) coconut oil, 1/2 cup (134 grams) natural almond butter, 1 1/4 cups (250 grams) light brown sugar, 1 tablespoon vanilla extract, 2 large eggs
- Add the dry mixture to the wet mixture and stir just until combined.
- Stir in the oats until almost combined and then stir in the apples. The dough will be quite sticky.2 3/4 cups (248 grams) quick oats, 1 1/2 cups (162 grams) apple chunks
- Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 2 hours or until the dough is firm enough to be rolled into balls.
- Preheat the oven to 350°F and line a baking sheet with a piece of parchment paper. Place the sugar in a small bowl.
- Roll the dough into 1″ balls and roll in the sugar.1/4 cup (50 grams) granulated sugar
- Place the dough balls 3″ apart on the prepared baking sheet and bake for 9-12 minutes or until the tops of the cookies no longer appear wet on the surface. They will be quite soft but will firm up slightly as they cool.
- Let cool for 3 minutes on the baking sheet and then remove to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Store in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
Notes
- The nutrition information provided is calculated as a courtesy and is only an estimate. I am not a licensed nutritionist or dietitian. For the most accurate nutritional data, consult a professional or use your preferred calculator.
What better way to dip my toes into the cool months of of Fall than a warm, Spiced Apple Oatmeal, cookie? My spouse brings home apples every week to keep the doctor away. Though, I love a good crispy apple all by itself, they add that special je ne sais quoi , rich, gooey, comforting goodness to the cookie.
I subbed a chia egg for the chicken egg with successful outcome. They held together well.
Is there any substitute for the almond butter. I can not have any nuts or nut butters? Thanks so much.
You could use sunflower seed butter! I haven’t tried it here but I bet it’d work.
Has anyone made these at extremely high altitude? I’m at 8500 feet, and not sure what modifications I should make.
I unfortunately don’t have any experience with high altitude baking but I found this. I hope that helps! :)
I’m at about 5,500 ft and it was fine as is.
These cookies tasted delicious!! However, I was stupid and thought it didn’t matter to put the dough in the fridge for 2 hrs. I baked them right away and they spread out like crazy and crumbled when I tried to remove them from the pan after three minutes of cooling. The rest of the dough is in the fridge overnight so I’ll try again in the morning! I was hoping for some pretty cookies to serve at a bridal shower.
Aww! I hope the rest of the dough worked out better with some chilling. :) I hope you enjoyed them! Thanks a bunch for your comment.
Do you have an oatmeal breakfast cookie recipe that has higher protein or fiber? I often see recipies that include the addition vanilla protein powder. can that be added to this recipe? How would the other ingredients need to be adjusted? Also, do you have a healthy vegan cookie recipe or bar that is on the crispier side and not as cake-like in texture? Perhaps a chewy one?? Thanks so m
I’m sorry but I don’t have any recipes like you requested. I’ve never used protein powder, either, so I have no idea how you’d add that to this recipe. I’m sorry I couldn’t be more helpful!
Hi,
I am so excited about the result! I substituted maple syrup (actual maple syrup) for the sugar in this recipe and it adds such a wonderful dynamic to the spices. Make sure to reduce the liquid ingredients, such as the coconut oil, to make up for the liquid introduced in the maple syrup.
Great recipe overall.
Enjoy,
I love your change! Maple syrup sounds much better here than sugar. :) By how much did you reduce the liquids? Thanks a bunch for your tip! I’m so happy that the cookies came out well for you.
Not by much… 3 tablespoons of coconut oil taken out, and that’s about it!
Good to know! Thanks for the reply. :)
I am going to make these with maple syrup. Any chance you wrote down how much syrup you used? The recipe calls for 1 1/4 cups of light brown sugar. I doubt I need 1 1/4 cups of syrup. I’m a little at a loss how to proceed!
Thanks,
I’m also not sure about how much maple syrup you’d need. I’m not really sure how they even came out with that sub with only taking out 3 tablespoons of coconut oil. I’d be worried that they’d be super cakey and fall apart!
Hi Lucy – great idea using maple syrup. Any chance you remember how much you used for this recipe?
Hi Erin, can these cookies can be stored in the freezer?
I think might be fine although I could also imagine that they’d be a little soggy / cakey when defrosted. I’m sorry for the ambiguous answer! I hope you enjoyed or will enjoy them. :)