Soft & Crispy Oatmeal Almond Butter Cookies with Fresh Cherries

These crisp-on-the-outside, soft-and-pillowy on the inside cherry oatmeal almond butter cookies are what dreams are made of. Made with just 9 simple ingredients—including protein-rich almond butter, gluten-free oat flour, and fresh local summer cherries—they are the perfect dessert, snack, and yep, even breakfast! Vegan option, meal prep & freezer friendly.

I can’t even begin to tell you the happy dance I did when I bit into these insanely delish oatmeal almond butter cookies. They are crispy on the outside, soft inside, and have little bursts of fresh local cherries in every bite. I seriously can’t get enough! 

As a non-diet dietitian, I believe all foods belong on the table—including cookies! And no, that doesn’t mean they have to be homemade, health-ified versions (anyone else a sucker for a good store-bought macadamia white chocolate cookie!?) That being said, I do love a good homemade cookie that can double as breakfast!

These ones are next level, if I do say so myself. They are packed with energizing ingredients like oats, coconut, and almond butter. I have been enjoying them for breakfast, snacks, and everything between. (If you’re a breakfast cookie fan, don’t miss these carrot cake breakfast cookies!)

This recipe makes 12 mouth-watering, crispy almond butter cookies, but you’re probably going to want to double this one up: they make a perfect meal prep breakfast to grab on busy mornings and are freezer friendly…if they make it that far. 

The best part is that they take only 25 minutes from start to finish and have just 9 simple ingredients, many of which you likely already have on hand. 

Let’s jump into them! 

Ingredients for cherry almond butter oatmeal cookies

• Oat flour
• Quick oats
• Shredded coconut
• Baking soda
• Salt
• Almond butter
• Honey
• Egg *see vegan mods below
• Cherries

Ingredient substitutions for  almond butter & cherry oat cookies

Flour substitutes: I love the oat flour in here and it happens to be naturally gluten-free for anyone who requires this. (Make sure to buy oats labeled as gluten-free to be sure there’s no cross contamination). But other flours totally work too: I recently shared this recipe on Instagram and one person made them with almond flour—and said they turned out great. Regular wheat flour would also work. 

Coconut: if you’re not a coconut lover, you can totally leave it out, or replace it with equal parts of another nut or seed of choice, such as almonds, pecans, walnuts, or pumpkin seeds!

Cherries: Cherries can be replaced for any other fruit like apples, blueberries or dried fruit (like apricots or cranberries). While I haven’t tried them all, I think pretty much any fruit should work! 

Egg: You can totally make these as vegan oat flour cookies by replacing the egg with a flax or chia egg. 

How to Store Almond Butter Cookies

These cookies store well both for the week or longer term in the freezer. Here are some storage options:

Counter: Store in an airtight container for 2-3 days. If it’s humid where you are, I’d suggest putting them right into the fridge to make sure they don’t mold!

Fridge: Store in an airtight container for up to one week.

Freezer: Store in a reusable storage bag or airtight container for up to 3 months. I also suggest placing parchment paper between layers of cookies to prevent them from sticking together.

Nutrition Benefits of Oatmeal Almond Butter Cookies

Oats

• Packed with soluble fiber, a fiber particularly known to help balance blood sugars, reduce cholesterol and keep you feeling full longer after eating!
• Rich in micronutrient iron, which is important for oxygen flow throughout the body and maintaining energy levels.

Almond Butter

• Almonds are a fantastic source of antioxidants, which are mostly found in the darker skin (so opt for almonds with the skin intact, rather than blanched).
• Eating almonds daily has been shown to reduce oxidative stress and DNA damage.
• Almonds are high in Vitamin E—several studies have linked its intake to lower rates of heart disease, cancer, and Alzheimer’s disease.

Cherries

• Cherries are rich in vitamins C, A, and K—which helps keep our bones healthy.
• Eating cherries delivers potassium, magnesium, and calcium to our bodies.
• They also offer antioxidants, like beta-carotene and the nutrient choline, which helps our brain and nervous system regulate memory and mood.

If you make these Cherry Oatmeal Almond Butter Cookies, it would make my day if you leave a comment and/or star rating below — I love hearing your feedback! And don’t forget to snap a pic and tag me on Instagram @lindsaypleskot so I can see your versions!

It makes me so happy to see these recipes come to life in your kitchens! xo