Healthy Banana Oatmeal Cookies Recipe
If you’re on the hunt for a treat that feels totally indulgent yet is packed with nourishing ingredients, Healthy Banana Oatmeal Cookies are about to be your new go-to! Sweet, chewy, delightfully wholesome, and overflowing with natural flavor, these cookies combine the comforting taste of ripe bananas, hearty oats, and a subtle cinnamon warmth. Whether you’re prepping snacks for the week or looking for a guilt-free dessert, Healthy Banana Oatmeal Cookies deliver on taste, nutrition, and total ease—making them the perfect option for sharing with friends, family, or just enjoying all to yourself with your morning cup of coffee.
Ingredients You’ll Need
You’ll be amazed at how these simple pantry staples can come together to create such flavorful cookies! Each ingredient plays a unique role, enhancing the taste, texture, or even adding a burst of color.
- Bananas: Choose large, very ripe bananas for natural sweetness and a soft cookie texture.
- Old-fashioned rolled oats: Provide hearty, chewy structure and whole-grain goodness.
- Unsweetened applesauce: Lends moisture and a light, fruity undertone with fewer calories than oil or butter.
- Honey or maple syrup: Delivers a touch of natural sweetness and lovely depth of flavor.
- Vanilla extract: Rounds out the sweetness and brings cozy, classic cookie vibes.
- Ground cinnamon: For subtle spice and heartwarming aroma in every bite.
- Baking powder: Maintains the cookies’ lightness and helps them rise just enough.
- Salt: Balances the sweetness and intensifies all the other flavors.
- Dark chocolate chips or raisins (optional): Bring pockets of melty chocolate or a naturally sweet chewy bite—your call!
- Chopped walnuts or pecans (optional): Add crunch, nuttiness, and a bit of wholesome richness.
How to Make Healthy Banana Oatmeal Cookies
Step 1: Prep Your Oven and Pan
Begin by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper to make sure your Healthy Banana Oatmeal Cookies lift right off after baking, without sticking or breaking apart. This makes cleanup a breeze, too!
Step 2: Smash and Stir
Pile your bananas into a large mixing bowl and mash them with a fork or potato masher until they’re nice and smooth, almost like a banana puree. Then, stir in your oats, applesauce, honey or maple syrup, vanilla, cinnamon, baking powder, and salt. Mix everything together until those oats are well coated and glossy, and there are no obvious streaks of dry ingredients.
Step 3: Fold in the Extras
If you want to jazz up your Healthy Banana Oatmeal Cookies, now’s the time to fold in chocolate chips or raisins, and nuts if you’re using them. This is your opportunity to make the recipe your own! Gently incorporate these extras so every cookie gets a bit of the goodness.
Step 4: Shape and Flatten
Using a heaping tablespoon, drop scoops of cookie dough onto your prepared baking sheet, spacing them about 2 inches apart. With the back of your spoon, gently flatten each mound—these cookies won’t spread much during baking, so help them out a little with this step.
Step 5: Bake to Golden Perfection
Slide the baking sheet into the oven and bake for 12–15 minutes. The Healthy Banana Oatmeal Cookies are done when they’re set, just lightly golden, and smell utterly irresistible. For a softer cookie, stick to the shorter end of baking time; leave them in a bit longer for a touch more chew.
Step 6: Cool Before Enjoying
After baking, let your cookies rest on the sheet for 5 minutes—they’ll firm up as they cool, making them easier to transfer. Then move them to a wire rack so they stay perfectly soft and don’t steam on the pan. Now you’re ready for that first warm, melty, bakery-worthy bite!
How to Serve Healthy Banana Oatmeal Cookies
Garnishes
For a pretty finish, sprinkle a few extra chocolate chips or nuts on top of each cookie while they’re fresh from the oven. If you’re feeling fancy, a light dusting of ground cinnamon or a drizzle of nut butter takes these Healthy Banana Oatmeal Cookies straight to café level.
Side Dishes
Pair these cookies with a creamy yogurt parfait or a tall glass of almond milk for a balanced snack. They also shine alongside your morning coffee or afternoon tea, turning a simple beverage into a satisfying and wholesome pick-me-up.
Creative Ways to Present
Stack your Healthy Banana Oatmeal Cookies and tie them with twine for an adorable edible gift. Arrange them on a platter with fresh berries and orange slices for a vibrant brunch treat, or tuck them into lunchboxes for a sweet, yet nourishing surprise.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Keep your leftover cookies fresh by storing them in an airtight container at room temperature. They’ll stay deliciously moist for up to three days—perfect for snacking throughout the week or tucking into your bag for a quick energy boost on busy days.
Freezing
Healthy Banana Oatmeal Cookies freeze like a dream! Once fully cooled, layer them between sheets of parchment in a freezer-safe container or zip-top bag. Stash them for up to 2 months, grabbing a few whenever you need a wholesome treat at a moment’s notice.
Reheating
If you love a warm cookie, simply pop one in the microwave for about 10-15 seconds right from the fridge, or let it thaw at room temperature if frozen. This quick step revives their softness and makes the chocolate chips (if using) extra melty and irresistible!
FAQs
Can I use quick oats instead of old-fashioned rolled oats?
Absolutely! For a softer, chewier texture, you can swap in quick oats for half or even all of the rolled oats. This tweak gives your Healthy Banana Oatmeal Cookies a wonderful bakery-style bite.
How ripe should my bananas be?
The riper the better—think brown-spotted with a strong banana aroma. Very ripe bananas bring extra natural sweetness, rich flavor, and that soft texture essential for these cookies.
Are these Healthy Banana Oatmeal Cookies gluten-free?
Yes, as long as you use certified gluten-free oats, this recipe is naturally gluten-free, making it a safe and tasty treat for anyone avoiding gluten!
Can I leave out the nuts and chocolate to make them nut-free or less sweet?
Definitely. Skip the nuts and swap chocolate chips for extra raisins or leave them out entirely. The base cookies are still full of flavor and soft, satisfying texture with or without the add-ins.
Is it okay to double the recipe?
Of course! If you want more Healthy Banana Oatmeal Cookies for a crowd, simply double all ingredients and bake in batches. They’re great for parties, meal prep, or freezing for later!
Final Thoughts
It’s amazing how just a handful of simple ingredients can create something as comforting and delicious as Healthy Banana Oatmeal Cookies. Give them a try in your kitchen—the process is easy, the results are full of heart, and you might just find yourself baking these cheerful cookies again and again!
Print
Healthy Banana Oatmeal Cookies Recipe
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 16 cookies 1x
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
These Healthy Banana Oatmeal Cookies are a delicious treat that’s perfect for breakfast or as a snack. Made with wholesome ingredients and no refined sugar, these cookies are easy to make and satisfy your sweet cravings guilt-free.
Ingredients
Dry Ingredients:
- 1¾ cups old-fashioned rolled oats
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Wet Ingredients:
- 2 large ripe bananas, mashed
- ½ cup unsweetened applesauce
- ¼ cup honey or maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Optional Add-Ins:
- ½ cup dark chocolate chips or raisins
- ¼ cup chopped walnuts or pecans
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Mix Ingredients: In a large bowl, mash bananas and mix in oats, applesauce, honey, vanilla, cinnamon, baking powder, and salt until well combined.
- Add Extras: Fold in optional chocolate chips or raisins and nuts.
- Bake: Drop spoonfuls of dough onto the baking sheet, flatten slightly, and bake for 12–15 minutes until golden.
- Cool and Enjoy: Cool on the sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
Notes
- For chewier cookies, use quick oats instead of old-fashioned oats.
- Store in an airtight container for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 2 months.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dessert, Snack
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 90
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 60 mg
- Fat: 2.5 g
- Saturated Fat: 1 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 1.5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 16 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
