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Babies and kids will love the taste of these soft and chewy 3-ingredient applesauce oatmeal cookies. Even better, parents will love how easy they are to make!
Applesauce Oatmeal Cookies – So Easy!
Feeding oatmeal to babies and toddlers can sometimes be a messy adventure. That’s why we love these baked 3-ingredient applesauce oatmeal cookies! They contain all the benefits of oatmeal without the added sugar and mess.
The best part is you can make a batch of 12 cookies from this easy recipe and serve them throughout the week. These healthy cookies are the easiest breakfast prep ever!
Plus, the healthy oatmeal cookies are soft and chewy, which is the perfect texture for babies just starting to eat solid foods. Older babies can practice using their pincer grasp to pick up strips or small pieces of applesauce cookies.
Older kids will love their sweet flavour and chewy texture, too!
If your kids are oatmeal cookie fans, you’ll also want to check out these Hidden Veggie Cookies or 3-Ingredient Cookies {No Egg}!
applesauce oatmeal cookies
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Why We Love These Oat Cookies with Applesauce
- No added sugar: These cookies are naturally sweetened with dates and applesauce. The perfect option for healthy snacks, lunch boxes or breakfast!
- Simple ingredients: You most likely have the wholesome ingredients you need for these easy apple oatmeal cookies already in your pantry! If not, they’re simple to find and typically affordable.
- Soft and easy to chew: If you’re trying to find different options to feed your baby or toddler, this delicious recipe is the perfect texture for them to enjoy.
Ingredient Notes
- Medjool dates: Look for pitted dates and soak them in boiling water before blending them with the other ingredients.
- Applesauce: We use unsweetened apple sauce to avoid added sugar. You can use any type of applesauce, including homemade. We love this unsweetened applesauce recipe!
- Oats: Use old fashioned oats (also called rolled oats or large flake) as they are less processed and retain their shape after cooking. Plus, they’re whole grains and will help fill those little tummies.
- Cinnamon: This is an optional ingredient that adds a delicious warm flavour.
How to Make Healthy Applesauce Oatmeal Cookies
- Begin by preheating the oven to 350 degrees F and lining a baking tray with parchment paper.
- Next, in a bowl of boiling hot water soak the dates for 5 minutes to soften them.
- To the bowl of a food processor add the soaked dates, applesauce and cinnamon (if using). Blend until very smooth, taking time to scrape down the sides of the food processor bowl, to ensure everything is blended in.
- Add in 1 ½ cups of the oats and roughly blend for about 5 seconds. In the bowl of your food processor or another bowl, fold in the remaining oats until evenly mixed.
- With a large spoon form 12 mounds with the dough and place it on the prepared baking sheet. Do not press down on the dough mounds.
- Bake the cookies for 10 minutes, then rotate the tray and bake for 7-9 more minutes, until the cookies are lightly golden on top and slighty firm.
- Cool cookies on the pan for a few minutes before cooling completely on a cooling rack. Serve cookies fully cooled.
Keep scrolling to the recipe card below for the full printable recipe!
RECIPE TIPS
- Be sure to soak the dates in boiling hot water prior to blending to help them blend into a smooth paste. I typically boil water in my kettle, place the dates in a bowl and pour the water over top, allowing them to sit for about 5 minutes. You may need to soak them a bit longer if your dates are extra hard.
- Don’t forget to scrape down the sides of the food processor as you’re blending the date and applesauce mixture, as some of the mixture may splatter. We don’t want any of that goodness to go to waste!
- Feel free to try different flavour combinations with these cookies. You can keep them simple with the 3 ingredients, or they’re delicious with some extra add-ins as well!
Recipe FAQs
Quick oats will work in a pinch, but since they are steamed longer, they can be mushier when baked in the cookies. Rolled oats are steamed for a shorter period of time and hold their shape better when baked.
Yes, applesauce oatmeal cookies are perfect for baby led weaning! The cookies come out soft and chewy, which is the perfect texture for babies learning to eat. Plus, because there’s no raw eggs or flour, you can either mold the raw cookie dough into a small cookie shape or bake a tray of cookies. Cut either one into small strips to make it easy for your baby to handle.
Applesauce is used to replace the fat and liquid in baking. It keeps baked goods moist without adding more fat.
Storage Guidelines
- Room temperature: Store cookies in a tighly sealed airtight container for 1-2 days. Since the cookies are so soft, it can be helpful to add a piece of wax paper between each one.
- Refrigerator: These 3-ingredient applesauce oatmeal cookies can be stored for up to 5 days in the fridge in an airtight container.
- Freezer: In the freezer, applesauce oatmeal cookies are good for up to 3 months in a freezer bag or freezer-safe container.
Optional Add-Ins
There are tons of ways to spruce up these 3-ingredient applesauce oatmeal cookies even further!
Try adding in any of the following ingredients:
- Chopped dried apple
- Hemp hearts
- Chopped walnuts or pecans
- Mini dark chocolate chips
- Vanilla extract
- Pinch of salt
- Ground flaxseed
- Creamy peanut butter (or almond butter or sunflower seed butter)
- Maple syrup
Serving Suggestions
Oat cookies with applesauce are delicious all on their own or served with a glass of milk.
If serving them as breakfast cookies, serve them with a cup of yogurt, some fresh fruit, and a hard-boiled egg or fluffy scrambled egg for a balanced meal.
Recipe Variations
- Swap out the dates: Try raisins or dried apricots instead. Look for unsweetened fruit and for best results, rehydrate them in boiling water first.
- For extra protein: Add a sprinkle of Hemp hearts or add an egg to the cookie dough.
- Add some veggies: Try shredded carrot or zucchini for extra fibre and nutrients.
More Similar Recipes
- Heart Cookies with Jam
- 3-Ingredient Banana Oatmeal Bars
- Blueberry Breakfast Balls
- Pumpkin Flax Granola Recipe
- 3-Ingredient Banana Oatmeal Muffins
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3-Ingredient Applesauce Oatmeal Cookies
Ingredients
- 8 pitted Medjool dates soaked (or about 2/3 cup packed pitted dates)
- 1 cup unsweetened applesauce
- 2 cups rolled oats
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Soak the dates in a bowl of boiling hot water for 5 minutes to soften.
- Add the dates, applesauce and cinnamon (if using) to a food processor and blend until very smooth, scraping down the sides occasionally.
- Next, add in 1 1/2 cups of the large flake oats and run for about 4-5 seconds, or just until the oats are roughly chopped up.
- Remove the blade of the food processor, and fold in the remaining half cup of oats until evenly distributed. You can also transfer to a bowl if your food processor is small.
- Using a large spoon, form 12 mounds of the oat cookie mixture and place on baking sheet about 1-inch apart. Do not press down on the mixture, but instead leave it in mounds on the baking sheet.
- Bake for 10 minutes. Rotate the pan and bake for an additional 7 to 9 minutes, or until cookies are slightly firm to the touch and lightly golden on top. Allow to cool for several minutes on the baking sheet before transferring to a cooling rack. Cool fully before serving.
Notes
- Be sure to soak the dates in boiling hot water prior to blending to help them blend into a smooth paste. I typically boil water in my kettle, place the dates in a bowl and pour the water over top, allowing them to sit for about 5 minutes. You may need to soak them a bit longer if your dates are extra hard.
- Don’t forget to scrape down the sides of the food processor as you’re blending the date and applesauce mixture, as some of the mixture may splatter. We don’t want any of that goodness to go to waste!
- Feel free to try different flavour combinations with these cookies. You can keep them simple with the 3 ingredients, or they’re delicious with some extra add-ins as well!
