If you're a fan of a traditional Oatmeal Raisin cookie, then you are going to love these that include fresh chopped apple, applesauce, and a not-too-sweet drizzle of glaze to top them off.
COOK + BAKE | Updated August 24, 2023
Oatmeal Raisin Cookies are a classic favorite that most people love.
I love making my grandmother's recipe again and again. But for those who are adventurous in the kitchen, a traditional cookie can be given a brand new flavor with the addition of a few spices or substitution of a couple ingredients.
Baking is a science where you need the right amount of flour, eggs, etc. in order for the recipe to work. But that doesn't mean you can have a little fun experimenting within those ratios either.
These Oatmeal Applesauce Cookies with Golden Raisins have everything that you love about the original cookie, but with added flavor thanks to the addition of applesauce, chopped apples, and spice. Topped with a simple glaze, you'll almost be able to imagine sitting down to a freshly prepared warm bowl of apple-cinnamon oatmeal!
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When Recipes Don't Work Out
These Applesauce Oatmeal Cookies actually started out with a recipe from a very reputable source. I thought they sounded really good and like a semi-healthy option for a cookie.
But the recipe turned out horribly. They were flat, brown crisps and looked nothing like the picture. And the glaze was way too sweet.
It frustrated me because I didn't know what I could have done wrong or how they could have turned out so poorly. After awhile, I decided to look at the comment section in the recipe and found out that no one was finding much success with this recipe.
The recipe I'm posting now is really nothing like the original aside from it having a couple of the same ingredients, namely golden raisins and applesauce. The first didn't even have spices, so that I was an alteration I had made from the very beginning.
I'm really pleased with how the cookies turned out the second time around. They have the right amount of spiced apple flavor and the right amount of sweetness from the sugars and glaze.
I wanted to share this story so that you can see when a recipe fails, it isn't always your fault. I hear a lot of people say they just aren't good in the kitchen or that what they make never turns out right. But there is so much that goes into being successful and it isn't always YOU.
It could be your oven temperature is off. Maybe the recipe is better prepared with room temperature eggs, but the recipe didn't say that. Or perhaps, as was the case here, the recipe just wasn't good to begin with.
My goal here isn't just to share recipes with you, but to help you be successful making those recipes. Whether that is being sure to share details like the type of pan I used or where I placed it in the oven to only posting after I have worked the kinks out what I'm making.
Now, on to the recipe.....
READ NEXT: Check out my entire Baking 101 Series which aims to help you be more successful when baking cookies, cakes, and pies!
What You'll Need
For your convenience, a full ingredients list, directions for making Oatmeal Applesauce Cookies with Golden Raisins, and a printable recipe option appear further down in this article. Here is a brief overview of what you'll be needing.
- unsalted butter - room temperature for easy creaming
- light brown sugar and granulated sugar - for the perfect amount of sweetness
- large egg
- applesauce - look for smooth (not chunky) unsweetened applesauce or you many need to adjust the amount of extra spice that you add later
- old-fashioned rolled oats
- all-purpose flour
- baking soda and baking powder
- salt
- cinnamon and ginger spice
- apple - any variety you'd like chopped into small pieces about the size of the raisins
- golden raisins - ordinary raisins will work as well
- confectioner's sugar, vanilla extract, and milk - for the glaze on top of the cookies
How to Make These Cookies
Now that you have the ingredients ready, it is time to put these cookies together.
- Preheat your oven to 350°F. Line cookie sheets with parchment paper or nonstick silicone liners and set aside.
- Put the room temperature butter, brown sugar and granulated sugar into the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment. Beat on medium speed for 1 to 2 minutes until all the ingredients are well creamed together.
- Add the egg and applesauce and mix until well blended, about 1 to 2 minutes.
- Mix in the dry ingredients - oats, flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and ginger.
- Remove the bowl from the mixer and gently fold in the chopped apple and raisins with a silicone spatula or wooden spoon.
- Chill the dough in the refrigerator for at least 15 minutes or up to one hour to keep the cookies from spreading too thin as they ake.
- Use a 1 1/4" or 1 Tablespoon cookie scoop to make evenly sized dough balls. Drop them onto the baking sheet spacing them about 2 inches apart.
- Bake the cookies in the lower third of your oven until they are golden and just set, about 13 to 15 minutes. Let them cool on the cookie sheet for 5 minutes to set and then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.
- When the cookies are cool, mix together the confectioner's sugar, vanilla and 1 Tablespoon of milk in a medium bowl using a fork and whisk the ingredients until combined. Add just enough extra milk to make a thick icing glaze. Place the glaze in a pastry bag (or zip-loc bag with the corner cut off) and drizzle over the cookies. The icing will be fully set after a few hours.
OATMEAL APPLESAUCE COOKIES WITH GOLDEN RAISINS
If you're a fan of a traditional Oatmeal Raisin cookie, then you are going to love these that include fresh chopped apple, applesauce, and a not-to-sweet drizzle of glaze to top them off.
Makes 3 1/2 dozen cookies
INGREDIENTS
- 4 Tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature
- 1 cup light brown sugar, packed
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1/3 cup applesauce
- 1 1/2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
- 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ginger
- 1/4 cup chopped apple
- 1 cup golden raisins
GLAZE INGREDIENTS
- 1 1/2 cups sifted confectioner's sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 1/2 to 2 Tablespoons milk
INSTRUCTIONS
STEP 1: Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
STEP 2: Place butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar into the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment. Beat on medium speed for 1 to 2 minutes until ingredients are well creamed together. Add the egg and applesauce, then mix until well blended about 1 to 2 minutes.
STEP 3: Mix in the oats, flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and ginger.
STEP 4: Remove the bowl from the mixer and gently fold in the chopped apple and raisins.
STEP 5: Chill the dough in the refrigerator for at least 15 minutes to one hour.
STEP 6: Drop evenly sized (1 tablespoon) balls of dough onto the baking sheet spaced 2 inches apart. Bake in the lower third of your oven until golden and just set, about 13 to 15 minutes. Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes and then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
STEP 7: When the cookies are cool, mix together the confectioner's sugar, vanilla and 1 Tablespoon of milk into a medium bowl using a fork to whisk the ingredients together until combined. Add just enough extra milk to make a thick icing glaze. Place the glaze into a pastry bag and drizzle over the cookies. The icing will be fully set after a few hours.
Frequently Asked Questions
Have some questions about making Oatmeal Applesauce Cookies? Here are some frequently asked questions that might help guide you through the process.
HOW DO YOU STORE THESE COOKIES
These cookies can be stored at room temperature in an airtight container for up to three days. Or place them into the freezer for up to one month.
CAN YOU USE HOMEMADE APPLESAUCE
Sure! Homemade applesauce will provide great flavor to these cookies.
Keep in mind that if you used cinnamon or other spices when preparing the applesauce that you may need to adjust the amount of cinnamon and ginger used in this recipe so that it doesn't have an overwhelming flavor.
Also, make sure that your homemade applesauce is the same consistency as that which you'd buy in the store. If yours has more moisture content, you may need to remove some of that excess before adding it to the other ingredients.
CAN YOU SUBSTITUE QUICK-COOK OR INSTANT OATS
These two ingredients do not make a good replacement for the old-fashioned rolled oats in this recipe. They will soak up too much of the moisture in the dough resulting in a tough and dry cookie.
CAN NUTS BE ADDED
If you are a fan of nuts, feel free to throw some in to this recipe. Walnuts or pecans can be added when you are folding in the apple chunks and golden raisins. You can use 1/2 to 1 cup depending on how many you'd like.
DO YOU HAVE TO ADD THE GLAZE
While the glaze is a delicious touch and makes a nice presentation, it isn't necessary. The cookies are good all on their own and you may find that they are sweet enough without the added sugar.
These soft and chewy cookies are sure to be a hit and a welcome change from a traditional favorite.
Some More Twists on Traditional Favorites You Might Enjoy
CHOCOLATE CHIP VANILLA COOKIES - A traditional cookie made with vanilla pudding mix
PUMPKIN GINGER MOLASSES COOKIES - Three favorite cookies baked into one bite sized treat
APPLE BUTTER PIE - Just like your favorite pumpkin pie, but packed with appl flavor
CHEWY CHOCOLATE CHUNK GINGERBREAD COOKIES
SOFT + CHEWY PEANUT BUTTER COOKIES - One of my all-time favorites
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