Apple Cinnamon Walnut Oatmeal Cookies

makes 3 dozen medium-sized cookies

Ingredients:

1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened 
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1 large egg
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
1 cup AP flour or white whole wheat flour
1 1/4 cup old fashioned oats
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
scant 1/2 tsp table salt
1 tsp ground cinnamon
pinch of ground nutmeg
3/4 cup chopped walnuts
2 small apples, peeled, cored, and diced small (I used a Gala and a Pink Lady)
1 tsp fresh lemon juice

Instructions:

Position a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees. Line an unrimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. I like to bake my cookies one sheet at a time - if you'd like to bake more than one sheet at a time, position your racks in the center and top third of the oven, and rotate the sheets halfway through baking. 
Toss the diced apple with the lemon juice in a small bowl and set aside.
In a stand mixer with a paddle attachment, beat the butter and sugars until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Add the egg and beat for one more minute. Add the vanilla extract and beat until mixed in.
Whisk together the oats, flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and spices. With the mixer on low, slowly add the flour mixture to the butter mixture, mixing until just combined (don't overmix). Remove the bowl from the mixer and fold in the apples and walnuts by hand. 
Bake at 350F. for 10-15 minutes, depending on if you want soft or crispy cookies. I did some of each - both were outrageously delicious. So just keep an eye on the cookies and when they're lightly browned around the edges and beginning to set in the center, you can take them out. Let the cookies cool for 10 minutes on the baking sheet before carefully (especially if they're soft) moving them to a cooling rack to cool completely.