Recipe for Almond Flour, Oat, and Applesauce Cookies (Gluten-Free)

It’s okay to enjoy tr eats on a healthy diet for weight loss. Here’s a way to delight in cinnamon spiced cookies that are completely free from refined grains. Instead, they depend on oats and almond flour for lower-carb, gluten-free cookies.

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These cookies use applesauce instead of butter, letting you keep calories and saturated fat down. Applesauce also adds sweetness, so you can add less sugar or honey. The result is a chewy, delicious cookie that’s satisfying.

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• For a more traditional cookie, try using whole-wheat flour instead of almond flour. It won’t be gluten-free, but it’ll be higher in whole grains.
• If you prefer a calorie-free sweetener, try a natural one like stevia instead of the sugar, honey, or maple syrup.
• For chocolatey cookies, stir in 1-2 tablespoons of cocoa powder (baking cocoa) when you whisk together the flour and other dry ingredients.

Recipe for Almond Flour, Oat, and Applesauce Cookies (Gluten-Free)

Makes 16 cookies

Ingredients:

• 1 cup of almond flour
• 1 cup of rolled oats
• ½ teaspoon of baking soda
• ½ teaspoon of cinnamon
• ¼ teaspoon of salt
• ½ cup of unsweetened applesauce
• 2 tablespoons of sugar, honey, or maple syrup
• 1 large egg
• 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
• (Optional) ½ cup of chopped nuts

Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. In a large bowl, whisk together almond flour, rolled oats, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt.
3. Beat the egg in another bowl. Blend in the applesauce, sweetener, egg, and vanilla extract until well combined.
4. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and stir until just combined. If desired, fold in chopped nuts.
5. Drop spoonfuls of dough onto the prepared baking sheet, spacing them about 2 inches apart.
6. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until the edges are golden brown.
7. Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.

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Nutrition information per cookie without nuts: Calories: 65 kcal; Total Fat: 3 g; Total Carbohydrates: 8 g; Sugar: 2 g; Fiber: 1 g; Protein: 2 g; Sodium: 35 mg; Cholesterol: 10 mg

Reviewed by Natalie Stein, MS, MPH, CDCES