These soft and chewy applesauce oatmeal cookies feature tender oats, sweet applesauce, and lots of chewy golden raisins.
For a cookie that won’t ever let you down…you really can never go wrong with the classic trio of applesauce, oatmeal, and raisins!
Pair it with a dash of homey spices and the world’s softest + puffiest texture and I think we’ve got a cookie jar winner.
And these really could not be a more simple cookie to whip up! No dough chilling or fancy ingredients required, just 20 minutes and basic pantry ingredients standing between you and cookie perfection.
This is one of those cookies that definitely tastes like fall wrapped up in a cookie, but they’re totally appropriate for any time of the year!
Though I will say…there’s nothing better on this planet than one of these cookies warm from the oven with some cold apple cider.
These Oatmeal Cookies feature…
- Chewy golden raisins and tender oats
- A soft and puffy texture from applesauce
- Minutes to make with basic ingredients
Making the Oatmeal Cookies
(scroll down to the bottom of the post for the full recipe)
Ingredients You Will Need
- Unsalted butter
- Brown sugar
- Applesauce
- Egg
- Vanilla extract
- Old-fashioned rolled oats
- All-purpose flour
- Baking soda
- Salt
- Cinnamon
- Nutmeg
- Golden raisins
Choosing Your Applesauce
This recipe works well with a variety of applesauce. We typically use homemade sweetened applesauce, but it also works well with jarred, unsweetened, or flavored applesauce.
We do recommend choosing an applesauce that is smooth, rather than chunky so it doesn’t off-balance the liquid ingredients in the dough. If you’d like some extra texture in your cookies, feel free to add a handful of finely-diced fresh apple.
Tips for Perfect Oatmeal Cookies
- Cream butter and sugar together – make sure your butter is softened to room-temperature and cream well with the sugar several minutes until completely smooth.
- Use room temperature egg – just like the butter, allow the egg to come to room temperature or submerge in hot water for about 2 minutes to quickly warm it. A room temperature egg will incorporate much easier into the dough.
- Measure flour correctly – we use the spoon-and-level technique for measuring flour as this will prevent over-measuring your flour. Use a spoon to scoop flour into the measuring cup, then level with the back of a knife.
- Go for old-fashioned rolled oats – we found that rolled oats give a much better cookie texture than quick-cooking.
- Use stand mixer or mix dough by hand – this recipe is both mixer-friendly and old-fashioned-bowl-and-spoon friendly.
- Flatten cookie balls before baking – use the palm of your hand to gently flatten cookies. These cookies don’t spread a lot while they bake, so this step is important for them baking evenly.
Recipe Variations
Try these ideas for a different twist on these cookies.
- Try different add-ins – chocolate chips, regular raisins, dried cranberries, white chocolate, butterscotch chips, or chopped nuts would be delicious additions.
- Use apple pie spice – replace the cinnamon and nutmeg with 1 teaspoon apple pie spice for extra-cozy flavors.
- Glaze cookies – feel free to drizzle cooled cookies with your favorite powdered sugar glaze.
Storing and Freezing Cookies
Allow cookies to cool completely, then store in an airtight container at room temperature up to 4 days. They’re delicious at room temperature, but also amazing reheated in the microwave 10-15 seconds on high.
To freeze cookies, allow to cool completely, then wrap well and freeze up to 2 months. Thaw cookies completely at room temperature and store up to 4 days.
There’s no stopping at just one of these little gems! They’re SO incredibly soft from the applesauce, loaded with the perfect amount of chewy oats and raisins, and 100% one of those cookies you’ve just gotta have with a glass of milk.
Soon to be a cookie jar staple in your house!
Save this recipe using the ‘save to recipe box’ button below. If you make it, please let us know! Leave a comment + star rating below, or take a photo and tag it on Instagram with #wholeandheavenlyoven.
More cookie favorites to try next!
- Coconut Lemon Curd Thumbprint Cookies
- Streusel Strawberry White Chocolate Cookies
- Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Chocolate Chip Cookies
Golden Applesauce Oatmeal Cookies
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Ingredients
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 3/4 cup light brown sugar
- 1/3 cup applesauce
- 1 large egg, room temperature
- 1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1-1/2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
- 2 cups all-purpose flour (spooned and leveled)
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 3/4 cup golden or regular raisins
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F and line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Set aside.
- Place butter and brown sugar in the bowl of a large stand mixer, fitted with a paddle attachment OR in a large mixing bowl with a wooden spoon. Mix on medium speed or by hand until creamy, about 2 minutes. Add applesauce, egg, and vanilla to bowl and mix until smooth.
- Combine oats, flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg in a separate medium bowl. Add to butter mixture and mix until a soft dough forms. Fold in raisins.
- Use a medium cookie scoop to scoop dough out into 1-in balls. Place balls 1-2 inches apart on prepared baking sheets and gently flatten balls slightly.
- Bake cookies at 350F 10-12 minutes until cookies are a light golden brown. Remove from oven and allow cookies to cool on baking sheet 10 minutes before transferring to a wire cooling rack to cool completely.
Notes
Nutrition
This post was updated with new recipe adjustments and photos on 9/12/23.
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