This applesauce cookies recipe makes soft, flavorful apple cookies with warm fall spices and a simple vanilla glaze. The cookies are lower in fat because applesauce replaces the butter, but they still taste rich, moist, and satisfying. Cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger bring cozy flavor to every bite, making these cookies a wonderful choice for fall baking, holiday dessert trays, Thanksgiving tables, bake sales, or an easy everyday treat.
Applesauce Cookies
Lower in calories and fat without sacrificing flavor.
If you are looking for a soft apple cookie recipe that tastes homemade, comforting, and full of seasonal spice, these applesauce cookies are a delicious place to start. They have the gentle sweetness of applesauce, the warmth of cinnamon and nutmeg, and a tender texture that makes them hard to resist. A light drizzle of vanilla glaze adds just enough sweetness without overpowering the apple flavor.
These cookies are especially good on a cool evening with a warm mug of cider, coffee, or tea. They also fit beautifully on a Thanksgiving dessert table because they bring familiar fall flavors in a soft, easy-to-serve cookie. Since the recipe is simple and uses common pantry ingredients, it is also a great choice when you want a quick apple dessert without making a pie or cake.
What Applesauce Should I Use?
The applesauce you choose will affect the final flavor of the cookies. The three most common options are cinnamon applesauce, regular applesauce, and unsweetened applesauce. Cinnamon applesauce gives the cookies a stronger spice flavor, regular applesauce offers a balanced sweetness, and unsweetened applesauce creates a less sweet cookie.
For the best flavor, cinnamon applesauce is highly recommended. It adds extra warmth and helps the apple flavor stand out. If you use homemade applesauce with plenty of cinnamon, the cookies will have an even deeper fall flavor. Regular applesauce also works well if you prefer a more neutral apple taste.
Suggestions for This Recipe
Use cinnamon applesauce when possible. It gives these applesauce cookies a richer, more rounded flavor. The original version was made with a very cinnamon-forward homemade applesauce, which worked especially well with the nutmeg and ginger.
Do not add extra sugar when using unsweetened applesauce. It may seem tempting, but adding more sugar can change the texture of the dough and affect how the cookies bake. The recipe is already balanced for softness and sweetness.
Adjust the spices to your taste. This recipe is written as a basic kitchen-tested version, but it can easily handle more cinnamon, apple pie spice, nutmeg, or ginger if you enjoy bold spice flavor. If you prefer a gentler cookie, follow the measurements as written.
Do not overbake the cookies. These are meant to be soft applesauce cookies, not crisp cookies. Baking them longer will not make them crunchy; it will only dry them out. Remove them from the oven when they are set and lightly golden.
How Applesauce Reduces Fat and Calories in a Recipe
Applesauce is often used in baking because it can replace some or all of the fat in certain recipes. In cakes, muffins, and some cookies, applesauce can stand in for oil or butter while still adding moisture. In this applesauce cookie recipe, it replaces the butter, which helps reduce the overall fat content.
Because applesauce is naturally moist and typically fat-free, it helps keep the cookies tender without relying on a large amount of added fat. It also enhances the apple flavor, so the ingredient is not just a substitute; it is part of what makes the recipe taste so good. The result is a soft, low-fat apple cookie that still feels like a real dessert.
More Amazing Apple Recipes
- Cranberry Apple Oats Parfait
- Apple Cinnamon Roll Monkey Bread
- Apple Pie Sugar Cookie Cups
- Stuffed Homemade Monkey Bread
Making Our Recipe for Applesauce Cookies
This is an easy one-bowl apple cookie recipe with simple ingredients, a short bake time, and a soft texture. The dough comes together quickly with an electric mixer, and the glaze is stirred together in a small bowl. For best results, measure the flour carefully, mix only until combined, and bake just until the cookies are set.
Amazing Applesauce Cookies
18 cookies
10 minutes
10 minutes
20 minutes
These applesauce cookies are soft, moist, and lower in fat, but they do not taste like a typical low-fat cookie. Applesauce adds moisture, replaces the butter, and brings out the apple flavor beautifully.
Ingredients
- ½ cup light brown sugar
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- ½ cup applesauce
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon apple pie spice or cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon nutmeg
- ½ teaspoon ground ginger
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- For the glaze:
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon milk, almond milk, cream, or dairy of choice
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. This is a one-bowl recipe.
- Using an electric mixer, beat the brown sugar, granulated sugar, egg, and vanilla in a large bowl. Add the applesauce and mix until combined.
- Add the flour, apple pie spice or cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Mix just until combined. Do not overmix.
- Scoop the dough onto a sheet pan. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes, or until the cookies are set and lightly golden. The cookies should not spread much.
- Let the cookies cool, then drizzle with glaze or dust with cinnamon powdered sugar.
- To make the glaze, stir the powdered sugar, milk, vanilla, and cinnamon together in a bowl until smooth and well combined.
Notes
Cinnamon applesauce is recommended for the best flavor, but regular or unsweetened applesauce can also be used. Do not add extra sugar if using unsweetened applesauce, as it may change the cookie texture.
If you prefer a stronger spice flavor, increase the cinnamon or apple pie spice slightly. These cookies are meant to be soft, so avoid overbaking. Longer baking will make them dry rather than crisp.
For the non-low-fat version, use 1 full cup of brown sugar instead of ½ cup and add 4 ounces of butter. Omit the vanilla in that version.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 18
Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving:
Calories: 132
Total Fat: 0g
Saturated Fat: 0g
Trans Fat: 0g
Unsaturated Fat: 0g
Carbohydrates: 30g
Fiber: 1g
Sugar: 18g
Protein: 2g
Nutrition facts are automatically calculated and may vary depending on the exact ingredients used.