Chunky Apple Oatmeal Cookies with Brown Butter Frosting

Summer! Yay! We have been having a blast since the kids have been out of school.
Now, don’t get me wrong.
I feel as if I have probably said these things more in the past week than during the entire past school year.
“Leave your sister alone.”
“Stop overreacting.”
“Be nice to each other.”
And maybe in a higher, maybe a little louder voice:
“Be nice to each other or every single fun activity I have planned for the summer will be CANCELLED!”
I am not proud.
It has been a lot of work since they have been home. Mostly though, because we have been having a lot of fun. The pool, the park, the sprinkler park, a few picnics, late afternoon walks, breakfast in our pajamas instead of the frantic, “we are going to be late!” breakfasts we usually have. Ahh….summer.
Recently, we baked these cookies too, which were definitely one of our highlights. My kids love baking, and one of my daughters said she was in the mood for something new. I had a few ripe green apples in my produce drawer (amongst all the other great summer produce that we have been devouring lately!), so I decided to find a cookie recipe that I could add a little fruit to.
Not that I am trying to claim these cookies are healthy by any stretch of the imagination, but I have to admit, adding fruit always makes me feel a little bit better.
Even if it is smothered in a buttery sweet frosting.
The cookie is absolutely amazing but the true star of this one is the brown butter frosting. I have never attempted the whole brown butter thing and I was positive I was going to mess it up, especially with two little girls watching my every move.
It was way easier than I thought and the result was well worth any time it took to get it right. These would be great for fall baking too, but we had no problem gobbling them up with a cold glass of milk on the back porch at the end of an active summer day!

Chunky Apple Oatmeal Cookies with Brown Butter Frosting

Cookie:
1/2 cup butter, softened
6 tablespoons packed brown sugar
1/4 cup sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 cup flour + 1 tablespoon
1 cup oats
1 cup peeled, diced apple -(I used a granny smith)
Frosting:
1/4 cup butter
1 cup powdered sugar
1/2-1 tablespoon milk
cinnamon or nutmeg for sprinkling, if desired

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line baking sheet with parchment paper. In a large bowl, cream butter and sugars together until light and fluffy. Gently stir in egg and vanilla. Slowly pour in dry ingredients. Stir in oats and chopped apples. Scoop about a tablespoon sized ball onto cookie sheet and bake 8-10 minutes or until the edges are golden. Let cool one minute on the cookie sheet, then transfer to a cooling rack. While cookies are baking, place 1/4 cup butter into small saucepan. With medium heat, melt and brown the butter. Once the butter is a medium brown/amber color and becomes very fragrant, remove from heat and pour into a small bowl. DO NOT LET IT GET TO WHERE IT IS ABOUT TO BURN. Watch it closely. Stir in powdered sugar and enough milk to get a spreadable consistency.
Frost warm cookies and sprinkle with more cinnamon or nutmeg, if desired. Serve.