These apple cinnamon instant oatmeal cookies are bursting with fall flavors! They have chewy middles, crisp edges, and plenty of oats. Ready-to-eat in 30 minutes!
Table of Contents
Why you’ll love this recipe:
My husband loves anything with oats, from crisps and crumbles to cookies, muffins, and oatmeal. So when he brought home a ginormous box of instant oatmeal packets, I did what any avid baker would do, I transformed them into apple cinnamon oatmeal cookies!
- Perfectly dense, soft, buttery, and chewy
- Bursting with apple cinnamon flavor
- A great way to use leftover instant oatmeal packets
- Easy to customize!
Apple oatmeal cookies are comforting, perfectly spiced, and make the entire house smell like autumn. Add crunchy walnuts, sweet dried cranberries, or whatever mix-ins you like the best!
Key Ingredient Notes:
- Unsalted butter – Butter lends a rich flavor and tender texture to cookies. I buy unsalted butter so I can control the quality and amount of salt I add. If you only have salted butter, don’t sweat it. Just omit the salt from this recipe.
- Brown sugar – Brown sugar has a caramel-like sweetness that’s ideal for instant oatmeal cookies.
- Apple cinnamon instant oatmeal – These packets already contain sugar, cinnamon, and dried apples to flavor the cookies. Don’t substitute with old fashioned oats! They don’t absorb the same amount of moisture as instant oats so the ratio of wet to dry ingredients won’t be right. And you’ll miss out on flavor.
- All-purpose flour – For the perfect amount of spread.
- Baking soda – Baking soda reacts with the brown sugar to create carbon dioxide bubbles and cause the dough to rise in the oven. Without it, the cookies would be too dense!
- Mix-in’s – Try chopped walnuts, pecans, white chocolate chips, cashews, shredded coconut, chocolate chips, diced apples, or M&M’s.
How to make this recipe:
Cinnamon apple oatmeal cookies are a breeze to make! Here’s how to do it:
1. Make the cookie dough:
- In the bowl of a stand mixer with the paddle attachment, beat the butter and both sugars until light and fluffy.
- Add the egg and vanilla and mix for a minute or so. Stop the mixer and scrape down the sides of the bowl.
- Add the instant oatmeal, flour, baking soda, and salt. Mix until just incorporated.
- If you’re adding mix-ins, stir them in now.
2. Scoop the cookies:
- Use a medium cookie scoop to scoop the cookie dough into 1-inch balls.
- Place 8 cookies onto the sheet pan evenly spread apart.
- And flatten the cookies slightly.
3. Bake the cookies:
- Bake the cookies for 8 minutes, or until the edges are set, one sheet pan at a time. The cookies should look underbaked in the centers, but they will set up as they cool.
- Let the cookies cool on the sheet pan for at least 5 minutes before you transfer them to a wire rack.
- Enjoy immediately or store in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
Tips for Success:
- Don’t overbake the oatmeal cookies! The edges should be set and golden, but the centers should look slightly under. If the whole cookie looks done, it’s overbaked. Cookies set up as they cool.
- Let the cookies cool at least 5 minutes before moving them to a cooling rack. Hot cookies fall apart!
- Don’t swap old fashioned oats in this recipe. They don’t absorb the same amount of moisture as instant oats and the cookies won’t come out right.
- Use a cookie scoop for uniform cookies. The cookies will all be the same size and shape, plus it’s less messy!
- You can swap the apple cinnamon instant oatmeal with any flavor. Try cinnamon spice or maple brown sugar.
Make-Ahead Tips:
- I love to make cookies ahead of time! They freeze well unbaked or baked, which means you’re always less than 10 minutes away from a freshly baked cookie.
- To freeze them unbaked: Use a cookie scoop to scoop the dough into 1-inch balls on a half sheet pan or plate. Place the sheet pan into the freezer until the dough is frozen. Transfer the cookie dough balls to a ziplock bag and freeze for up to 3 months. Bake from frozen as directed.
- To freeze them baked: Wait until they cool to room temperature, then carefully place them into a ziplock bag and freeze. Don’t overpack the bag lest you smoosh the cookies. Thaw on the counter or microwave in 15-second increments until warmed through.
Storing Tips:
- Let the oatmeal cookies cool before you store them. Transfer the cookies to an airtight container and store on the counter for up to 5 days.
- For longer storage, freeze the cookies for up to 3 months, as directed above.
FAQs:
How do you keep oatmeal cookies soft?
The best way to keep them soft is to not overbake them! Cookies are baked when the edges are golden, but the middles look underdone. The cookies set up as they cool. If the entire cookie is golden brown when it’s pulled from the oven, they will be crispy when they cool.
What kind of apples are best for cookies?
A firm, tart apple that holds its shape is a perfect match for cookies! Try Granny Smith, Jonagold, Honeycrisp, or Pink Lady apples. Dice them small and stir into the cookie dough before baking.
Can instant oatmeal be used in baking?
Yes! It’s important not to use instant oatmeal in any recipe that calls for oats. Look for recipes that call specifically for instant oatmeal, like this one!
Can I use quick oats instead of rolled oats in cookies?
Quick oats make delicious cookies! That being said, quick oats are not a 1:1 substitution with old fashioned oats. Instant oats absorb more liquid than rolled oats. Look for a recipe that calls specifically for quick-cooking oats.
Must-Try Cookie Recipes:
- Egg Yolk Cookies
- Spiced Shortbread Cookies
- Date, Fig and Cranberry Pinwheel Cookies
- The Easiest Sugar Cookies
- Classic Linzer Cookies
Apple Cinnamon Instant Oatmeal Cookies
These apple cinnamon oatmeal cookies are bursting with fall flavors! They have chewy middles, crisp edges, and plenty of oats. Ready-to-eat in 30 minutes!
Ingredients
- ½ cup (115g) unsalted butter softened
- 1/3 cup (65g) brown sugar
- 3 tablespoons (40g) granulated sugar
- 1 large egg at room temperature
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 5 packets apple & cinnamon instant oatmeal Note 1
- 1 cup (125g) all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 ½ cups add-ins like M&Ms, chocolate chips, nuts
Equipment
- stand mixer with the paddle attachment or electric hand mixer
- Spatula
- Measuring cups & spoons
- sheet pan
- medium cookie scoop
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (177°C).
- In a mixing bowl with the paddle attachment, place the butter and both sugars. Beat on medium speed until light and fluffy, scraping down the sides of the bowl.
- Add egg and vanilla extract and mix another minute or so.
- Add instant oatmeal, flour, baking soda and salt. Mix until just incorporated.
- Stir in the add-ins of your choice. I used 1 cup of M&Ms and ½ cup of chopped pecans here.
- Using a medium cookie scoop (about 1 tablespoon of dough), shape the dough into 1-inch balls and place 8 cookies per baking sheet. Flatten the cookies slightly.
- Bake the cookies for 8 minutes, or until the edges are set, one sheet at a time. The cookies will look a bit under-baked, but they’ll set nicely once cooled.
- Cool the cookies on the sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a cooling rack to cool completely.
- Store in airtight container for up to 5 days.
Tips & Notes
These cookies are on a smaller size, about 2-inch circles.
Note 1a: 1 packet contains 43g of oatmeal, so total you’ll need 215g of instant oatmeal for this recipe. Do not substitute with rolled oats.
Note 1b: You can definitely use different flavored instant oatmeal packets!
Storing Tips:
– Let the oatmeal cookies cool before you store them. Transfer the cookies to an airtight container and store on the counter for up to 5 days.
– For longer storage, freeze the cookies for up to 3 months.
– Let the oatmeal cookies cool before you store them. Transfer the cookies to an airtight container and store on the counter for up to 5 days.
– For longer storage, freeze the cookies for up to 3 months.
Nutrition
Calories: 112kcal, Carbohydrates: 14g, Protein: 1g, Fat: 6g, Saturated Fat: 4g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 1g, Trans Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 15mg, Sodium: 48mg, Potassium: 12mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 10g, Vitamin A: 126IU, Vitamin C: 1mg, Calcium: 17mg, Iron: 1mg
Did you make this?Share a comment or a review below!
I had some instant oatmeal and chocolate chips so I found your recipe for cookies. And tbh didn’t have high hopes for them at all. I mean it is Instant Oatmeal.
BUT these are some of the best cookies I’ve ever made. I had banana nut (2 packs, they are a little larger) and maple (2), recipe called for 5 packs total. So went with what I had. They are crispy on the outside and almost creamy on the inside. Going to buy more oatmeal just to be able to make these cookies !!
Hi, Lisa! I’m so happy you tried my recipe and pleasantly surprised with the result!! And who would have thought you’d be buying more of those instant oatmeals, right? Hehe Thank you for your feedback!!
I have a whole bunch of plain instant oatmeal. Could you guess how much sugar and brown sugar to add please? Thanks!
Hi, Katie! I didn’t test this recipe with plain oatmeal, therefore I can’t provide that information.
I volunteer at a site that makes meals for seniors as the “dessert lady”. We had received several cases for the Apple Cinnamon Instant Oatmeal packets. I was thrilled to find this recipe. I baked these as regular cookies & they were delicious! Crispy on the outside & moist on the inside. Thank you.
Yay, so happy you tried and loved the recipe, Marj. Thank you for your feedback!! Your community is lucky to have you!!
These cookies were the bomb. Several of my daughter’s co-workers didn’t like oatmeal, but loved the cookies. I used the peach and cream packets and added a banana and cream because I needed a fifth packet. Will be doing the Apple Cinnamon adding raisins. Doing strawberry and cream adding some chocolate chips. Who doesn’t like strawberry and chocolate.several ideas swimming around, also.Thank you, Therese
Yay, it sounds like you’re having fun with these oatmeal cookies, Therese!! Thank you for much for trying my recipe and for your feedback!!
Question??? Reading your instructions and am interested in freezing the 1 tablespoon size “golf balls” instant oatmeal cookie dough. You state bake from frozen as directed. What do you recommend?
Thanks for including how long they’re good until. Very useful info. Page layout easy to navigate.
Awesome!! What a fresh and fun twist on a traditional oatmeal cookie. We absolutely loved the taste and texture of these cookies!
So happy you loved it, Jillian!!! Thank you!!
The apple cinnamon packets are 32 g. compared to the 43g maple brown sugar or cinnamon & spice packets in the Quaker multi pack box these days.
Thanks for sharing that info, Tom! So helpful!
Wow! These are impressive! I added a small amount of apple sauce. The whole family scored these a 10!
Yay, so happy you all enjoyed it. Thank you for your feedback, Marie!
how much did you add? did it make it taste chewier?
I would guess just 1-2 Tablespoons. The mix seemed a little dry and I had a little leftovers. I can’t say if they are different as I haven’t made them again (yet). The texture nice and light and chewy.
This saved me time and resources. Messed up on my oatmeal and made amazing cookies out of it though. Thanks so much🔥💪🏿💯
Yay, so happy you put your oatmeal packets to a good use. Thank you for your feedback, Pierre!