Sunbutter Oatmeal Cookies
Super easy, lunchbox-friendly, nutritious "cookies"
These sugar-free, school-safe cookies pack nutrition from 3 key food groups, and are a great source of healthy fat and iron for growing babies and toddlers. With only 3 required ingredients, they take 5 mins to prep, 10 mins to bake, and 5 mins to clean up. I’ve served these since my kid was about 10 months old — just cut them into age-appropriate pieces.
Ingredients:
180 g Sunbutter (I use unsweetened, unsalted)
200 g Applesauce (unsweetened)
200 g Rolled oats (aka Quick-cooking oats)
Recommended but totally optional add-ins:
1 tsp Vanilla extract
1/2 tsp Cinnamon
Zest of one orange (This will boost iron absorption!)
1/4 to 1/3 c Unsweetened coconut shreds
2 or 3 tbsp Hemp seeds
2 or 3 tbsp Flaxseeds
For older kids, add a pinch of salt, some maple syrup or honey, and/or sprinkles!
Steps:
Preheat oven to 350 and line 1-2 baking sheets with parchment.
Whisk together Sunbutter and applesauce; then whisk in any optional add-ins.
Stir in oats to combine.
Scoop perfect 1.25” balls with a cookie scoop (or use a regular spoon). Then press them down with your fingers, because they won’t spread while they bake. For me, this recipe makes exactly 30 cookies, which fit perfectly on 2 jelly roll sheets, eliciting a fleeting moment of immense satisfaction.
Bake for 9-11 mins for 1.25” scoops. Adjust baking time up for larger cookies, but don’t over bake these!
Storage:
These can live in an air-tight container on the counter for a couple days, or in the refrigerator for up to a week, and freezer for 2-3 months. I usually freeze my batches and and thaw overnight as-needed in the fridge.
Preferred supplies:
Nutrition:
This base recipe is a great source of healthy fat and iron — two things that growing babies and toddlers really need. Oats are a great source of both iron and fiber. Applesauce adds fiber, vitamin C for iron absorption, and some antioxidants too. Sunbutter is an awesome source of healthy fats, protein, and iron, plus vitamins and minerals.
I love adding orange zest to this recipe to boost iron absorption. Optional additions like coconut, hemp seed and flaxseed boost healthy fats, vitamins, minerals, and fiber, too.
Allergen notes & adaptations:
This recipe avoids the Big 9, though, anecdotally, I know there’s a growing number of people out there with oat and sunflower seed allergies. Unfortunately, I don’t have a solve for the oats, but you can swap mashed ripe banana for applesauce and/or smooth peanut butter for Sunbutter in this recipe.
These cookies are:
Vegan
Egg-free
Dairy-free
Nut-free
Gluten-free
Soy-free
Sesame-free
This is the first recipe I’ve shared, and I’d love to hear your thoughts and feedback in the comments!
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