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
I love that your dad was a joy seeker – that’s something I’m trying to be better about! And these cookies sound amazinggg.
Whoa these sound so good. That glaze has me drooling already! Anything with apples and cinnamon is a go-to in my mind!
What a lovely memory of your dad!
Best welcome home smell ever! Love that! And I want to bottle it up. And eat of course haha
Shashi! I love this flavor combination!!! these are the perfect holiday cookies!!! and love the cinnamon glaze!!!
See! You had food blogger genes in you all along, Shashi…your Dad sounds like an incredible guy! I mean, he burns water but managed to bake you guys a delicious cake. I love that this inspired you to make these cookies! And cinnamon + vanilla + apples is one of my favorite combinations! These sound almost like apple pie cookies…and I think they would disappear around here quickly. Oh, and I love those candles, too…we always have candles burning during the holidays!
Awww…I love it Shashi. Your daddy baked you a cake. Now THAT, my friend, is sweet sweet sweet. I can see how the candle scent carrie you back to that night. Light lots of candles this season, my friend, bask in the glow. Because beautiful memories are worth cherishing. And munch a few of these cookies while you’re at it. I’m going to. xo
Your dad sounded absolutely wonderful Shashi, thank you so much for sharing such a lovely story with us! <3 These cookies look delicious, and I love the combination of flavours. Cinnamon and vanilla both taste so amazing with apple! Love the glaze on top too!
Shashi, that was such a sweet and heartwarming story about your dad. I love that we both made apple cookies this week, so often we’re on the same wavelength. Needless to say, these look absolutely wonderful 🙂
My dad is the same way, high spirited and loves life just like your daddy. I am sure my dad would love these cookies just as much as yours did and I will make him a batch or 2 while I am back home visiting. I will let him know its my buddy, Shashi’s recipe. Sharing, pinning, sending smoke signals..
That glaze!! This flavor combination is amazing and I wouldn’t be mad if you want to make these for me 🙂 Your dad sounds sweet–we need more positive people like that.
What a lovely smell to come home to, vanilla, cinnamon and apple. Thanks for sharing this enchanting story about your dad.
I love those candles and always stop to smell them at Target! 🙂 These cookies look amazing!!! Everything I love in them.
These look beautiful. I love the sound of the cinnamon glaze too.
I am a sucker for oat cookies! These look fantastic, Shashi.
Apples and cinnamon, you know I love that combination Shashi.
I loved reading about your Dad. I want his vanilla, cinnamon and apple cake! People that look up into a grey sky and find that one ray of sunshine are those that I prefer to spend my time with. There’s enough problems in the world and in daily life in general without trying to find more, don’t you think? 🙂