These easy no bake apple cookies are just 3 ingredients. They don’t require any baking or cooking. They also don’t need any flour, eggs, butter or oil. The cookies are soft and chewy and only take about ten minutes to make.
Even though I enjoy doing a lot of baking this time of year, I still love making no bake treats. For some reason, they just seem easier to me and require less time and energy. These no bake apple cookies make a great snack.
Ingredients
- Applesauce
- Almond Butter
- Quick Oats
These cookies need just these three ingredients but you can also add mix-ins and other things to customize to your liking.
Applesauce: I used sweetened applesauce to add some sweetness to the cookies. The cookies are still only very lightly sweetened even if you use sweetened applesauce. I think the recipe also works with unsweetened applesauce. If you are using unsweetened applesauce and want to add some sugar to the cookies, you can add some maple syrup to dough. Need a substitute for applesauce? Check out my no bake banana cookies.
Almond Butter: Make sure to use natural almond butter (just almonds in the ingredient list). You can also use natural peanut butter, but I prefer almond butter because it makes these cookies very chewy.
Quick Oats: Quick oats are used to bind the dough together.
How to Make No Bake Apple Cookies
The applesauce and almond butter are first mixed together. The oats are then stirred until they are evenly incorporated and a firm dough forms. If you are adding any other mix-ins, stir them in now. The cookie dough is then scooped out with a cookie dough scoop and flattened to form a cookie shape. The cookies then go into the fridge to firm up.
No Bake Apple Cookie Texture
These cookies don’t taste like baked cookies because they aren’t baked. But they have a soft and chewy texture. Both the almond butter and oats give the cookies a nice chewy texture to them.
Cookie Sweetness
The cookies are only very lightly sweetened with applesauce. If you prefer sweeter cookies, I recommend adding sweet mix-ins like chocolate chips or dried fruit.
You do taste the applesauce in these cookies but it is very light. If you prefer a stronger apple flavor, you can add dried apple pieces to the cookies.
More No Bake Cookie Recipes
- 3 Ingredient No Bake Peanut Butter Cookies
- 3 Ingredient No Bake Chocolate Breakfast Cookies
- 3 Ingredient No Bake Coconut Cookies
- 3 Ingredient No Bake Chocolate Cookies
3 Ingredient No Bake Apple Cookies
Ingredients
- 4 oz (113 g) sweetened applesauce
- 1/2 cup (128 g) creamy natural almond butter
- 1 cup (88 g) quick oats
Instructions
- Line a large cookie sheet with parchment paper.
- Add applesauce and almond butter to a large mixing bowl and stir until evenly combined. Add in oats and stir until oats are evenly mixed in and mixture turns into a thick dough. You want to stir for a few minutes because as you continue to stir, the oats will soak in more of the liquid and your dough will get thicker. Stir until the dough no longer seems to be getting any thicker. If using any mix-ins, stir them in now.
- Using a 1 tbsp cookie scoop, scoop cookie dough onto prepared baking pan. Press down on dough ball with the palm of your hand to form a thick round disk. Smooth edges as needed. Cookies should be about 1/2 inch thick. Do not spread cookie dough out too thin because it will make the cookies less sturdy. Repeat with remaining dough.
- Place cookies in the fridge to set (around 30 min-1 hour). This will let the cookies firm up slightly and they should no longer be too sticky to hold. Store uneaten cookies in the fridge or freezer.
Notes
- These cookies are only very lightly sweetened. To add more sweetness, add mix-ins like chocolate chips or dried fruit.
- You can use unsweetened applesauce but your cookies won't have any sweetness.
- Applesauce cups are usually sold in 4 oz containers. I used a single 4 oz container of Mott's sweetened applesauce for this recipe.
- I use this 1 tbsp cookie scoop.*
- *This product link is an affiliate link. This means I earn a commission from qualifying purchases.
Nutrition
The nutrition information provided are only estimates based on an online nutritional calculator. I am not a certified nutritionist. Please consult a professional nutritionist or doctor for accurate information and any dietary restrictions and concerns you may have.
We used sunflower butter in place of almond. I don’t know how it compares in consistency, but the cookies are delicious and hold together nicely.
Thanks for sharing that tip! We’re glad it worked with sunflower butter.
I am living a grain-free life (partly by choice and mostly by doctor’s recommendation). Would love to try this, but would need to find a substitute for the oatmeal. Any suggestions? Same goes for your other recipes if they use any grain, I would need a substitute. Thanks! 🙂
Sorry, but we don’t have a good sub for you – you might want to research this online, there may be good resources with suggestions.
What can be used in place of almond butter
have allergies to almonds
As mentioned in the post, you can use the same amount of peanut butter. Please see the Ingredients section for more info!
Every recipe I receive by text I make
They’re always so good.
I have to eat glutten free foods so it’s perfect.
Thank ? you so much.
You’re welcome!
Just wondering if you can bake these?
You should try our Baked Apple Cookies which are similar.
Something we need to try soon.
We hope you do!
Seems easy and delicious. Going to try it
Those cookies sound good. I’m definitely going try making them. Happy holidays, Tim
Happy holidays to you, too!
Yummy yummy
I’m glad you enjoyed!
How can you go wrong this fantastic simple but delicious ingredients yammy ? ???. Thank you chef for your effort ??
You’re welcome!
WHAT ABOUT APPLE BUTTER?
We haven’t tried them with apple butter.
Great simple recipes
Thanks so much!
I can’t wait to start/try making these No Bake Apple Cookies
We hope you love them!
Fun. Easy. And delicious! Even my little preschoolers can enjoy helping with this recipe. The modifications are scrumptious to. Thank you.
I’m so glad they worked out for you!
I didn’t see the time and temperature
These are no bake cookies so you don’t need the oven.
That was so great to do no bake peanut butter cookies at this time!!
We’re glad you enjoyed them!
Maybe use apple butter?
We haven’t tried that – let us know if you do and how it works!
nice and easy recipes
We’re glad you’re enjoying them!
Can i substitute peanut butter?
Yes, this is mentioned in the post.
I just finished making the no bake apple cookies. They are really good, I added a few chocolate chip in the batter. Can I put them in a container in the fridge or freezer.
Glad you like them! Yes you can put them in the fridge or freezer
I am excited about your recipes. They look delicious. Please keep me informed about easy recipes. They excite me because I love to cook and this way, I can try many different versions. We also love easy cakes made in a cup. Thank you for your passion.
Sign up for our Newsletter and we’ll send you emails with new recipes! We also have lots of Mug Cake Recipes you might like.
I Can’t Waite Try These Recipes All Of Them.Thank you!
We hope you love them!
Hello to you kirbie.l am going to give your Apple buisits a go and what can go wrong… John
We hope you love them!
They stayed soft and gooey, been in the fridge for a couple of hours, not sure what is supposed to make them set up, won’t make again.
When you mixed the dough, was it thick? If it wasn’t, you may need to stir it longer so the oats absorb more moisture.
These sound great.
Thank you for Sharing
You’re welcome!