This post may contain affiliate links. See my disclosure policy.
My healthy applesauce cookies are soft and chewy and bake up in under 15 minutes! No eggs, no butter, and no oil needed.
Love healthy cookie recipes? Try my healthy oatmeal chocolate chip cookies, healthy oatmeal raisin cookies, protein cookies, and low calorie cookies next.
Come Fall, my kitchen smells like cinnamon, and my fridge is full of pumpkin puree and applesauce. Actually, that’s a lie.
Applesauce is a year-round staple in my household, and I use it in tons of baking recipes to cut down on the need for oil or butter. When I want to make applesauce the star of the show, nothing beats whipping up a batch of applesauce cookies.
Table of Contents
Why I love this recipe
- Perfect texture and flavor. The texture of my cookies is thick, soft, and perfectly chewy. They have a pleasant apple flavor with hints of cinnamon throughout.
- Ready in 12 minutes. Because these need just four ingredients to make, the cooking time is minimal.
- No eggs or butter. Besides the light apple flavor, using applesauce in cookies helps replace the butter and eggs completely. Although they won’t have a super-rich flavor butter will provide, we add some peanut butter to compensate. It also helps bind the cookies together.
- Vegan and gluten-free. And also dairy-free!
Ingredients needed
- Rolled oats. Rolled oats yield a super chewy and hearty texture. These also work with quick-cooking oats. If you’d prefer a flour-based cookie, you can use whole wheat flour.
- Applesauce. Because I’m not adding liquid or granulated sugar to these cookies, you must use sweetened applesauce. If you can only find the unsweetened kind, add 1/4 cup of either maple syrup or coconut sugar/brown sugar.
- Peanut butter. Adds some richness and a buttery texture without needing actual butter. You can substitute this for any nut or seed butter of your choice (I love using almond butter or tahini).
- Cinnamon. A must for any recipe that uses applesauce.
- Vanilla extract. Completely optional, but if you love a subtle hint of vanilla, add a drop into the batter.
How to make applesauce oatmeal cookies
I’ve included step-by-step photos below to make this recipe easy to follow at home. For the full printable recipe instructions and ingredient quantities, scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
Step 1: Make the batter. In a large bowl, combine all your ingredients until a thick batter remains.
Step 2: Shape. Using your hands, form 12-15 small balls of dough and place on the lined tray. Press each ball into a cookie shape.
Step 3: Bake the cookies for 12-15 minutes or until slightly golden. Remove from the oven and allow to cool on the pan completely.
Arman’s recipe tips
- Do not overbake the cookies. They will continue to cook as they are cooling down. They also won’t become super crunchy either.
- Taste the mixture. These cookies rely on the sweetness of the applesauce. Taste the mixture before shaping into balls (no eggs, so no worries!), and if needed, add some sugar or maple syrup.
- Change the spices. Nutmeg, ginger, allspice, and ground cloves are warming spices that work well with applesauce or even some vanilla powder.
- Add mix-ins. If you love cookies with some texture in them, add some dark chocolate chips, chopped walnuts, raisins, or even coconut flakes. I’ve also folded through some of my air fryer apples into the batter for a more intense apple flavor.
Storage instructions
To store: Place leftover cookies in an airtight container and store them in the fridge for up to five days.
To freeze: Once the cookies have cooled, place them in a ziplock bag and store them in the freezer for up to 6 months.
Frequently asked questions
Yes! If you prefer to make your own sauce, you can use it for these cookies. Again, remember to adjust the sweetness if your sauce is unsweetened.
Swap out the oats for quinoa flakes, buckwheat flakes, or all-purpose flour.
More delicious recipes using applesauce
4-Ingredient Applesauce Cookies
Video
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups rolled oats
- 1 cup applesauce sweetened
- 1 cup peanut butter or any nut or seed butter
- 1/8 teaspoon cinnamon
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 180C/350F, lightly grease a baking sheet, and set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the sweetened applesauce, oats, peanut butter, and cinnamon and mix well.
- Using your hands, form 12 balls, and place them on the lined sheet, and press each ball into a cookie shape. Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until firm around the edges.
- Remove from the oven and allow to cool completely.
Notes
Nutrition
Originally updated October 2023, updated and republished November 2024
Wait for this you need only applesauce and peanut butter? Amazing!
I read many times that some recipes have applesauce. Then I researched and found out its very easy to make your own. So for sure will make my homemade.
best applesauce oatmeal cookies EVER!!!
I make these weekly!
These are SO good!
Love!!!! Perfection
I make these every week!
Can i substitute the peanut for something else? My nephew has allergies
This is nice, but how can one make apple sauce.
My recipe made more than 12 good size cookies. I used unsweetened applesauce because I don’t use refined sugar. I added 1/2C of allulose brown sweetener & next time I’ll add 3/4C. I threw in some walnut pieces and raisins too. I’ll add some apple pieces next time too or use chunky applesauce if I can find it unsweetened.
They are easy and delicious. Thanks for the recipe!
Excellent cookies. My granddaughter and grandson loves them.
Even our dog likes the cookie for a healthy snack.
Do you think these would work with Splenda instead of sugar?
Of course! 🙂
Wow, these are amazing! I followed the recipe exactly, but didn’t use the nut butter. I’m having cookies for dessert tonight! Who am kidding? I’m eating one NOW! Thank you so much!
D Love it! Hope you enjoy them 🙂
Wondering whether a suuuuuuuper ripe banana would be a good substitute for some of the sweetener. (Add more oats if that makes it gloopy, but also curious that these have no leavening like a traditional cookie.)
Hi Dew- You’d like this recipe here- https://thebigmansworld.com/3-ingredient-breakfast-cookies/
Any chance you could make these without sugar? Would I need to add something else to make up the lack of 1/4 of something?
Hi Kim! You could add 1/4 cup granulated sweetener of choice 🙂