These Healthy 4 Ingredient Applesauce Cookies are soft, chewy and take less than 15 minutes to whip up! They are an easy snack or breakfast option- Naturally gluten free and vegan, there is an option to keep it completely sugar-free too!
Oatmeal cookies are one of the easiest and healthiest cookies to make! Flourless oatmeal cookies, zucchini oatmeal cookies, and these applesauce oatmeal cookies are my favorites!
Applesauce Cookies Recipe
These healthy 4 ingredient applesauce cookies are a simple, delicious and easy fix to satisfy your cookie cravings in a ridiculously healthy way. They are soft, chewy and perfect to have as a quick and easy snack or do as I do, and eat 3-4 with a bowl of keto oatmeal.
I tried this recipe out using all applesauce and one version using applesauce and pumpkin and found the latter to be much better- Both in terms of texture and taste. Naturally gluten-free and vegan, you can sub the coconut sugar for a sugar-free granulated sweetener of choice to make them refined sugar-free.
While these cookies taste delicious as they are (and I love them as it is, because I love topping them with peanut butter!), they taste amazing with around 2 tablespoons or so of nut butter in the batter! Simply add a dash more oats if it’s too wet!
Applesauce Oatmeal Cookies Ingredients-
Rolled oats: Rolled oats yield a super chewy and hearty texture. These also work with quick-cooking oats.
Unsweetened Applesauce: Ensure your applesauce is 100% unsweetened.
Pumpkin Puree: Unsweetened pumpkin puree helps hold the cookies together better than straight-up applesauce.
Granulated Sweetener of choice: I used Swerve, a zero-calorie, sugar-free substitute. Any granulated sweetener of choice works (coconut palm sugar, white sugar, brown sugar etc).
Optional Ingredients: For an even better texture, add 1-2 tablespoons of your favorite nut or seed butter of choice.
How to make healthy oatmeal cookies with applesauce from scratch
Step 1: Preheat the oven to 180C/350F. Line a large baking tray with parchment paper and set aside.
Step 2: In a large mixing bowl, combine all your ingredients until a thick batter remains.
Step 3: Using your hands, form 12-15 small balls of dough and place on the lined tray. Press each ball into a cookie shape.
Step 4: Bake the cookies for 12-15 minutes, until slightly golden. Remove from the oven and allow to cool on the pan completely.
How to substitute applesauce for butter in cookies
Besides the light apple flavor, using applesauce in cookies helps replace the butter completely. Although they won’t have a super-rich flavor butter will provide, you can combat that- Add 1-2 tablespoons of nut butter (e.g. peanut butter or almond butter).
There will be no butter needed- perfect for a low calorie, low-fat cookie to enjoy anytime!
Using applesauce also works to replace the need for eggs!
Storing Applesauce Oatmeal Cookies
Cookies can keep at room temperature, in a sealed container for up to 3 days. These cookies are best stored in the refrigerator, for optimum freshness. They will keep fresh for up to 1 week.
Applesauce oatmeal cookies are freezer friendly. They can be stored in the freezer for up to 6 months.
More healthy cookie recipes
- Flourless Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Flourless Brownie Cookies
- Coconut Chocolate Chip Cookies
- White Chocolate Cranberry Cookies
- Cranberry Chocolate Chip Cookies
Applesauce Cookies
Ingredients
- 2 cups gluten free rolled oats
- 1/2 cup Pumpkin puree not pumpkin pie filling
- 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
- 1/4 cup granulated sweetener of choice I used coconut palm sugar but this can be substituted with a stevia blend if you prefer that taste
- 1 tablespoon Cinnamon/apple pie spice optional
- 2 tablespoon peanut butter * Optional- See notes
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 180C/350F and lightly grease a baking tray and set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the oats, pumpkin, applesauce and granulated sweetener of choice and mix well. If desired, add 2 tablespoons or so of your favorite nut butter.
- Using your hands, form12 balls and place on the baking tray and press each ball into a cookie shape. Sprinkle lightly with cinnamon and bake for 12-15 minutes, depending on desired consistency.
- Remove and allow to cool completely.
Notes
Nutrition
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Pumpkin and apple side by side = yum 🙂 I have so many apples from going picking and totally blanking on what to do with all of them.
oh wow- I can so see some chunky applesauce happening 😀
It might go too far if I said I have conversations like that with my sister as well but I can definitely relate to rollercoster like changes of topic when we speak. Oh and needless to say that it’s me who reaches out to her 99% of times.
We do have the Bachelor in Germany (people pronounce it Bäääh-tsche-looor <- physically cringing at it) but as all original US or UK shows adaptet for German TV it's just plain hideous.
Oh and don't listen to your Mum, your pumpkin recipes are bomb!
hahaha thanks Juli!
I’m with mom although I get that we’re in the minority. 🙂
Apples I can get down with. Bring it on.
Chunky applesauceeeeee
With all these amazing pumpkin recipes appearing on the interwebs you can only imagine how devastated I was when my husband told me he fed our dog his pumpkin pie smoothie.
I’m adding these to the list!
WHAT! That lucky dog then….
Yum!! These would be so perfect for my little nephew! He loooves cookies so this would be a nice alternative haha
Right? Thanks Liz!
Love your sibling convos and yeah I understood the whole thing so…. make me food. THANKS.
Hahaha sure thang!
I love these! I makes easy oat cookies like this all the time! Its awesome that you can bake with just oats and some mashed fruit or pumpkin. Plus the options for add-ins are endless!
That’s true, I have some twists coming up.
Dear Arman, I get such a kick out of you two. These applesauce cookies sound delightful…an equally delicious healthy treat…even if there is no pumpkin. I enjoy both kinds! Enjoy your day my friend, Catherine
Thanks so much, Catherine! 🙂
Oh yum! These cookies sound delicious and so easy!
Thanks so much, Marye! 🙂
These cookies look awesome…and easy! And they involve apples. And we all know how I feel about apples. Also, I’m looking forward to my brand new pumpkin pie ball gown because I understood every bit of that conversation. Turns out little sisters are pretty similar! I prefer my ball gown to come with an actual pie, too. Thanks, mate.
Hahahahaha the ball gown that keeps on giving! Seriously, sisters must have their own self taught lingo.
So many awesome things in this post! Nikki sounds so fun, everyone needs to send your mom pumpkins (that would be hilarious) and these cookies are getting made. Whip your hair…hahaha…never gets old 🙂
LOL. We need to organise a huge fed ex box to send her. I called her last night and she said she didn’t even like pumpkin that much. Her tastebuds must have gone somewhere.
Is the pumpkin raw? I wasn’t sure
Hi Jedda! It’s mashed, pureed cooked pumpkin 🙂
One of these days I’ll have to share my real opinion on pumpkin, but I’m keeping it on the down-low for now for the sake of the blog 😉 And is it crazy that I’ve never seen a single episode of The Bachelor? I lump that in with Harry Potter as things I’m rebelling against for no real reason.
Hahahaha the things we do for our careers!
After following your blog for quite some time, I just started making your recipes this week (3 in one sitting). I loved them, and I like the seasonally themed recipes. I love apple in baked goods! Since they’re in season, any chance of an Arman-ified recipe with fresh apples?
Oh wow- Thanks Christine!!!
You bet…I have an epic one coming up 😀
I will ship your mom a pumpkin if you will make me some cookies. Deal, yes?
DONE DEAL!