These Soft, Chewy Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal Cookies Are, Simply Put, “a Problem”
theSkimm
Is it even fall if you haven’t been apple picking? And have you even been apple picking if you couldn’t decide what to bake first? Our recommendation: Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal Cookies by Sally’s Baking. Essentially the redemption arc oatmeal-raisin cookies desperately needed (raisin haters, this one’s for you), the no-chilling-necessary recipe combines tender chunks of apple, chewy oats, reduced applesauce, warming spices, and a decadent drizzle of creamy maple icing. Enjoy them with your coziest sweater and an episode of Gilmore Girls — and you’ll understand why one fan said, “These are a problem. They’re so good.”
The Time Commitment: About an hour.
Key Tips: Don’t skip the step of reducing the (unsweetened) applesauce — it’s what gives these cookies their concentrated apple flavor. And make sure to use whole rolled oats: Quick oats could make them too powdery, and steel-cut oats are too hard.
Other Takes: For more cookies that are the culinary equivalent of the perfect leaf crunch, try…
Chai Sugar Cookies. Loaded with cardamom, cinnamon, and ginger, these gloriously thick cookies may be even better than the fall drink — and they’re ready in 25 minutes, too.
Brown Butter & Maple Chewy Pumpkin Cookies. According to one commenter, this is the “BEST COOKIE I HAVE EVER TASTED. And I’m over 70 and tasted a lot of cookies.” We trust her implicitly.
Apple Crisp Cookies. The love child of an apple crisp and a brown-sugar cookie, this treat is covered with a buttery cinnamon-oat streusel topping that’s impossible not to pick at (speaking from experience).
Sophie, Standing There by Meg Mason
theSkimm
When Ann Patchett tells us a book is “unlike anything else I’ve ever read,” you don’t ask questions — you add it to the top of your TBR pile immediately. The book in question? Meg Mason’s Sophie, Standing There. It follows Sophie, a literary-festival sound technician in her late 30s, who is, let’s say, going through it: She’s been dumped by her husband (while she was in the shower, no less), relegated to living in a run-down apartment that belongs to her soon-to-be ex, and is avoiding everyone who loves her. So Sophie takes refuge in the novels of Lilac Dunne, an author she discovered in her 20s — who, in a twist of fate, steps in for Elizabeth Strout at the very festivals where Sophie works. Even better? Dunne takes an interest in her. Expect a story that, per Patchett, is “funny, readable, entertaining, and so profound.” We reached out to Mason to chat about what she listened to while writing her latest novel and her hot take on phone etiquette.
Q: What’s one thing you can’t stop listening to?
Mason: The year I wrote Sophie, Standing There, I listened to two songs, exclusively: “Cold Heart” by Elton John and Dua Lipa, and The Proclaimers’ “I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles).” Spotify freaked out trying to create a Wrapped out of two songs.
Q: What’s one unpopular opinion you have?
Mason: Being on your phone is like smoking. If you have to do it, go and do it outside.
Q: What’s the one place everyone needs to visit?
Mason: Come and see me in Australia. It’s 12,000 miles away, there’s only seven of us down here, and it’s very beautiful. And the dangerous animals you hear about, they never come into town.
PS: The Jane Austen novel that Mason says everyone should read “once a year, if possible”? Find out here.
Why Yes, This Charming Swiss City Is a Real-Life Disney Movie
theSkimm
Paris? Overexposed. Capri? Cliché. Lucerne, Switzerland? Quietly minding its business — and doing it better. Around 45 minutes from Zurich by train, this underrated gem has everything you want in a Swiss escape: snowcapped mountains, shimmering lake views, and a medieval old town that looks suspiciously like a movie set. Check into Hotel Château Gütsch (a literal castle), then get your culture fix at the Rosengart Collection (home to over 300 works by the likes of Picasso and Paul Klee). Or step inside the epic, 360-degree Bourbaki Panorama for a crash course in Swiss history. And, of course, we wouldn’t be doing our jobs if we didn’t mention all. the. chocolate. Suddenly, that return ticket feels optional.
🏰 Cue the lute music: Things are about to get very castlecore, very fast. Lucerne’s flower-trimmed Chapel Bridge — the world-famous 14th-century wooden walkway stretching across the Reuss River — is your gateway to one of Switzerland’s best-preserved medieval old towns. This is a roam-don’t-rush kind of place: cobblestone alleys, mural-covered façades (see: Pfistern Guildhouse and Hotel des Balances), and town squares that feel pulled from a fairytale. Wander to Peter’s Chapel, which has an 800-year-plus history, then detour to the Spreuer Bridge (check out the striking paintings beneath the roof). Finally, climb the ancient Museggmauer ramparts for a view from the iconic Zytturm clock tower — and, yes, it still chimes.
🏞️ Lake Lucerne’s not just a backdrop — it’s the star of the show. The famously blue water demands to be admired, sailed on, and stared at for an unreasonable amount of time. Head to Ufschötti to picnic on the spacious, tree-lined lawns or stroll the long sandy shore. Or hop aboard one of SGV’s historic steamboats or sleek ships, which brings the stunning views to you. And for a perspective shift, ride the glassy gondola up Mount Pilatus, then brace yourself for the steepest cogwheel railway in the world.
🍴 Switzerland’s culinary claim to fame? Cheese and chocolate — and Lucerne more than delivers. Start at Max Chocolatier for decadent truffles (that’s correct, we’re endorsing chocolate for breakfast), then swing by Chäs Barmettler, a family-run shop slinging dozens of varieties of cheese. At lunchtime, grab a table at Mill’Feuille, a cozy spot perched above the water that serves homemade soda (get the blood orange flavor). For dinner, head to Old Swiss House to feast on Wiener schnitzel (tender, pan-fried veal cutlets) in a storybook-style chalet. (Pro tip: Order the Zuger kirschtorte — a boozy, buttercreamy, almond-meringue dream.)
We asked you to vote on an etiquette question you’d like answered. The winner was:
Two of my close friends recently had a falling out, and both are coming to my bachelorette party in a few weeks. Should I do anything beforehand to make sure things stay drama-free, or should I just steer clear and let them figure it out on their own?
“It depends on your personality. If tension tends to eat at you — or you feel like it’s your job to keep the peace — reach out to each friend individually beforehand. Keep it short and warm: ‘I’m so grateful you’re coming to celebrate me, even knowing [friend’s name] will be there. I just wanted to name it before the night arrives — and to let you know my focus is going to be on being present and enjoying my party. I love you.’ This acknowledges the awkwardness, lets each friend know you care, and reminds them that fixing the friendship is not your job, especially on your bachelorette.
On the other hand, if you’re comfortable with a little tension, live your life. Real friends should be mature enough to know that this night is not about them.”
FEATURED EXPERT:
Aly Bullock
Unleash your competitive side with today's games and puzzles. Go wild.
These Soft, Chewy Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal Cookies Are, Simply Put, “a Problem”
theSkimm
Is it even fall if you haven’t been apple picking? And have you even been apple picking if you couldn’t decide what to bake first? Our recommendation: Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal Cookies by Sally’s Baking. Essentially the redemption arc oatmeal-raisin cookies desperately needed (raisin haters, this one’s for you), the no-chilling-necessary recipe combines tender chunks of apple, chewy oats, reduced applesauce, warming spices, and a decadent drizzle of creamy maple icing. Enjoy them with your coziest sweater and an episode of Gilmore Girls — and you’ll understand why one fan said, “These are a problem. They’re so good.”
The Time Commitment: About an hour.
Key Tips: Don’t skip the step of reducing the (unsweetened) applesauce — it’s what gives these cookies their concentrated apple flavor. And make sure to use whole rolled oats: Quick oats could make them too powdery, and steel-cut oats are too hard.
Other Takes: For more cookies that are the culinary equivalent of the perfect leaf crunch, try…
Chai Sugar Cookies. Loaded with cardamom, cinnamon, and ginger, these gloriously thick cookies may be even better than the fall drink — and they’re ready in 25 minutes, too.
Brown Butter & Maple Chewy Pumpkin Cookies. According to one commenter, this is the “BEST COOKIE I HAVE EVER TASTED. And I’m over 70 and tasted a lot of cookies.” We trust her implicitly.
Apple Crisp Cookies. The love child of an apple crisp and a brown-sugar cookie, this treat is covered with a buttery cinnamon-oat streusel topping that’s impossible not to pick at (speaking from experience).
Sophie, Standing There by Meg Mason
theSkimm
When Ann Patchett tells us a book is “unlike anything else I’ve ever read,” you don’t ask questions — you add it to the top of your TBR pile immediately. The book in question? Meg Mason’s Sophie, Standing There. It follows Sophie, a literary-festival sound technician in her late 30s, who is, let’s say, going through it: She’s been dumped by her husband (while she was in the shower, no less), relegated to living in a run-down apartment that belongs to her soon-to-be ex, and is avoiding everyone who loves her. So Sophie takes refuge in the novels of Lilac Dunne, an author she discovered in her 20s — who, in a twist of fate, steps in for Elizabeth Strout at the very festivals where Sophie works. Even better? Dunne takes an interest in her. Expect a story that, per Patchett, is “funny, readable, entertaining, and so profound.” We reached out to Mason to chat about what she listened to while writing her latest novel and her hot take on phone etiquette.
Q: What’s one thing you can’t stop listening to?
Mason: The year I wrote Sophie, Standing There, I listened to two songs, exclusively: “Cold Heart” by Elton John and Dua Lipa, and The Proclaimers’ “I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles).” Spotify freaked out trying to create a Wrapped out of two songs.
Q: What’s one unpopular opinion you have?
Mason: Being on your phone is like smoking. If you have to do it, go and do it outside.
Q: What’s the one place everyone needs to visit?
Mason: Come and see me in Australia. It’s 12,000 miles away, there’s only seven of us down here, and it’s very beautiful. And the dangerous animals you hear about, they never come into town.
PS: The Jane Austen novel that Mason says everyone should read “once a year, if possible”? Find out here.
Why Yes, This Charming Swiss City Is a Real-Life Disney Movie
theSkimm
Paris? Overexposed. Capri? Cliché. Lucerne, Switzerland? Quietly minding its business — and doing it better. Around 45 minutes from Zurich by train, this underrated gem has everything you want in a Swiss escape: snowcapped mountains, shimmering lake views, and a medieval old town that looks suspiciously like a movie set. Check into Hotel Château Gütsch (a literal castle), then get your culture fix at the Rosengart Collection (home to over 300 works by the likes of Picasso and Paul Klee). Or step inside the epic, 360-degree Bourbaki Panorama for a crash course in Swiss history. And, of course, we wouldn’t be doing our jobs if we didn’t mention all. the. chocolate. Suddenly, that return ticket feels optional.
🏰 Cue the lute music: Things are about to get very castlecore, very fast. Lucerne’s flower-trimmed Chapel Bridge — the world-famous 14th-century wooden walkway stretching across the Reuss River — is your gateway to one of Switzerland’s best-preserved medieval old towns. This is a roam-don’t-rush kind of place: cobblestone alleys, mural-covered façades (see: Pfistern Guildhouse and Hotel des Balances), and town squares that feel pulled from a fairytale. Wander to Peter’s Chapel, which has an 800-year-plus history, then detour to the Spreuer Bridge (check out the striking paintings beneath the roof). Finally, climb the ancient Museggmauer ramparts for a view from the iconic Zytturm clock tower — and, yes, it still chimes.
🏞️ Lake Lucerne’s not just a backdrop — it’s the star of the show. The famously blue water demands to be admired, sailed on, and stared at for an unreasonable amount of time. Head to Ufschötti to picnic on the spacious, tree-lined lawns or stroll the long sandy shore. Or hop aboard one of SGV’s historic steamboats or sleek ships, which brings the stunning views to you. And for a perspective shift, ride the glassy gondola up Mount Pilatus, then brace yourself for the steepest cogwheel railway in the world.
🍴 Switzerland’s culinary claim to fame? Cheese and chocolate — and Lucerne more than delivers. Start at Max Chocolatier for decadent truffles (that’s correct, we’re endorsing chocolate for breakfast), then swing by Chäs Barmettler, a family-run shop slinging dozens of varieties of cheese. At lunchtime, grab a table at Mill’Feuille, a cozy spot perched above the water that serves homemade soda (get the blood orange flavor). For dinner, head to Old Swiss House to feast on Wiener schnitzel (tender, pan-fried veal cutlets) in a storybook-style chalet. (Pro tip: Order the Zuger kirschtorte — a boozy, buttercreamy, almond-meringue dream.)
Live Smarter
Sign up for the Daily Skimm email newsletter. Delivered to your inbox every morning and prepares you for your day in minutes.