These applesauce spice cookies are soft and delicious. The tops are sprinkled with cinnamon sugar. This is a classic recipe that smells incredible while baking in the oven. Make a batch for a delicious treat for the whole family.
Applesauce Spice Cookies
Applesauce spice cookies are made with all-purpose flour, brown sugar, and applesauce. These are a soft cookie with a light and fluffy texture. The tops are sprinkled with a bit of cinnamon sugar for extra sweetness.
These cookies make a great afternoon treat with a cup of coffee or tea.
Applesauce Spice Cookies Ingredients
Here’s what ingredients you’ll need:
- Unsalted Butter – Leave ⅓ cup on the counter to soften. It should be room temperature when making the recipe.
- Brown Sugar – I used light brown sugar. You could also use coconut sugar or lakanto monkfruit sweetener (it’s sugar-free).
- All Purpose Flour – You’ll need 1 ½ cups of all purpose flour.
- Spices – You’ll need cinnamon, nutmeg, and ground cloves.
- Baking Etc. – You’ll also need vanilla extract, 1 egg, baking powder and baking soda.
- Cinnamon Sugar Topping – Brown sugar and cinnamon are mixed together and sprinkled on top of the cookies.
Equipment Used
- Nordicware Baking Sheet – This is a bigger baking sheet that allows me to pack more cookies on! I use this baking sheet often for a variety of recipes.
- Parchment Paper – I like to use compostable parchment paper. This keeps the cookies from sticking to the baking sheet and makes clean up easier.
- Avocado Oil Spray – My go to for any oven recipes. If you spray it on the baking sheet first, then add the parchment paper, this will help it to stick.
- Cookie Rack – The best place to let your cookies cool completely.
- Mixing Bowls – These make mixing and clean up a breeze.
- Hand Mixer – The easiest way to mix your batter. Takes up minimal storage space too.
How To Make Soft Applesauce Spice Cookies
This recipe only uses one bowl. Here’s an overview:
- Cream the butter and sugar with a hand mixer.
- Mix in the applesauce, vanilla extract and egg.
- Add the flour cinnamon, nutmeg, ground cloves, baking powder and baking soda. Mix until just combined.
- Use a cookie scoop to place batter on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake at 350°F for 15-18 minutes.
- Mix cinnamon and brown sugar in a small bowl and sprinkle on top of each cookie. Place on a rack to cool completely.
What Does Applesauce Do In Cookies?
Applesauce can act as a fat replacer for butter or oil. In this recipe, it’s adding extra moisture to create a soft texture for the cookies.
More Cookie Recipes To Try
- Banana Cranberry Breakfast Cookies – An easy grab-and-go breakfast cookie idea. My husband loves these with his morning coffee.
- Buckwheat Oatmeal Raisin Cookies – This is a great alternative to traditional oatmeal raisin cookies that use refined flour and refined sugar. This recipe uses a combination of gluten-free rolled oats and buckwheat flour as the base.
- Coconut Cinnamon Ginger Cookies – These are gluten-free and made with no flour!
- Healthier Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies – These remind me of the classic cookies my mom used to make but with a healthier upgrade.
- Pumpkin Oat Energy Balls – This quick snack uses rolled oats, tahini and pumpkin puree as the base of the recipe.
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Soft Applesauce Spice Cookies
Ingredients
- ⅓ cup unsalted butter - room temperature
- ½ cup brown sugar - coconut sugar or monkfruit sweetener (sugar-free)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 egg
- 1 ½ cups all purpose flour
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1 tsp ground nutmeg
- ½ tsp ground cloves
- 1 tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp baking soda
Topping:
- 1 Tbsp brown sugar - coconut sugar or monkfruit sweetener (sugar-free)
- ½ tsp cinnamon
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Tip: I like to lightly spray the baking sheet with nonstick cooking spray, then lay the parchment on top. This helps the parchment to stick.
- In a large bowl, cream the butter and sugar with a hand mixer.
- Mix in the applesauce, vanilla extract, and egg.
- Add the all purpose flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, baking powder, and baking soda. Mix until just combined.
- Use a spoon or cookie scoop to place the cookies onto the baking sheet. Bake for 15-18 minutes.
- In a small bowl combine the sugar and cinnamon for topping.
- Generously sprinkle over top of each cookie. Place on a rack to cool completely.
Recipe Notes:
- Storage: Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 week or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Equipment Used
Nutrition
Nutrition Info Note: The actual number of servings will depend on your preferred portion sizes and the size and number of what you make. The nutritional values provided above are just an estimate. Actual numbers will vary based on brands you choose and the ingredients you use.
If you’re looking for more specific details (for example, to track your macros) then I recommend adding specific brand ingredients and this recipe to a food tracker app on your phone.
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