Irresistible Iced Oatmeal Apple Cookies with Maple Glaze: Your Ultimate Fall Baking Delight
As the leaves turn golden and a crisp chill fills the air, there’s no better way to celebrate the season than with a batch of homemade cookies that capture the essence of autumn. These Iced Oatmeal Apple Cookies are the quintessential fall treat, brimming with wholesome oatmeal, luscious applesauce, chewy dried apples, and the warm embrace of cinnamon. Each bite is perfectly complemented by a sweet, shimmering maple syrup glaze, making them an absolute must-bake for anyone holding onto the magic of fall a little longer.
Embracing the Best of Autumn
This year, Utah has been blessed with an exceptionally beautiful fall. Often, it feels like we hurtle from the sweltering days of summer straight into the frosty grip of winter. But this season has truly offered a delightful reprieve, with mild temperatures that invite long walks through vibrant, colorful landscapes and the simple joy of cozy evenings indoors. And, perhaps most cherished of all, we’ve enjoyed the absence of snow before Halloween – a small wish that always feels like a major victory each year.
I know that for many, as soon as Halloween passes, thoughts quickly turn to Thanksgiving and the bustling holiday season. However, I find myself wanting to linger in the beauty of autumn just a little bit longer. There’s a particular comfort and charm to this transitional period that deserves to be savored, and what better way to do so than with a warm, spiced cookie fresh from the oven? These Iced Oatmeal Apple Cookies are my secret weapon for extending the autumn vibes, allowing me to fully immerse myself in the season’s sweet embrace.
Crafting the Perfect Fall Cookie: Texture and Flavor
These iced oatmeal and apple cookies are more than just a treat; they’re an experience. Picture this: a cookie that boasts wonderfully crisp edges, giving way to a delightfully chewy center. This perfect textural contrast is just one of the many reasons they’re so utterly satisfying. But the magic truly lies within their carefully chosen ingredients, each playing a vital role in creating a symphony of fall flavors.
The Magic of Applesauce and Oats
One of the brilliant aspects of this recipe is the inclusion of applesauce directly in the batter. Not only does it infuse the cookies with a subtle, natural apple flavor and essential moisture, but it also cleverly replaces a portion of the butter. This makes these cookies a slightly healthier option, allowing you to indulge with a little less guilt – hooray for wholesome desserts, right? The applesauce contributes to that desirable chewiness, ensuring the cookies remain tender and flavorful. Complementing the applesauce are hearty old-fashioned oats, which lend their signature texture and a satisfying bite. These aren’t just an afterthought; the oats are fundamental to the cookie’s character, providing that comforting, rustic feel. And for an extra burst of concentrated apple flavor and delightful chew, we’ve folded in generous bits of dried apple. Paired with a generous dose of warm ground cinnamon, these cookies sing with classic autumn tastes, bringing to mind orchard visits and cozy afternoons.
The Sweet Finish: Maple Glaze
To crown these autumnal gems, a simple yet elegant maple syrup icing is drizzled over each one. This isn’t just any icing; the pure maple syrup adds a rich, distinctive sweetness that harmonizes beautifully with the apple and cinnamon, elevating the entire cookie. It provides a glistening finish and an extra layer of flavor that truly seals the deal, making each cookie a small, exquisite package of fall goodness. It’s truly fall all wrapped up in a little treat, ready to be enjoyed with a cup of tea or coffee.
Essential Baking Tips for Homemade Perfection
Achieving the perfect cookie is a blend of art and science. Here are some key tips to ensure your Iced Oatmeal Apple Cookies turn out wonderfully every time:
baking tip:Easy Powdered Sugar Glaze Recipe
The beauty of a simple glaze or icing is its versatility; there’s no single “right” way to make it. This adaptable recipe requires just a few basic ingredients: powdered sugar, a liquid base, and a flavoring agent. Simply whisk together the following ingredients in a bowl until smooth, then drizzle generously over a wide variety of desserts:
- 1 cup of sifted powdered sugar
- 1-2 tablespoons of milk, heavy cream, or half and half
- 1/2-1 teaspoon vanilla extract
For these Iced Oatmeal Apple Cookies, we specifically use pure maple syrup as the primary liquid to enhance the autumnal flavors, but you can explore other liquids like citrus juice for a tangy twist, coffee for a deeper note, or a favorite liqueur for an adult touch, to create different flavor profiles for your glazes.
Tips for Perfect Cookies:
- Don’t Overmix: Once you add the dry ingredients to the wet, mix only until just combined. Overmixing can develop the gluten in the flour, leading to tough cookies.
- Quality Ingredients Matter: Using good quality pure maple syrup for the glaze and flavorful dried apples makes a noticeable difference in the final taste.
- Measure Accurately: Especially with flour, consider using a kitchen scale for precise measurements (as provided in grams in the recipe) to ensure the correct texture.
- Cool Completely Before Icing: It’s crucial that your cookies are completely cool before you apply the maple glaze. If the cookies are still warm, the glaze will melt and run off, rather than setting nicely.
- Proper Storage: To maintain their freshness and delicious texture, store these cookies in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. This also helps the glaze set beautifully.
- Even Baking: For uniform baking, use a cookie scoop to ensure each cookie is the same size. Rotate your baking sheets halfway through the baking time if your oven has hot spots.
These cookies are wonderful on their own, but they also make a fantastic addition to a fall dessert spread or as a thoughtful homemade gift. Imagine pairing them with a warm cup of cider or a comforting latte – pure autumnal bliss!
Your Go-To Recipe for Iced Oatmeal Apple Cookies
Ready to bring the delightful flavors of fall into your kitchen? This recipe is straightforward, yielding a batch of irresistibly chewy and perfectly spiced cookies, crowned with a sweet maple icing. Gather your ingredients and let’s get baking!
Iced Oatmeal and Apple Cookies
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Ingredients
For the cookies:
- 4 tablespoons butter , melted (56 grams)
- 1 cup packed light or dark brown sugar (215 grams)
- ½ cup granulated sugar (100 grams)
- 1 large egg
- ½ cup applesauce (125 grams)
- 1 ½ cups old-fashioned oats (150 grams)
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour (180 grams)
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup unsweetened dried apples (85 grams)
For the icing:
- 1 ¾ cup powdered sugar (405 grams)
- 3 tablespoons pure maple syrup
- 1-3 tablespoons milk
Instructions
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Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper.
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In bowl, combine the oats, flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon and salt.
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In a separate bowl, beat together the melted butter, brown sugar, and sugar with a wooden spoon until combined. Add the egg and applesauce and mix until combined. Add the dry ingredients, and mix until just combined, then stir in the dried apple.
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Drop by the rounded tablespoon onto the prepared sheet pan and bake until edges are just turning golden brown, about 13-15 minutes. Let cool on the pan for 5 minutes, then transfer to a cooling rack to cool completely.
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To make the icing, whisk together the powdered sugar and maple syrup. Add enough milk to get the right consistency. Drizzle over the cooled cookies and let set for 10 minutes before serving.
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Store cookies in the fridge for up to 5 days.
Notes
There you have it – a recipe designed to fill your home with the comforting aromas of fall and your tummy with pure delight. These Iced Oatmeal Apple Cookies are perfect for sharing with loved ones, bringing to a potluck, or simply enjoying during a quiet moment. Their balanced flavors and satisfying texture make them a timeless autumn classic. So go ahead, whip up a batch, and let the warm spices and sweet apple notes transport you to the heart of fall, no matter what the calendar says. Happy baking!