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You know those recipes that just feel like home? Well, Apple Butter Cookies sit firmly in that category for me. These cookies are a big deal because of the apple butter – it turns a simple batch of oatmeal cookies into something richer, with an amazing deep apple flavor that’s not overpowering but just right.
Table of Contents
- why you’ll love these Apple Butter Oatmeal Cookies
- Ingredients to make Apple Butter Cookies
- How to make Apple Butter Cookies
- Tips for making Old Fashioned Apple Butter Cookies
- popular substitutions & additions
- what to pair with your Apple Butter Cookies
- how to store Apple Butter Cookies
- Frequently asked questions
- More Cookie recipes:
- Apple Butter Cookies Recipe
These apple oatmeal cookies are the kind of cookie recipe you’ll find yourself turning to regularly, not just because it’s super easy to make, but because the apple butter has this neat trick of elevating the humble oatmeal cookie to something special without any fuss. You get this great blend of apple and cinnamon wrapped up in a cookie that has the perfect balance between chewy and crispy. So, whether it’s for a casual catch-up with friends or a quiet afternoon with a book, these apple butter cookies are for you. Give them a go; I have a feeling they’ll become a regular feature in your baking rotation!
why you’ll love these Apple Butter Oatmeal Cookies
- Easy and quick to make: Made with a handful of pantry ingredients plus apple butter, you can have a batch of these cookies ready in no time. These cookies are a perfect choice for a last-minute play date or satisfying your sweet tooth anytime.
- Hearty oats addition: These aren’t ordinary cookies – they’re apple butter oatmeal cookies. The addition of oats not only adds a lovely chewiness but also a good boost of fiber, which can promote the feeling of fullness. It makes these cookies a wholesome treat that you’ll actually feel good about.
- Warm, cozy flavors with perfect chewy texture: These cookies embrace the cozy flavors of fall. Apple butter and warm cinnamon come together with brown sugar and oats in a perfect blend of sweet and spiced goodness.
- Great use for apple butter. Have a jar of apple butter sitting in your pantry that you’re not sure what to do with? If that’s you – this cookie recipe is the perfect solution. These old-fashioned apple butter cookies showcase the rich, fruity flavor of apple butter in the most delicious way.
Ingredients to make Apple Butter Cookies
- Apple butter: These cookies wouldn’t be what they are without this ingredient. Apple butter adds sweetness and apple flavor. It also helps the cookies retain moisture, making them perfectly soft and chewy. Homemade apple butter is, of course, ideal, but storebought or a jar from your local apple orchard works great too.
- Light brown sugar: Adds sweetness, moisture, and a slight molasses flavor that complements the apple butter and enhances the overall taste.
- Unsalted butter: The butter adds richness and helps the cookies have a soft texture. You will need melted butter in this recipe.
- Rolled oats: Provide texture and a hearty, chewy quality to the cookies. Adding oats to these cookies also increases fiber, making these a satisfying treat and an overall healthier cookie option.
- Flour: All-purpose flour forms the structure of the cookies and helps to hold the cookie dough together.
- Baking soda and cinnamon: Baking soda acts as the leavening agent responsible for giving these cookies a nice rise, while the cinnamon adds warmth and comforting spice to the cookies.
- Salt: A pinch of salt enhances the flavors in the cookies, balancing the sweetness.
How to make Apple Butter Cookies
These cookies are a breeze to make. Whisk, stir, scoop, and bake to golden-brown perfection. The hardest part is waiting for the cookies to cool until they are just right.
Make the Cookie Batter
- To a large bowl, add apple butter, brown sugar, and melted butter.
- Stir until smooth.
- In a separate bowl, combine the oats, flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt. Add to the wet ingredients.
- With a spatula, fold the oat mixture into the apple butter mixture until combined.
Bake the apple butter Cookies
- Divide the dough into even-sized balls using a spring-loaded scoop and drop onto a parchment paper-lined baking sheet.
- Bake until golden brown and dry around the edges but still soft in the center. Cool on a baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring to a cooling rack.
Tips for making Old Fashioned Apple Butter Cookies
- Make these cookies by hand. All you need to make these cookies is a bowl and a rubber spatula. You could use a spoon if that’s what you have, but I like the spatula because it allows you to scrape down the sides and fold the dry ingredients into the wet quickly and easily.
- Avoid overmixing the dough. When combining the wet and dry ingredients together, mix just until they are incorporated to avoid tough cookies.
- Add water if the cookie dough seems dry. You’ll need just 1 tablespoon of water for the batter. Whether you need this or not will depend on the consistency of your apple butter; if your apple butter is looser in consistency, you probably won’t need the additional water.
- Rotate the tray for even cooking. Most ovens heat unevenly, so rotating the cookie sheet 180 degrees halfway through the baking time will help ensure that your cookies bake as evenly as possible.
- Chill the dough. If time allows, chill the dough for about 30 minutes before baking. Chilling the dough will help the cookies hold their shape and prevent excessive spreading during baking.
popular substitutions & additions
- Use a different sweetener. Swap the light brown sugar with dark brown sugar or coconut sugar for a slightly nutty flavor.
- Try other fall spices. These cookies are perfect with a touch of cinnamon, but try adding a pinch of other warming spices like nutmeg, ground allspice, or cardamom for a unique flavor. You can also add pumpkin pie spice to give it a more autumnal flavor.
- Add nuts for a fun crunch. Chopped nuts like toasted pecans, walnuts, or almonds add crunch and richness to the cookies.
- Other tasty additions. Add semi-sweet or dark chocolate chips for some chocolatey goodness. Or add raisins, shredded coconut, or diced apples to give the cookies a different flavor and texture.
what to pair with your Apple Butter Cookies
how to store Apple Butter Cookies
Allow the cookies to cool completely on a cooling rack first before transferring them to an airtight container. If you need to stack the cookies in the container, separate them with layers of parchment paper to prevent them from sticking to each other. Store at room temperature for up to 4 days, then transfer to the refrigerator.
how long will Apple Butter Cookies last in the fridge?
These cookies will last in the refrigerator for up to a week.
can i freeze Apple Butter Oatmeal Cookies?
Yes, you can freeze these cookies for longer storage. Flash freeze them by arranging them in a single layer on a baking sheet and freeze until cookies are firm. Once frozen, transfer the cookies to a resealable freezer bag and place in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature for about 30 minutes. Flash freezing them first prevents them from sticking to each other and you can easily pull one out when ready to enjoy it again.
Frequently asked questions
To avoid overly dry cookies – don’t overbake them. Keep a close eye on them in the oven and remove them when they’re golden around the edges but still slightly soft in the center. They will continue to cook using residual heat even after you remove them from the oven.
Yes, you can swap butter with ghee, coconut oil, or plant-based butter. The rest of the ingredients including my apple butter is naturally vegan.
Yes! Shape the cookie dough into balls and freeze them on a baking sheet in a single layer. Store the frozen dough balls in an airtight container or freezer bag. When ready to bake, add a few extra minutes to the baking time. This method is convenient for single cookies in a toaster oven. You can also freeze the entire dough in a bag, but you’ll need to thaw the whole bag at once.
These apple butter oatmeal cookies make a delightful treat any time of day. They’re great with your morning coffee, as a mid-day pick-me-up, or a delicious after-dinner treat to satisfy your sweet cravings. Plus, you can double the recipe and store one batch in the freezer, so you’re never left without this homemade goodness.
More Cookie recipes:
- Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal Cookies
- Tahini Shortbread Cookies
- Edible Cookie Dough
- Banana Oatmeal Cookies
- PB Jam Thumbprint Cookies
- Cardamom Cookies
- Breakfast Oatmeal Cookies
- GF Peanut Butter Cookies
- Chocolate Hazelnut Cookies
- Coconut Pecan Cookies
If you try this feel good Apple Butter Cookies recipe or any other recipe on Feel Good Foodie, then don’t forget to rate the recipe and leave a comment below! It helps others who are thinking of making the recipe. We would love to hear about your experience making it. And if you snapped some shots, share it on Instagram so we can repost on Stories!
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Apple Butter Cookies
Ingredients
- ½ cup apple butter
- ⅓ cup light brown sugar
- ¼ cup unsalted butter melted
- 1 ¼ cups rolled oats
- ¾ cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- Pinch salt
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, stir together the apple butter, brown sugar, and melted butter. In another bowl, combine the oats, flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt. With a spatula, fold the oat mixture into the apple butter mixture until combined.
- Divide the dough into 1 ½ tablespoon-sized balls using a spring-loaded scoop and drop onto the prepared baking sheets, about 1 inch apart. Bake for 10-13 minutes or until golden brown and dry around the edges but still soft in the middle.
- Cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to wire racks to cool completely.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information provided is an estimate. It will vary based on cooking method and specific ingredients used.
I made these for my students – we made our own apple butter and needed to find something to do with it. These cookies are amazing and everyone loved them!
They are easy to make, smell wonderful when they are baking, and are delicious 🙂
I also made an extra big batch for a youth dinner at my Church, and everyone loved them there, as well. A most excellent recipe, thank you for sharing!!
Love this, thanks for sharing!
This gets 5 starts! I made these cookies with my toddler granddaughters and they gave it a thumbs up. The recipe is easy to follow, not too many ingredients, they love oats so it was perfect! Their very tasty & not too sweet. We will make them again soon. I found apple butter at Whole Foods, taste like applesauce to us, Yummy😋. Thanks again, love your recipes!!😄
So happy to hear that, Lydia and thank you so much for making my recipes and sharing them with your grandchildren!
I tried these with pumpkin butter and whole wheat flour, they were a little dense but the flavor was great!!