With natural sweetness from apple, carrots, and raisins, these Healthy Oatmeal Cookies are a yummy treat that you’ll love to share with the kids. And they’re a one-bowl dessert that’s a super fun way to serve up produce too!
Healthy Oatmeal Cookies
These cookies have a batter that’s loaded with nutritious ingredients including a full cup of carrots, a grated apple, raisins, and oatmeal—and they taste SO good. I love baking these with my girls because there’s no need for electric tools and you can mix the batter together in one bowl. The kids usually nibble on the carrots and apples as they help!
The sweetness in this recipe comes from the produce and honey. The honey also helps the batter hold together and makes it easy to form into cookies. You can use maple syrup if you prefer.
(My oldest kiddo always requests to make a batch of these to leave for the Easter Bunny in the spring!)
TIP: These are made without eggs or gluten, so they’re a great option for kids with allergies.
Ingredients
To make this recipe, you’ll need:
TIP: I prefer to grate the carrot myself on a box grater as it usually has a finer texture than shredded carrots from the store, though both will work in the recipe.
- Quick oats: Or rolled oats ground finely in a blender or food processor.
- Whole wheat flour
- Baking powder
- Cinnamon
- Grated carrot: I like to grate a whole carrot on a box grater.
- Grated apple: I like to grate a whole apple, peel and all, on a box grater.
- Raisins: I love golden raisins here for their color, but any variety work.
- Seeds or chopped nuts: Choose sunflower seeds, chopped walnuts, or chopped pecans.
- Coconut oil, melted: Or you can use butter.
- Honey or maple syrup
TIP: I prefer to grate the carrot myself on a box grater as it usually has a finer texture than shredded carrots from the store, though both will work in the recipe.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Here’s a look at how to make this recipe so you know what to expect. Scroll down to the bottom of the post for the full information.
- Add the ingredients to a bowl.
- Stir together to make a uniform batter.
- Portion out the batter. (I used 2 tablespoons per cookie here.) Roll into a ball and place onto a parchment paper lined baking sheet.
- Press flat.
- Bake.
- Transfer to a wire rack to cool fully.
TIP: I use a tablespoon measuring spoon to portion out the batter evenly.
What’s the best option for icing on these cookies?
As an option, you can stir together ¼ cup powdered sugar and about ½ teaspoon milk to make a simple icing. Then use a spoon to drizzle it over the cookies.
Are these oatmeal cookies vegan?
These healthy oatmeal cookies are egg-free and dairy-free, which I hope lets more kids enjoy them. You can also easily make these cookies gluten-free by using gluten-free oats and a gluten-free flour like this one from King Arthur (my personal favorite).
Can these work as breakfast cookies?
While these oatmeal cookies are a yummy treat, they also make a nutritious breakfast cookie if you want to mix things up in the morning. Or, try them as a snack paired with a little protein from milk, cheese, nut butter, or beans.
How to Store
These cookies store well for a few days, so you can make a batch on the weekend, and enjoy them throughout the week. Store in an airtight container at room temperature or in the fridge for up to 5 days.
They get a little softer as they sit in the container and younger toddlers may prefer them warmed just slightly so they are easier to chew. (They are a little dense from all the good stuff inside each!)
You can also place the uncooked dough balls into a zip top plastic bag and store in the fridge for up to 5 days if you run out of time to bake them right away or you only want to bake half of a batch at a time. Then bake more when you are ready.
Best Tips for Success
- If your honey is very firm and not very runny, warm it slightly before adding it so it’s easier to stir together.
- If the batter seems crumbly, add a little more oil until it holds together. (It is not a super wet batter.)
- Use gluten-free flour blend and certified gluten free rolled oats for a gluten-free version.
- Warm slightly as needed to soften cookies that have been stored.
- Carrots that you grate yourself have a slightly softer texture than store bought grated carrots. If you want to use store bought ones, cut them up with a pair of kitchen shears before adding to the batter.
- Any type of apple will work here.
- I prefer golden raisins, but any kind works.
- You may also like Banana Breakfast Cookies, Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies, Healthy Banana Cookies, and Favorite Carrot Cake Muffins.
I’d love to hear your feedback on this recipe if you try it so please comment below! I always appreciate hearing what your families think of my recipes.
This post was first published March 2017.
Healthy Oatmeal Cookies with Apples and Carrots
Ingredients
- 1 cup quick oats (or rolled oats ground finely in a blender or food processor)
- 1 cup whole wheat flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 cup grated carrot (about 1 large)
- 1/2 cup grated apple (about 1 medium)
- 1 cup raisins
- 1/2 cup sunflower seeds, chopped walnuts, or chopped pecans (optional)
- 1/2 cup coconut oil (or unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled)
- 1/3 cup honey (or maple syrup)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Mix together all ingredients in a large bowl using a wooden spoon to start and then using (clean) hands to bring the batter completely together if needed.
- Portion out 2-tablespoon sized balls of dough, place onto the prepared baking sheet, and press down until 1/4-½ inch thick. Space them about an inch apart—they won't spread, so close is okay.
- Bake for 18-20 minutes or until lightly golden around the edges. Let cool on the baking sheet and serve.
- These are best eaten on the day they are made, but can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature or in the fridge for 3-5 days.
Notes
- Stir together ¼ cup powdered sugar and 1/2-1 teaspoon milk to make a simple icing and drizzle it over the cooled cookies.
- You can also make the batter and portion into balls, then store in a zip top bag in the fridge or freezer until ready to bake. This is handy if you want to make just half of a batch at a time. Thaw frozen dough overnight in the fridge before baking.
- If your honey is very firm and not very runny, warm it slightly before adding it so it’s easier to stir together.
- If the batter seems crumbly, add a little more oil until it holds together. (It is not a super wet batter.)
- Use gluten-free flour blend and certified gluten free rolled oats for a gluten-free version.
- Warm slightly as needed to soften cookies that have been stored.
- Carrots that you grate yourself have a slightly softer texture than store bought grated carrots. If you want to use store bought ones, cut them up with a pair of kitchen shears before adding to the batter.
Hi, thanks for this recipe. It’s fantastic and I’m excited to try your other recipes as well. Love that there’s no bothering with eggs.
I didn’t have any problems with hardness or density. I used whole wheat pastry flour instead of regular whole wheat. I also used canola oil instead of coconut and my batter was very wet, too wet to handle. So to fix it. I added baby oat cereal until it was just dry enough. I often replace a little flour with oat cereal when baking with whole wheat because it really softens baked goods. They came out beautifully soft and stayed that way for 3 days until the cookies were gone. Bonus: the oat cereal has some added vitamins and minerals too! (I’d say I had to add about a half cup). I’m going to try these with olive oil next.
These cookies were delicious! Although, mine turned out very crumbly. I used almond flour and the apple I used must have been very juicy because the shreds were very wet. Could it have been either of these? What can I do to help them hold together?
Hi- it was likely the almond flour. It absorbs liquids differently than other flours so it’s usually not a good substitute unless specifically mentioned in a recipe.
Okay, I’ll try it with a different one. Thank you!
Hi can I add something instead of maple syrup? I don’t have honey or maple syrup,thanks
I haven’t made them with anything other than those two options, sorry!
I haven’t done it with these, but I’ve used mashed banana in place of honey/maple syrup in baking.
Followed the recipe exactly and they turned out amazing, they taste so good. My toddler is actually eating them! Thanks Amy 🙂
I’m so glad to hear that!
Helloooooooo!!!
Can I use butter in place of the coconut oil?
I haven’t tried these that way but I think so!
I made these using GF flour and ReadyBrek as I’d bought some but my girls won’t eat it. It made excellent cookies. I didn’t use the full amount of maple syrup either – I use 1/2 the quantity and topped up with water to keep the sugar content down. My 2 yr old twins added the ingredients, stirred, I made the balls and they flattened them. We’ll definitely be making them again – whole family likes them.
Hi Amy!
I love all your recipes and have made so many of them for my granddaughter. Could you give me a tip of how to handle the melted coconut oil? Mine doesn’t stay melted and it solidifies in the batter. Thank you!
Hi- the only thing I can think of is to try to make sure the apple and carrot are at room temp for a bit before you start? There shouldn’t anything else that would make it cold and firm up that fast. I hope that helps!
So yummy! I made the basic ones and some with unsweetened chocolate chips and everybody loved them. I thought we would use them for Easter breakfast tomorrow but don’t think they’ll last.
I had to sub oat bran for oatmeal but they came out wonderful!
I’m so glad!
I used yogurt and baking soda instead of baking powder coz I didn’t have any. The cookies came out soft. Are these cookies meant to be soft?
They may have turned out softer due to the changes you made to the ingredients.
Can I shape and freeze these before baking to save for later?
Never mind! I missed that part in your comments.
So good! Made both the original and a luxury one with unsweet chocolate chip, the whole family loves them! Thank you!
So delicious! I didnt have coconut oil so i used grapeseed oil, also i made the one tablespoon size version. I cant believe these have carrots and apple in them, absolutley delicious!
They are delicious!! Amazing Recipe. Healthy and tasty.
Great recipe and so yummy!!!
I was looking for a way to get some additional fiber into my kiddo, this is perfect! I used butter, and I felt the batter was a tad loose, so I added a tablespoon of coconut flour (plus it added some additional fiber for the kiddo!), he inhaled his first cookie! Thank you!
Awesome!