One of my favorite aspects of autumn is the plentiful, seasonal produce – especially apples and pumpkins. I’m not in a cool weather climate until the end of fall, but I still wanted to use apples and make applesauce (which is SO easy!). I had a bit of left over applesauce and wanted to use it for some baked goodies. I was inspired by this cookie recipe, but tweaked it slightly to make it healthier and enhance the apple flavor. So I’m really happy I came up with this oatmeal applesauce cranberry cookies recipe.
I also discovered that homemade applesauce is ridiculously delicious. I never liked or ate applesauce as a kid. But homemade applesauce is fresh, delicious, and wonderfully fragrant with a touch of lemon zest. My husband, who is allergic to apples in their raw form, can’t keep his hands off these cookies – can you?
Oatmeal applesauce cranberry cookies recipe
Ingredients
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- 1 cup packed light-brown sugar
- 1/3 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1/2 cup chunky-style applesauce
- 1 1/2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
- 1 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon coarse salt
- 1 cup cranberries or raisins soaked in 1 teaspoon of vanilla
Applesauce
- 4 large or 6 smaller Fuji apples
- 1/2 cup water
- lemon zest from 1/2 lemon
Icing (Optional)
- 1 cup confectioners’ sugar
- 2 tablespoons caramel or maple syrup
Makes about 20-22 cookies
Special Equipment
- Cookie sheet
- Silicone baking sheet (if available, these really rock)
Preparation
- Soak cranberries in vanilla and set aside.
- Make applesauce: Peel, core, and slice apples and combine with remaining ingredients in a saucepan. Bring to a boil and then lower heat to simmer and cover pan. Cook for additional 30-45 minutes until apples are tender. Cool mixture and blend. You will have some applesauce left over after using it for these cookies.
- Make cookies: Preheat oven to 350. Put butter and sugars in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Mix on low speed until combined. Add egg and applesauce, stir until well blended, 2 to 3 minutes. Mix in oats, flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Add in cranberries.
- Using a 1/8 cup scoop, drop dough onto baking sheets lined with parchment paper, spacing 2 inches apart. Bake cookies until golden and just set, 16 to 20 minutes. Let cool on sheets 10 minutes. Transfer cookies to a wire rack and let cool completely.
- For icing (optional): Whisk confectioners’ sugar, caramel or syrup, and 2 tablespoons water until smooth. Drizzle over cookies, let set. For frosting, use only 1 to 1 1/2 tablespoons of water.
OMG I’m dying right now – these look so incredibly good…and are perfect for fall!
xx
These look so good–just scream fall!
I was thinking of you these past few days, as I appreciate healthy recipes and you’ve been sharing quite a few lately. I will definitely try this one, as I’ve just refurbished my organic oat supply. By the way, do you know that if you put some oat in a cloth and then soak it in a hot bath and pass it onto your skin, it will come out as soft as a baby’s? Let me know if you’d like me to share some healthy recipes using millet (not everybody likes it but it’s packed with healthy ingredients). I hope I didn’t take too much space here!! I’m afraid I didn’t get your updates by email 🙁 have a lovely week dear!
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Tis the season for baking! Those cookies look so good. I love applesauce and the apples are very plentiful this year. Superb post! Love your pics!
Aww thank you for your sweet words Kim! These cookies are definitely a treat and are among my favorite cookies of all time! The healthy component is just icing on the cookie, hehe.
I am so with you on that, apples and pumpkins are perfect right now and your cookies make me want to lick my computer screen – giggle. I love how wonderfully scrumptious they sound. Can’t wait to make them, lovely. Muah
this looks SO good!! i hope you are doing well. adding this to my recipes list! 🙂
I love apples, they are pretty much my favorite fruit and I’ll devour them in pretty much everything. This time of year baking with them needs to be a weekly occurrence!
Mm looks yummy!
I saw this on Instagram. Looks delish my friend and I love that they are semi healthy!
These look super duper lovely…yum! I love cookies xx
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