3 ingredients, one bowl, no mixer, 5 min to prep, no sugar - we made delicious soft cookies that are perfect for baby-led weaning. These healthy vegan applesauce oatmeal cookies are great for babies and toddlers 6 months old + and older kids, for breakfast or snack. Made only with applesauce, banana, oats, cinnamon and baked in 12 minutes.
*This post has been reviewed by Dora Babic-Cikos, PhD Nutritional Science
When searching online it is difficult to find cookies that are free from refined sugar, honey or syrup. We also wanted to create a cookie made with simple ingredients that you can put together in 5 minutes.
Why we love these oatmeal applesauce cookies:
- Great for 6 month old babies+ because they contain just fruit and oats
- Perfect for baby-led weaning
- Perfect toddler breakfast or toddler snack idea
- Loved by toddlers and kids
- 3 simple ingredients - banana, applesauce, cinnamon
- Dairy-free
- Vegan
- No all purpose flour, no baking powder, baking soda, salt, white or brown sugar, just simple natural ingredients
Jump to:
Ingredients
- Banana - the riper the banana the sweeter the cookie. The banana acts as a binder here that brings the cookie together
- Applesauce - either store-bought unsweetened applesauce or made from peeled, cooked, and blended apples. If making your own applesauce, use sweeter apples such as Gala apples. If using store-bought buy an unsweetened one to avoid added sugar
- Rolled Oats - the easiest type of oats to use for baking are quick oats because you can simply mix them with all your other ingredients and you are ready to go
How to make homemade applesauce
1. Simple. Peel and cut apples into big chunks and place them in a saucepan filled halfway with water until boiling. Cook for about 10 minutes on medium heat.
2. Cool and blend in a food processor or blender.
How to make these oatmeal applesauce cookies
1. Preheat the oven to 180°C/350°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Mash the banana
3. Add applesauce and oats to the banana and mix with a wooden spoon until incorporated.
4. Take a tablespoon and spoon out the dough, roll it into a ball and place on your baking tray. Repeat as many times as you have the dough for (most likely 6 cookies).
5. Gently flatten each ball as shown in the image above. These cookies won't expand in size when baked, so the shape you put them in the oven is the shape they will come out.
6. Bake for about 12 minutes. The cookie is done when they turn golden brown and you are able to easily lift it off the tray with a spatula.
FAQ
We shouldn't really classify any food as healthy or unhealthy. Oatmeal cookies are a great source of energy, complex carbs, and a whole spectrum of minerals that are essential for babies and toddlers while growing up. Mix them up with some fruit and fats and you have yourself a perfect breakfast or snack.
Babies are able to eat these cookies from 6 months old. They are also suitable for baby-led weaning.
They contain only the sugar that is naturally found in fruit and no added sugar. With a delicious banana and apple flavor they are perfectly fine to give to a baby of any age.
It is basically apple puree so you can give it to your baby as a puree or use in other baking recipes. It can even be a great spread over some whole grain toast or crackers.
Yes, you can use quick oats. Just don't use steel cut oats as they don't work well in cookie recipes.
Yes, you can use store-bought unsweetened applesauce just make sure that the only ingredient is applesauce, no sugar, additional sweeteners, flavors or preservatives.
Tips for making the best Applesauce cookies for kids
- Use a very ripe banana to make it sweet
- Mix with a wooden spoon or spatula, do not use a blender as you want to use oats not oat flour
- If using store-bought applesauce use unsweetened where the only ingredient is apples
- If making homemade applesauce then peel the apples beforehand and cut into chunks
- To make it gluten-free, use gluten-free oats
Substitutes
- Applesauce baking substitute can be mashed sweet potatoes or pumpkin puree
- Both applesauce and banana act as a binder for the oats so you can replace either with an egg if you prefer
- If you are making it for older kids or even for yourself you can add some dark chocolate chip
How to store these cookies?
- Store in an airtight container at room temperature away from sunlight for 3 days
- Freeze up to 3 months
If you've tried this recipe or any other recipe on the blog, then please rate it and leave us a comment below!
Applesauce Oatmeal Cookies Recipe
EQUIPMENT
- 1 Blender
Ingredients
- ½ cup applesauce unsweetened
- 1 medium ripe banana
- 1 cup rolled oats
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon optional
Instructions
How to make homemade applesauce
- Peel and cut apples into big chunks and place then in a saucepan filled half way with water until boiling. Cook for about 10 minutes on medium heat.
- Cool and blend in a food processor or blender.
How to make healthy Applesauce Oatmeal Cookies for kids
- Preheat the oven to 180°C/350°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Mash the banana
- Add applesauce, oats and cinnamon to the banana and mix with a wooden spoon until fully incorporated
- Take a tablespoon and spoon out the dough, roll it into a ball and place on your baking tray. Repeat as many times as you have the dough for (most likely 6 cookies)
- Gently flatten each ball. These cookies won't expand in size when baked, so the shape you put them in the oven is the shape they will come out
- Bake for about 12 minutes. The cookie is done when they turn golden brown and you are able to easily lift it off the tray with a spatula.
Notes
- If using store-bought applesauce use unsweetened where the only ingredient is apples.
- To make it gluten-free, use gluten-free oats
- You can substitute either the banana or the applesauce with an egg, but you may have to add more sweeteness
Nutrition
If you've tried this recipe or any other recipe on the blog, then please rate it and leave us a comment below!
Kimberly
our one year old loves these!!! It was his first cookie and he cannot get enough of them! Thank you for this healthy and super easy recipe. i was just curious if they could also be made using baby food applesauce?
Ana
Hi Kimberly, it can be made with store-bought applesauce but just make sure that the ingredients in the applesauce are 100% applesauce, no added sugar or preservatives etc.
Makinsey
My little one is allergic to eggs and nuts and this is a perfect “cookie” snack that he has LOVED for months. It’s super quick and easy to make!
Janice
Hi how many grams of 1 smashed banana ? Any adjustment to make them in muffins? Thank you.
Ana
Hi Janice - around 120 grams.
Janice
How many grams of 1 medium smashed banana ? Thank you.
Ana
Hi Janice - around 120 grams.