Irresistibly Soft & Chewy: The Best Applesauce Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe
Prepare to fall in love with these Applesauce Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies! They are wonderfully moist, delightfully soft, and absolutely bursting with comforting flavor. This recipe for delicious applesauce cookies is surprisingly simple to make, yet yields a treat that feels gourmet and incredibly satisfying. The unique addition of applesauce transforms a classic cookie into something truly special, offering a tender crumb and an enhanced depth of taste that will have everyone asking for more.
Have you ever considered baking cookies with applesauce? If not, you’re in for a delightful surprise! Applesauce is a secret ingredient that makes cookies incredibly moist, lending a distinct tender consistency that sets these apart from your average chocolate chip cookie recipe. It acts as a natural humectant, keeping your cookies fresh and soft for longer, a quality often sought after in homemade baked goods.
While the addition of applesauce and oatmeal might make these sound like a health-conscious choice, let’s be clear: these are still indulgent treats! However, there’s a certain satisfaction that comes with knowing your delightful cookies are enriched with wholesome oats and fruit purée. It’s a wonderful way to enjoy a sweet treat with a touch of added goodness, and I personally find myself feeling perfectly justified in enjoying a second (or third!) cookie when they’re packed with such comforting ingredients.
These oatmeal chocolate chip cookies with applesauce bring together classic flavors with an innovative twist. The chewiness of the oats, the sweetness of the chocolate chips, and the moistness from the applesauce create a harmonious blend that is utterly irresistible. They’re perfect for lunchboxes, after-school snacks, or simply as a comforting dessert with a glass of milk.
The Benefits of Baking with Applesauce
Applesauce is a fantastic ingredient in baking for several reasons. Primarily, it adds significant moisture to baked goods, often reducing the need for as much fat (like butter or shortening) or sugar in a recipe. In these applesauce oatmeal cookies, it ensures a supremely soft and tender texture, preventing them from drying out too quickly. It also contributes a subtle, natural sweetness and a delicate apple flavor that complements the cinnamon and nutmeg beautifully, enhancing the overall taste profile without overpowering the chocolate.
Why Oatmeal Makes Cookies Better
Quick oats are not just for breakfast! In cookies, they add a delightful chewiness and hearty texture that makes each bite more satisfying. The oats also absorb moisture, working in conjunction with the applesauce to create a cookie that is both soft and substantial. Plus, they bring a comforting, wholesome element to these classic chocolate chip treats, making them even more appealing.
Ingredients in Applesauce Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies
Gathering your ingredients is the first step to creating these delightful cookies. Make sure all your wet ingredients are at room temperature for the best results in mixing and texture.
- 2 cups applesauce (unsweetened works great to control sugar levels)
- 2 tsp baking soda (helps with leavening and tenderness)
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 1 cup shortening (or unsalted butter for a richer flavor)
- 2 large eggs
- 4 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 tsp ground nutmeg (adds warmth and depth)
- 2 tsp ground cinnamon (essential spice for apple-based treats)
- 1 tsp salt (balances sweetness and enhances other flavors)
- 2 cups quick oats (not old-fashioned for this recipe, for a finer texture)
- 1 (12 oz) pkg. semi-sweet chocolate chips (or your favorite chocolate type)
How to Make Applesauce Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies
Follow these simple steps to bake a batch of these incredible applesauce oatmeal chocolate chip cookies:
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). This ensures your cookies start baking immediately and achieve that perfect texture.
- In a medium-sized mixing bowl, combine the applesauce and baking soda. Stir well with a spoon until thoroughly mixed. The baking soda will react with the acid in the applesauce, creating tiny air bubbles that will contribute to the cookies’ softness. Set this mixture aside to allow the reaction to begin.
- In a large mixing bowl, cream together the sugar, shortening, and eggs. Use an electric mixer and beat on medium speed for 2-3 minutes. This crucial step incorporates air, making the cookies lighter and chewier. The mixture should become pale and fluffy.
- Gently fold in the applesauce mixture into the creamed sugar and shortening. Mix with the electric mixer on low speed or a spoon until everything is just well combined. Be careful not to overmix at this stage.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together 1 cup of the flour, nutmeg, cinnamon, and salt. This ensures the spices and leavening are evenly distributed throughout the dough.
- Gradually add the dry flour mixture to the wet sugar/shortening mixture. Mix until just combined. Overmixing flour can lead to tough cookies, so mix until no streaks of dry ingredients remain.
- Stir in the quick oats until they are evenly distributed. Then, add the remaining flour and mix again just until the flour disappears into the dough.
- Finally, stir in the semi-sweet chocolate chips by hand. Use a sturdy spoon or spatula to ensure they are well distributed throughout the dough.
- Scoop the cookie dough using a cookie scoop (about 1.5-2 tablespoons per cookie) onto prepared cookie sheets. Leave about 2 inches between each cookie for spreading. Lining your baking sheets with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat will make removal much easier.
- Bake for 10 minutes, or until the edges of the cookies just barely begin to turn a light golden brown. The centers may still look slightly soft, but they will continue to set as they cool.
- Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes after removing them from the oven. This allows them to firm up without breaking. Then, transfer them to wire racks to cool completely. Enjoy!
Applesauce Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies
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Ingredients
- 2 cups applesauce
- 2 tsp baking soda
- 2 cups sugar
- 1 cup shortening
- 2 eggs
- 4 1/2 cups flour
- 2 tsp nutmeg
- 2 tsp cinnamon
- 1 tsp salt
- 2 cups quick oats
- 1 12 oz pkg. semi-sweet chocolate chips
Instructions
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Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
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In a medium bowl, combine the applesauce and baking soda. Mix thoroughly with a spoon and set aside.
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In a large bowl, cream sugar, shortening and eggs. Beat with an electric mixer for 2-3 minutes until light and fluffy. Add the applesauce mixture and mix until just well combined.
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In a separate bowl, mix together 1 cup of flour, nutmeg, cinnamon and salt. Add this to the wet sugar/shortening mixture and mix until just combined.
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Add the quick oats and mix until evenly distributed. Then, add the remaining flour and mix just until combined, being careful not to overmix.
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Stir in the chocolate chips by hand until evenly distributed. Scoop the cookie dough with a cookie scoop onto prepared cookie sheets (lined with parchment paper or silicone baking mats). Bake for 10 minutes or until the edges of the cookies just barely begin to turn a light golden brown. The centers may still appear slightly soft.
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Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring them to wire racks to cool completely. This helps them set and prevents breaking.
Achieving Perfect Cookies Every Time: Expert Tips for Chocolate Chip Creations
Baking delicious chocolate chip cookies, including these wonderful applesauce versions, is a rewarding experience. With a few simple tips, you can ensure your cookies turn out perfectly moist, soft, and flavorful batch after batch. Here’s how to elevate your cookie game:
- Proper Ingredient Mixing is Key: Many cookie recipes, including this one, advise you to mix the dry ingredients (flour, baking soda, spices, salt) separately before gradually adding them to the wet ingredients. This isn’t an arbitrary step; it’s crucial for even distribution of leavening agents and flavor, preventing pockets of unmixed ingredients and ensuring a uniform texture in your final cookie.
- Creaming Butter/Shortening and Sugar: Don’t rush the creaming process! Spending an extra 2-3 minutes beating the shortening (or butter) and sugar together until light and fluffy makes a significant difference. This step incorporates air into the mixture, which is vital for developing that desired soft and chewy texture in your cookies.
- Always Preheat Your Oven: This might seem obvious, but it’s a step often skipped or rushed. A properly preheated oven ensures that your cookies start baking at the correct temperature immediately, which is essential for consistent results, proper spread, and that perfect golden-brown edge.
- Invest in a Cookie Scoop: For perfectly shaped cookies that are all uniform in size and bake evenly, a cookie scoop is your best friend. It not only saves time but also guarantees professional-looking results without any guesswork. Consistency in size means consistency in baking.
- Use Parchment Paper or a Silicone Baking Mat: Lining your baking sheets with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat is a game-changer. It prevents sticking, ensures even baking, and makes for incredibly easy cleanup. Your cookies will simply slide right off the pan in perfect shape, eliminating the need to scrape.
- Don’t Overbake Your Cookies: This is arguably the most common mistake in cookie baking. For soft and chewy cookies, it’s essential to remove them from the oven when they still look slightly underbaked in the center. The residual heat from the baking sheet will continue to bake them for a few more minutes, a process known as “carryover cooking.” If you wait until they look fully golden and set in the oven, they will likely be crispy or hard once cooled.
Why You’ll Love These Applesauce Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies
These cookies offer a unique spin on a beloved classic. The applesauce not only provides an unparalleled moistness but also a subtle sweetness that pairs wonderfully with the robust flavors of cinnamon and nutmeg. The quick oats contribute a delightful chewiness and hearty texture that makes each cookie feel substantial and satisfying. And, of course, the melt-in-your-mouth chocolate chips provide that essential touch of indulgence that makes any cookie truly special. Whether you’re a fan of traditional chocolate chip cookies or looking for something new and exciting, these applesauce oatmeal chocolate chip cookies are guaranteed to become a new favorite in your baking repertoire. They’re perfect for sharing, gifting, or simply enjoying with a warm cup of coffee or a cold glass of milk.
Customizing Your Cookies: Variations & Add-ins
While this recipe for Applesauce Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies is fantastic as is, feel free to experiment with variations to suit your taste! You could try adding chopped nuts like walnuts or pecans for extra crunch. Dried cranberries or raisins would complement the apple and oat flavors beautifully, adding another layer of chewiness and sweetness. For a different chocolate experience, swap out semi-sweet chips for milk chocolate, dark chocolate chunks, or even white chocolate chips. A pinch of ground ginger or a touch of allspice can further enhance the warm spice profile, making these cookies even more cozy and autumnal. Consider using different types of applesauce too; chunky or spiced applesauce can add even more texture and flavor complexity.
Storage Tips for Freshness
To keep your Applesauce Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies fresh and soft, store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3-5 days. If you want to extend their freshness, you can also freeze the baked cookies. Simply place them in a single layer on a baking sheet to freeze, then transfer the frozen cookies to a freezer-safe bag or container for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature when ready to enjoy. You can also freeze the raw cookie dough in scoops and bake from frozen, adding a couple of minutes to the baking time.
More Delicious Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipes We Love!
If you’re as passionate about chocolate chip cookies as we are, you’re in the right place! We’ve got a treasure trove of variations on this classic treat. Here are some of our other favorite chocolate chip cookie recipes to inspire your next baking adventure:
- Double Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Banana Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars
- Avocado Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars
- Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Best Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Raspberry Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Chocolate Cake Mix Cookies
- Butter Pecan Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Mint Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Cherry Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Peanut Butter Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies
These Applesauce Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies are truly a delightful experience. Their moist, soft texture and rich, comforting flavors make them an instant favorite. Easy to prepare and utterly delicious, they embody the perfect blend of home-baked goodness with a unique twist. We hope you enjoy making and sharing these wonderful cookies as much as we do!
Baking with family creates some of the most cherished memories, and we love involving our little ones in the kitchen. Recently, this little baker had her first experience frosting sugar cookies, and it was absolutely adorable. While the “prinkles” (sprinkles!) were undoubtedly her favorite part, she showed impressive precision for a beginner, with surprisingly many sprinkles sticking to the cookie instead of decorating the floor! She absolutely adored participating in what the “big kids” were doing, from mixing to decorating, and of course, she was thrilled to taste the finished product. These are the moments that truly make baking a joy, reminding us that cookies are not just about the recipe, but also about the warmth, laughter, and memories made in the process.
