These healthy applesauce cookies are made with whole wheat flour, rolled oats, and diced apples for a treat that is healthy enough for breakfast! Each cookie has less than 100 calories, so it’s perfect when you need a little something sweet!

Applesauce Breakfast Cookies
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Mornings can be hectic and trying to get everyone fed and out the door on time can be a challenge. That’s why these applesauce breakfast cookies are the perfect solution! They’re sweet but not too sweet, and they’re filled with healthy ingredients like whole wheat flour, rolled oats, and applesauce. At less than 100 calories each, they’re the right size for little ones and adults can grab two on their way out the door. (Let’s be honest, who stops at just one cookie?) If you love these cookies, be sure to try my banana breakfast cookies, trail mix cookies, and strawberry breakfast cookies, too!

Applesauce Cookie Ingredients

  • Applesauce– Obviously, you’ll need applesauce! Look for an unsweetened variety that is made with 100% apples.
  • Light brown sugar– You can use light or dark brown sugar but if you use dark brown, they’ll turn out darker so keep that in mind when checking them in the oven.
  • Coconut oil- A little coconut oil adds fat so these cookies turn out tender.
  • Vanilla– A little vanilla extract enhances the sweetness and flavor.
  • Whole wheat flour– These are made with whole wheat flour for more protein and fiber, but you can substitute with all-purpose flour if needed.
  • Rolled oats– Oats add more whole grains to the recipe. Be sure to use rolled oats and not instant oats.
  • Salt– A little salt brings out the sweetness.
  • Baking soda– This helps with lift and browning.
  • Cinnamon– I love the combination of apples and cinnamon.
  • Apple– You can use any type of sweet red apple. I like Honeycrisp or Fuji best!
Applesauce Breakfast Cookies

With little bits of apple adding extra sweetness, these cookies taste like a treat! To make them even more filling, you can add chopped walnuts to the dough just before baking. I’ve made these a bunch of different ways, with apples and walnuts, only walnuts, and just apples. You really can’t go wrong!

Tips for Perfect Applesauce Cookies

  • Make sure to move the oven rack to an upper middle position. The cookies will cook faster on the bottom, so you want to make sure they’re not too close to the heating element at the bottom of the oven.
  • Be sure to use unsweetened applesauce, to keep the sugar down.
  • You can fit quite a few cookies on a baking sheet since they won’t spread very much. But be sure to let the pan cool between batches, so you don’t burn the bottoms on a hot pan.
  • If you want them a little sweeter, you can roll the cookies in a bit of brown sugar just before baking.
applesauce cookies on a tray

How to Store Applesauce Cookies

Keep these cookies in an airtight container on the counter. They should stay fresh for 4-6 days. You can also store these in the freezer for up to 1 month. Microwave for 10 seconds then let cool before enjoying.

Substitution Ideas

  • I like to use a sweet red apple like a Honeycrisp, Fuji, or Gala, but you can use any crunchy, sweet apple.
  • I used plain, unsweetened applesauce, but you can also use cinnamon applesauce if you want a stronger cinnamon flavor. Just be sure it doesn’t have added sugar.
  • You can add a handful of chopped walnuts or pecans if you like a little crunch!
applesauce breakfast cookies

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applesauce cookies

Applesauce Breakfast Cookies

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  • Author: Liz Thomson
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 15 minutes
  • Total Time: 25 minutes
  • Yield: 24 cookies 1x
  • Category: Breakfast
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: Breakfast
  • Diet: Vegan

Description

These applesauce cookies are made with whole wheat flour, rolled oats, and diced apples for a treat that is healthy enough for breakfast! Each cookie has less than 100 calories, so it’s perfect when you need a little something sweet!


Ingredients

Units Scale
  • 1 cup applesauce
  • 3/4 cup light brown sugar
  • 1/4 cup coconut oil, melted
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 2 cups whole wheat flour
  • 2/3 cup rolled oats
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1 small red apple, peeled and diced (see note)

Instructions

  1. Move oven rack to the top-middle position.
  2. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  3. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
  4. In a large bowl, mix the applesauce, brown sugar, coconut oil, and vanilla until combined.
  5. Add the flour, oats, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and diced apple.
  6. Mix until just combined. (You shouldn’t see any large streaks of flour.)
  7. Drop into rounded tablespoons onto the parchment paper-lined baking sheet.
  8. Bake for 11-13 minutes until set. (Check the bottoms for doneness. They should be lightly browned on the bottom.)

Notes

I like to use a sweet red apple like a Honeycrisp, Fuji, or Gala. Peel the apple then dice into small pieces. You won’t need a large apple. A lunchbox size apple is perfect!

If you have leftover applesauce, try these almond flour applesauce muffins! They’re another great breakfast idea when you need something quick and easy!

Applesauce Almond Flour Muffins

When it comes to breakfast, do you like things sweet or savory?