If only every relationship could be as safe, affirming, and rewarding as the one we share with Healthy Chocolate Chip Cookies. These no-butter cookies are thick, chewy, low in sugar, and they still taste super scrumptious!
Pillowy soft with melt-in-your-mouth centers and brimming with dark chocolate chips, these healthy cookies are the kind of steady, judgment-free, and encouraging special something we all need.
Need seconds or thirds (and believe me, YOU DO)?
These healthy chocolate chip cookies with applesauce will tell you, GO FOR IT.
Why You’ll Love These Healthy Chocolate Chip Cookies
These cookies are excellent for so many reasons:
- They’re low calorie, low sugar, and 100% whole grain.
- These are also low-maintenance. This easy chocolate chip cookie recipe doesn’t require a mixer or much advance planning.
- Healthy chocolate chip cookies are the best mood fixer-upper of them all. If you have a rough day, nothing comforts quite like a warm batch of homemade chewy chocolate chip cookies. (And if you prefer a more classic chocolate chip cookies recipe, these Chocolate Chip Walnut Cookies are the best.)
While I have quite the lineup of healthy cookie recipes on my site, and I spent months perfecting the World’s Best Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies for my cookbook, I’d managed to neglect the most classic of them all: a perfect healthy chewy chocolate chip cookie recipe.
Like all great love stories, they were worth the wait!
How to Make Healthy Chocolate Chip Cookies From Scratch
If you are anything like me, when you are craving a chocolate chip cookie, nothing else will satisfy.
Thanks to this cookie recipe’s more wholesome ingredient lineup, you can feel good enjoying one anytime the longing strikes.
Whole grain and made with applesauce, these healthy chocolate chip cookies are one of the healthiest cookies you can eat!
The Ingredients
- Coconut Oil. These healthy chocolate cookies have no butter; instead, coconut oil makes them soft and chewy.
- Applesauce. Naturally sweet applesauce adds moisture to the cookies, while keeping them low calorie.
- Sugar (a little bit). A combination of a moderate amount of dark brown sugar and granulated sugar provides the perfect amount of sweetness. Dark brown sugar also keeps the cookies moist. For a no sugar chocolate chip cookie, you can swap coconut sugar for both.
- Vanilla. A cookie must-have! Be sure to use pure vanilla extract.
- White Whole Wheat Flour. To keep these cookies healthy without sacrificing texture, I used white whole wheat flour. It provides the same nutritional benefits as regular whole wheat flour but is less dense and lighter in flavor.
- Cinnamon. I love the warmth and coziness that cinnamon adds to the cookies.
- Dark Chocolate Chips. With antioxidants and less sugar, dark chocolate is a more wholesome mix-in for our cookies.
The Directions
- Whisk the wet ingredients together.
- Whisk the dry ingredients together in another bowl.
- Stir the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients.
- Add the chocolate chips. Chill the dough for at least 1 hour.
- Roll the dough into balls, and arrange them on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake healthy chocolate chip cookies at 350 degrees F for 8 to 9 minutes.
- Let the cookies cool on a cooling rack. Finish baking any remaining dough balls. DIG IN!
Do I Have to Chill My Cookie Dough?
Chilling cooking dough, while it does take some planning, is necessary for the best-tasting cookies.
- One hour of chill time allows the fat to solidify and the wet and dry ingredients to incorporate so that your cookies come out chewy and tender.
- Chilling cookie dough also ensures the cookies don’t spread too much on the baking sheet.
You can keep the dough at the ready in your refrigerator for up to 2 days or freeze it for months.
Storage Tips
- To Store. Keep cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
- To Freeze. Freeze baked cookies in a freezer-safe storage container or ziptop bag for up to 3 months. Thaw and enjoy as desired or bake directly from frozen, adding a few minutes to the baking time as needed.
Make Ahead Tip
To Refrigerate Cookie Dough: Prepare the cookie dough as directed, then store it in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Bake as directed.
To Freeze Cookie Dough: Prepare the dough as directed, and lay the cookie dough balls on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Place the baking sheet in the freezer until the cookie dough is frozen solid. Freeze the frozen cookie balls in a freezer-safe ziptop bag or storage container for up to 3 months. Bake from frozen whenever a craving strikes!
What to Serve with Chocolate Chip Cookies
Whether you’re making these healthy chocolate chip cookies for toddlers or adults, these recipes will pair perfectly with them.
Recommended Tools to Make this Recipe
- Baking Sheets. Perfect for making these delicious cookies.
- Mixing Bowls. These stackable mixing bowls are easy to clean and store.
- Whisk. My all-time favorite whisk!
The Best Baking Sheets
Baking sheets are wonderful for baking cookies, making sheet pan meals, roasting veggies, and so much more!
Thick in the middle and pleasantly plump in the best possible way, these tender cookies will stay super soft, even days later… not that we can keep them around that long!
Frequently Asked Questions
Chilling cooking dough, while it does take some planning, is necessary for the best-tasting cookies in most recipes, particularly when the recipe calls for melting the fat. One hour of chill time allows the fat to resolidify and the wet and dry ingredients to incorporate so that your cookies come out chewy and tender. Chilling cookie dough also ensures the cookies don’t spread too much on the baking sheet. You can keep the dough at the ready in your refrigerator for up to 2 days or freeze it for months.
Yes, these are healthy cookies compared to most chocolate chip cookie recipes. They use few ingredients and incorporate healthy swaps. While they aren’t the healthiest cookies you can eat, they contain nutritious ingredients, no butter, and less sugar, which is what is unhealthy about eating chocolate chip cookies.
If you’re looking for cookies that are a little more filling, then oatmeal cookies are healthier than chocolate chip cookies. The oats contain more fiber, which helps keep you full. For healthy chocolate chip cookies with oatmeal, try my Healthy Oatmeal Cookies.
To elevate your healthy chocolate chip cookies, try adding a pinch of flaky sea salt after baking. You could also add some of your favorite mix-ins (nuts would be tasty!).
Healthy Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe Video
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Healthy Chocolate Chip Cookies
Ingredients
- 1/3 cup melted coconut oil* cooled to room temperature (measure when it is liquid!)
- 1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
- 1/4 cup dark brown sugar
- 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 large egg at room temperature
- 1 1/4 cups white whole wheat flour or regular whole wheat flour**
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda***
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 cup dark chocolate chips plus additional for baking
Instructions
- In a large bowl, whisk together the coconut oil, applesauce, brown sugar, granulated sugar, and vanilla extract. Then, whisk in the egg, stopping as soon as it is blended.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt.
- Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients. With a rubber spatula, stir to combine, stopping as soon as the dry ingredients disappear. The dough will seem very stiff and dry at first. Use the spatula to gently push and "smush" the dough and stir and fold as needed. It will come together.
- Fold in the chocolate chips. Chill the dough for at least 1 hour, or press plastic over the top and chill for up to 2 days.
- When ready to bake, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- With a cookie scoop or spoon, portion the dough, then use your hands to roll into balls that are 1 1/2-inches in diameter (you should have 18 total). Arrange on the baking sheet, leaving at least one inch between each. Place any uncooked dough balls that do not fit on the sheet in the refrigerator to continue chilling while the first batch bakes.
- Bake the cookies for 8 to 9 minutes, until very lightly browned around the edges and feel dry on the sides and top when lightly touched. They will still appear underdone in the centers. Do not overbake or the cookies will be dry. The cookies will not spread much as they bake.
- Place the baking sheet on a wire rack and let the cookies cool on the sheet for 2 minutes. Carefully remove the cookies to the rack to finish cooling completely. The cookies will be fragile at first but will firm up and their texture will improve as they cool. Repeat with the remaining dough balls, cooling the sheet completely between batches. Enjoy!
Video
Notes
- *I do not recommend any other kind of oil for this recipe; it’s important that the oil is solid at room temperature (the way coconut oil is) in order for the cookies to set up properly. I haven’t experimented yet, but I believe you could use unsalted butter instead.
- **If using regular whole wheat flour, the cookies will have a heartier texture and more pronounced “wheat” taste compared to white whole wheat flour. If using regular whole wheat, I recommend a blend of half all-purpose flour and half regular wheat flour. Be sure to measure your flour correctly (lightly spoon it into the measuring cup, then level it off). If you pack the flour too tightly, the cookies will come out dry. Better yet, try weighing the flour.
- ***Make sure your baking soda is fresh (not expired) or your cookies may not rise and could have a strange aftertaste.
- TO STORE: Keep cookies in an airtight storage container at room temperature for up to 3 days or in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
- TO FREEZE: Freeze baked cookies in a freezer-safe storage container or ziptop bag for up to 3 months. Thaw and enjoy as desired or bake directly from frozen, adding a few minutes to the baking time as needed.
Nutrition
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So it’s really 1 Tablespoon of Vanilla and not…….1 Teaspoon?
Hi Shari, yes it’s really 1 tablespoon. Hope you enjoy it!
Used butter because I’m not a fan of the coconut oil taste in cookies. Also subbed xylitol for sugar. Love the flavor and texture.
Hi Jackie! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review and feedback on substitutions!
It came out dry and nasty
I’m sorry to hear the recipe wasn’t to your taste, Steve. I know it’s disappointing to try a new recipe and not enjoy it, so I truly wish it would have been a hit for you.
The best cookies ever!!!!!
Hi Nunu! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!
These are delicious and my new favorite cookies! I made them exactly like the recipe but just left out the cinnamon.
Hi Sarah! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!
Absolutely good recipe. I’ve been searching for a good healthier Choc Chip recipe that I could enjoy with less/low sugar, oils, calories, etc. Better flour/s. Here it is & they didn’t spread. Added my favorite nut (pecans) & WaaLaa. Magic cookies.
Thank You. I will keep extra dough in freezer. Oh, doubled recipe as I knew from reading comments & ingredients.
Hi Rita! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!
In the Chocolate chip cookie recipe, could I substitute honey for the sugar? Or could I substitute an alternative sweet, like monk fruit?
Thanks
Hi Trudy! I’ve only tested the recipe as is, so can’t say specifically about those substitutions. If you decide to experiment, I’d love to know how it goes!
Last time I made these I didn’t use eggs. Now it calls for eggs. Did you change the recipe?
Hi Meena! Nope, they have always included 1 egg.
Hi is it possible for me to add protein powder
Hi Lilly! I’ve only tested the recipe as written and haven’t tried to add protein powder to these cookies. You might enjoy these cookies: https://www.wellplated.com/peanut-butter-protein-cookies/
This recipe sounds amazing except for the coconut oil. What could I sub for it? The Hubs is a heart patient and tropical oils are a big “No No!” They are mostly saturated fats, with coconut being the worst.
Hi Deb! You’d use butter in place of the coconut oil, but not sure if you could use that. So whatever you are using in your baked goods in place of butter. Hope this helps!