Applesauce Chocolate Chip Cookies
Updated Aug 07, 2026
These Applesauce Chocolate Chip Cookies are super soft with great taste and texture but less fat than traditional chocolate chip cookies.
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If you’re looking for a way to make your traditional chocolate chip cookies a little lighter with less fat and calories, try swapping out some butter for applesauce with this easy recipe for applesauce chocolate chip cookies. They’re dairy-free since I use a combination of applesauce and coconut oil and easily made vegan. The result is soft, chewy delicious chocolate chip cookies with applesauce.
Recipe Testing Notes
For the past 10 years, I’ve tested every recipe before sharing it with you! These notes give you a peek into the process of developing this Applesauce Chocolate Chip Cookies recipe.
I tested the amount of coconut oil. After hearing that the dough seemed too runny, I retested the cookies as written. My batter wasn’t runny, although the cookies did spread and stayed pretty soft. I reduced the coconut oil from ¼ cup to 2 tablespoons and found the flavor and texture were nearly the same, so 2 tablespoons was enough.
I also tested them without any oil. I wanted to see if I could make these completely oil-free and get a slightly thicker dough. While the cookies still baked up, they stuck noticeably to the parchment paper. That’s why I recommend keeping the 2 tablespoons of coconut oil. It helps prevent sticking without making the dough noticeably thinner.
Happy Baking!
– Yumna
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Applesauce Chocolate Chip Cookies Ingredients
- Dry Ingredients: You’ll need all-purpose flour, baking powder and salt. This applesauce cookie recipe uses all-purpose flour. I haven’t tried it, but I think it should work out well using a 1:1 gluten-free flour.
- Wet Ingredients: Applesauce is used here instead of butter or oil, but you’ll still need some coconut oil (2 tablespoons) to ensure the cookies don’t stick to the parchment paper. You’ll also need light brown sugar, egg (or flax egg to make it vegan) and vanilla.
- Chocolate chips: I use semi-sweet chocolate chips. You can swap them out for white chocolate, dark chocolate, or even butterscotch chips. You can also try other add-ins in addition or instead of the chocolate chips like nuts or dried fruit. Just make sure that the total add-ins is no more than 1 cup.
How to Make Applesauce Chocolate Chip Cookies
These step-by-step photos walk you through how to make Applesauce Chocolate Chip Cookies. For the full ingredient list and detailed instructions, head to the recipe card below, or skip straight to the → Applesauce Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe below
1. Combine Wet Ingredients
Beat together the sugar, applesauce and coconut oil.
2. Add Egg & Vanilla
Mix in the egg and vanilla.
3. Add Dry Ingredients
Stir in the dry ingredients (flour, baking powder and salt).
4. Fold Chocolate Chips
Fold in the chocolate chips.
5. Scoop Onto Baking Sheet
Scoop into balls and place on a lined baking sheet.
6. Bake
Bake until the edges have set.
Full Applesauce Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe
Applesauce Chocolate Chip Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups all purpose flour
- 1 ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup packed light brown sugar packed
- ½ cup unsweetened applesauce no-sugar added
- 2 tablespoons coconut oil melted
- 1 large egg
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F and line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt; set aside.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat the sugar, applesauce and coconut oil on medium speed until well combined, 1 to 2 minutes. Add the egg and vanilla extract and beat until combined, 1 more minute.
- With the mixer on low speed, slowly add in the dry ingredients and mix until just combined, without over mixing. Fold in the chocolate chips.
- Divide the dough into 1 ½ tablespoon-sized balls using a spring-loaded scoop. Bake for 10 minutes or until cookie edges have set but the center still looks soft. Cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to wire racks to cool completely.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information provided is an estimate. It will vary based on cooking method and specific ingredients used.
Recipe Tips
- Remove some of the moisture from the applesauce if it’s homemade or contains a lot of liquid. You can do so by spooning applesauce into a fine sieve over a bowl; let stand 15 minutes and then discard liquid.
- Don’t over mix the cookie batter. When you add in the flour, mix it on a low speed and stop mixing when there are no dry flour streaks left. If you over mix it, the gluten will overdevelop and your cookies will be very dense.
- Use a stand or hand mixer to make these cookies. That way the ingredients are really well combined so that you have an even texture throughout. You can mix the dough by hand but it will take longer to make sure that everything is well mixed.
Comments
Sadly, these were not good at all. 10min bake time did not seem enough so I baked the other half longer & still no good.
maybe it will make a better bread/cake; def not a cookie.
cheers,
Trupti
I’m sorry to hear these cookies didn’t turn out for you. The texture is meant to be soft and cakey, similar to the cookies on the outside of a whoopie pie. The moisture in the applesauce prevents them from baking up like a traditional chewy chocolate chip cookie. Baking longer may make them drier or cakey rather than more cookie-like, so I can see why that didn’t help much. I appreciate you sharing your feedback, Trupti.
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