Healthy Oatmeal Cookies with Applesauce
Healthy oatmeal cookies with applesauce need just 3 simple ingredients! These naturally sweet, chewy treats are perfect for busy mornings or wholesome snacking anytime.
These healthy oatmeal cookies with applesauce combine unsweetened applesauce, quick oats, and your favorite mix-ins—think chocolate chips, dried cranberries, or chopped dates—to create tender, naturally sweetened cookies with a satisfyingly chewy texture and warm oat flavor that tastes indulgent without butter, eggs, or refined sugar.
I stumbled onto this recipe during one of those frantic mornings when I desperately needed something sweet but didn’t have butter or eggs on hand. Three ingredients later, I had warm cookies cooling on my counter, and I honestly couldn’t believe how delicious they turned out.
The applesauce keeps these oatmeal cookies incredibly moist while adding just a hint of natural sweetness.
Love apple-based baking? Our ultimate apple coffee cake showcases fresh apples with warm spices—perfect for cozy mornings alongside these cookies.
Why You’ll Love These Applesauce Oatmeal Cookies
Healthy applesauce cookies are about to become your new favorite guilt-free treat, and here’s why:
They’re ridiculously simple. I’m talking three ingredients, one bowl, and about twenty minutes from start to finish. No mixer needed, no chilling the dough, no complicated techniques.
You control the sweetness and add-ins. Want dark chocolate chunks? Go for it. Prefer dried cherries and walnuts? Perfect. Raisins and cinnamon chips? You’re the boss of your cookies.
They’re naturally lighter. By using applesauce instead of butter, you’re cutting calories and fat while keeping that tender, satisfying texture.
According to King Arthur Baking, applesauce contributes moisture and acts as a binding agent, making it an excellent substitute in healthier baking.
Kids actually love them. My niece calls these “baby cookies” because they’re small and she can eat three without her mom side-eyeing her snack choices.
They’re meal-prep friendly. Make a batch on Sunday and you’ve got grab-and-go breakfast cookies or afternoon pick-me-ups all week long. They even freeze beautifully if you want to stash some for later.
Table of Contents
Healthy Oatmeal Cookies with Applesauce
Equipment
- Parchment paper or silicone baking mat
- Spoon
- Cookie scoop
Ingredients
Cookies
- ½ cup Unsweetened applesauce
- 1 cup Quick oats
- ½ cup Mix-ins of choice (chocolate chips, dried fruit, nuts, etc.)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
- In a large bowl, stir together the applesauce and quick oats until fully combined.
- Fold in your chosen mix-ins.
- Use a cookie scoop to portion the dough onto the baking sheet, then flatten slightly with your hand or the back of a spoon.
- Bake for 13–15 minutes, until the cookies are set and hold together when lifted.
- Allow to cool on the baking sheet before removing.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional Peek
Here’s what you’re getting per cookie (based on 9 cookies with chocolate chip mix-ins):
| Nutrient | Per Cookie |
|---|---|
| Calories | 75-85 |
| Protein | 2g |
| Carbohydrates | 14g |
| Fat | 2g |
| Fiber | 2g |
Note: Nutrition varies based on your choice of mix-ins.
Ingredients You’ll Need
These oatmeal cookies with applesauce instead of butter couldn’t be simpler—you probably have everything already! Here’s what you’ll gather:
| Amount | Ingredient |
|---|---|
| 1/2 cup (4 oz) | Unsweetened applesauce (I love the natural kind with just apples, no added sugar) |
| 1 cup | Quick oats (not instant or old-fashioned—quick oats give the best texture here) |
| 1/2 cup | Mix-ins of your choice: chocolate chips, chopped dried fruit, nuts, coconut flakes, or cinnamon chips |
A quick note on applesauce: Make sure it’s unsweetened, or your cookies might turn out too sweet. The natural apple flavor is perfect here without any added sugar.
Equipment You’ll Need
Keep it simple with these basics:
- Baking sheet (any standard size works)
- Silicone baking mat or parchment paper (trust me, these cookies can stick)
- Large mixing bowl
- Mixing spoon
- 1.5 tablespoon cookie scoop (optional but makes uniform cookies so much easier)
- Cookie spatula for lifting those beauties off the sheet
How to Make Healthy Oatmeal Cookies with Applesauce
Making healthy oatmeal cookies with applesauce is seriously the easiest baking project you’ll tackle all week. Let’s walk through it together:
1. Prep your oven and pan. Preheat your oven to 350°F and line a baking sheet with a silicone mat or parchment paper. Don’t skip the lining—these cookies have no butter or oil, so they’ll stick without it.
2. Mix the base. In a large bowl, combine the applesauce and quick oats, stirring with a spoon until every single oat is moistened and the mixture looks evenly combined. It’ll seem loose at first, but the oats will absorb that moisture and bind together beautifully.
3. Add your mix-ins. Fold in your chocolate chips, dried fruit, nuts, or whatever combination makes your heart happy. (Pro tip: Save some mix-ins to press onto the tops of the cookies before baking—makes them look bakery-pretty!)
4. Shape the cookies. Use a 1.5 tablespoon cookie scoop to portion out dough balls onto your prepared baking sheet, spacing them about 2 inches apart. Here’s the important part: these cookies won’t spread or puff during baking, so what you see is what you get.
Use the back of your spoon or your palm to press each dough ball into a thick round disk about 3/8 inch thick.
5. Bake until set. Slide that sheet into your preheated oven and bake for 13-15 minutes, until the cookies are set and hold their shape. Not sure if they’re done? Try lifting one with a cookie spatula—if it lifts off in one piece without falling apart, you’re golden.
6. Cool completely. Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet before moving them. They’ll firm up as they cool, giving you that perfect chewy texture.
Pro Tips for Perfect Applesauce Oatmeal Cookies
Applesauce oatmeal cookies are forgiving, but these tricks will take them from good to incredible:
Use quick oats, not old-fashioned. Quick oats have a finer texture that absorbs the applesauce better and creates a more cohesive cookie. Old-fashioned oats work in a pinch, but you might need to pulse them in a food processor a few times to break them down slightly.
Shape them exactly how you want them. Since these cookies don’t spread or rise, you’re the artist here. Want thicker cookies? Press them less. Prefer thinner, crispier ones? Flatten them more.
According to Serious Eats, cookies without fat don’t experience the same spread during baking because there’s no melting butter to create steam and expansion.
Don’t overbake. These cookies can go from perfect to dry pretty quickly since they don’t have the butter to keep them moist. Pull them when they’re just set—they’ll continue firming up as they cool on the pan.
Customize the sweetness. If you’re using unsweetened dried fruit or no mix-ins at all, you might want to add a tablespoon of maple syrup or honey to the applesauce for a touch more sweetness. Taste your dough (it’s safe—no eggs!) and adjust to your preference.
What If Things Go Wrong? Quick Fixes
Why are my cookies falling apart? Make sure you’re using quick oats and that you’ve mixed everything until all the oats are completely moistened. If your dough seems too dry, add another tablespoon of applesauce.
Can I make these if I only have old-fashioned oats? Yes, but pulse them in a food processor 5-6 times first to break them down slightly. Otherwise, your cookies might be too crumbly.
My cookies turned out too bland—what happened? You probably need sweeter mix-ins! Try adding chocolate chips, sweetened dried cranberries, or a pinch of cinnamon to the dough. Remember, unsweetened applesauce doesn’t add much sweetness on its own.
The cookies are sticking to my pan. Always line your baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone mat. Without any fat in the recipe, these cookies will absolutely stick to an unlined pan.
Fun Variations to Try
Healthy applesauce cookies are a blank canvas for your creativity. Here are some of my favorite twists:
Cinnamon raisin: Add 1/2 teaspoon of ground cinnamon to the dough and use raisins as your mix-in. Tastes like oatmeal in cookie form!
Tropical paradise: Mix in unsweetened coconut flakes and chopped dried mango or pineapple. A little taste of sunshine in every bite.
Chocolate peanut butter: Use chocolate chips and add a tablespoon of natural peanut butter to the applesauce before mixing. Pure heaven.
Berry bliss: Fold in dried blueberries, cranberries, and a handful of slivered almonds for an antioxidant-packed treat.
For another healthier fruit-forward dessert that uses natural ingredients, try our lemon blueberry Bundt cake—moist, tender, and bursting with fresh berry flavor.
How to Serve, Store, and Keep These Fresh
Serving these beauties: These cookies are perfect straight from the oven (give them five minutes to firm up first!), at room temperature, or even slightly chilled from the fridge. I love them with my morning coffee or as an afternoon snack with almond butter spread on top.
Storage tips: Keep your cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for 1-2 days. They’ll stay soft and chewy during this time. For longer storage, pop them in the fridge where they’ll last up to a week, or freeze them for up to three months.
Reheating: If you’ve refrigerated or frozen your cookies, warm them in a 300°F oven for 3-4 minutes to bring back that fresh-baked softness. The microwave works too—just 10-15 seconds does the trick.
Zero-Waste Kitchen Magic
Got leftover applesauce from the jar? Stir it into your morning oatmeal, use it to top pancakes, or freeze it in ice cube trays for future smoothies.
If you’ve made too many cookies (is that even possible?), crumble them over yogurt for a crunchy topping, or break them into chunks to mix into homemade trail mix. You can even pulse them in a food processor to create crumbs for topping fruit crisps or as a base for no-bake energy balls.
Your Questions Answered
Can you use applesauce instead of butter in oatmeal cookies?
Absolutely! Applesauce replaces butter beautifully in oatmeal cookies, keeping them moist while cutting fat and calories.
What does applesauce do in baking cookies?
Applesauce adds moisture, acts as a binding agent (similar to eggs), and contributes natural sweetness without refined sugar. It also helps create a tender texture by adding pectin, which keeps baked goods soft.
Are oatmeal cookies healthy?
Oatmeal cookies can be incredibly healthy, especially when made with whole grain oats, no refined sugar, and nutritious mix-ins like dried fruit or nuts. Oats provide fiber, protein, and important minerals like iron and magnesium.
What is the healthiest cookie to eat?
The healthiest cookies are those made with whole grains, natural sweeteners, healthy fats (like nuts or nut butters), and minimal processed ingredients.
What is the #1 cookie in the world?
While chocolate chip cookies are often considered the most popular cookie globally, “best” is subjective! Different cultures have their own beloved cookies—from Italian biscotti to French macarons to Mexican polvorones.
Celebrate These Simple, Wholesome Treats
I hope you love these healthy oatmeal cookies with applesauce as much as I do! They’ve saved me on countless busy mornings and satisfied so many afternoon sweet cravings without the guilt.
The beauty of this recipe is its simplicity—proof that you don’t need fancy ingredients or complicated techniques to create something absolutely delicious.
Drop a comment below and let me know what mix-ins you chose! I’d love to hear how yours turned out, and if you snap a photo, tag us so we can celebrate your baking wins together.
Craving more easy apple desserts? Our apple sour cream coffee cake is another simple, wholesome recipe perfect for weekend baking.
Baked with love by Rebeccah Ellene.
