Cinnamon Vanilla Apple Cookies (Gluten-free)
These Gluten-free, dairy-free, cookies are filled with cinnamon, dried apple chips, and vanilla – they not only smell delicious but taste heavenly, and, without the icing, they can even be breakfast!

These gluten-free cinnamon vanilla apple cookies are such a simple joy. They are easy to make. Somewhat on the healthy-ish side. They are such a delightful blend of flavors. And, they smell absolutely amazing.
What are the ingredients in these cinnamon vanilla apple cookies?
These cookies are made with the following 12 ingredients, and they are:
- Rolled oats
- Gluten-free flour
- Brown sugar
- Baking powder
- Cinnamon
- Coconut oil
- Eggs
- Vanilla
- Almond extract
- Apple chips
- Confectioners sugar
- Almond milk
Inspiration for these cookies…
There are those people that will look up at a clear blue sky and manage to find that spec of gray, that one lonesome, tiny cloud. Then there are those people that will look up at a cloudy gray sky and manage to find that one ray of sunshine – that one spec of blue!
My dad fell into that latter group. He was a joy-seeker and very often a joy-finder – in just about everything. I think it was this spirit in him that led him to bake us a cake, even when he had a reputation of being a “water-burner”.

Way back in the day when I was a kid, my mom, sister, and I went off on a short vacation to visit my uncle. Back then, my mom did all the cooking and baking, and she made sure my dad had enough meals in the fridge before we left, so he wouldn’t rely on coffee and cookies.
However, when we got back from our vacation, the front door wasn’t fully opened when the smell of vanilla with accents of apple and cinnamon assailed our nostrils! Apparently, my water-burning-not-a-culinary-pro dad had baked us a cake! A fresh vanilla, cinnamon, and apple cake!
At first, we were skeptical – maybe he bought it or had help from a cousin or friend; but there was no denying the scent of apples, cinnamon, and vanilla that clung to the kitchen.
And the cake was still warm! Other than a “golden brown” rim on the bottom outer layer of that cake, it was perfect AND delicious!
My dad is not with us this Christmas, but he passed his love for all things sweet on to me and his granddaughter.
So, in honor of the cake my dad baked and his love of cookies, I decided to come up with these gluten free, Cinnamon Vanilla Apple Cookies!

How to make these cinnamon vanilla apple cookies?
I used a combination of my adapted gluten-free blend, but you could use any gluten-free flour and oats and apple chips in these easy steps:
- First, I preheated the oven to 350
- Then, I added 1 1/4 cups old-fashioned rolled oats, 1 cup gluten-free flour blend, 1/2 cup brown sugar, 2 teaspoons baking powder, and 1 teaspoon cinnamon to a bowl and mixed them up.
- Next, I added 1/8 cup of melted(not hot) coconut oil, 2 large eggs, 1 teaspoon vanilla, and 1/4 teaspoon almond extract to the dry mix and stirred it well.
- Then I added in 1/2 cup of roughly crushed apple chips (you could also use dried apples or freeze-dried apples).
- I formed this mix into 8 balls and baked them for 12 minutes on a parchment-lined baking tray.
- When cooled, I glazed some of them with a glaze of 1/2 cup confectioners’ sugar, 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, and a few splashes of milk to make it an “icing” consistency.

I hope to make these cookies for our Christmas cookie platter this Holiday season. And when my mom, sister, daughter, and I get together for Christmas, we will enjoy these in memory of my joy-filled dad!

Ingredients
- 1 1/4 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
- 1 cup gluten-free flour I used this blend
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/8 cup of melted coconut oil not hot
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1/4 teaspoon almond extract
- 1/2 cup of roughly crushed apple chips you could also use dried apples or freeze-dried apples
GLAZE:
- 1/2 cup confectioners sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- a few splashes of almond milk
Instructions
- First, I preheated the oven to 350
- Then, I added 1 1/4 cup old-fashioned rolled oats, 1 cup gluten-free flour blend, 1/2 cup brown sugar, 2 teaspoons baking powder, and 1 teaspoon cinnamon to a bowl and mixed them up.
- Next, I added in 1/8 cup of melted(not hot) coconut oil, 2 large eggs, 1 teaspoon vanilla, and 1/4 teaspoon almond extract to the dry mix and stirred it well
- Then I added in 1/2 cup of roughly crushed apple chips (you could also use dried apples or freeze-dried apples)
- I formed this mix into 8 balls and baked them for 12 minutes on a parchment-lined baking tray.
- When cooled, I glazed some of them with a glaze of 1/2 cup confectionersâ?? sugar, 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, and a few splashes of milk to make it an icing consistency.
Nutrition
Great flavor combo – I love the cinnamon glaze!!
I love these cookies. The apples and the oats sounds yummy!
Your dad reminds me of my mom – always able to find the bright side of things. What a special gift ๐ These cookies look absolutely amazing!!
Such a lovely story you’ve shared about your dad, Shashi. My dad is not here for Christmas either but his spirit always is and we make sure the kids in the family know him through us.
I’m a big fan of apple cinnamon and these cookies are a great tradition to share. Thank you!
What a lovely cookie recipe!!! Screaming fall all over!! Thanks for sharing with us Shashi ๐
Aww, I loved reading that story about your dad (hehehe, “water-burner”)! Those cookies look delicious! :] I love how you made the icing!
Yummy cookies, I like the addition of apple and vanilla. Perfect for Holidays! Pinning:)
How precious that you have these wonderful memories of your father, Shashi, and that you can remember him through your cooking!
I love this combination of healthy cookies with a simple flavoured glaze. It’s the kind of thing I’m always looking for for healthier after-work snacks ๐
Those candles sound amazing. I love the names of them – excellent for Christmas. I’m so sorry you won’t have your beautiful dad with you this Christmas. He certainly sounds like he was an outstanding father with a fantastic attitude xx
I bet your dad would have been lots of fun to hang out with. I tend to err on that side while my husband goes to the other side! What a lovely way of remembering him!