Banana Oatmeal Cookies

4.94 from 146 votes

Easy and quick to make with 3 ingredients only, these healthy banana oatmeal cookies are gluten-free, refined sugar free and kid-friendly!

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These delicious 3 ingredient banana oatmeal cookies are a breeze to make! Vegan friendly and gluten-free, you can feel good about eating these treats! Made with no refined sugar, theses banana oatmeal cookies are a healthy way to satisfy your sweet tooth.

Banana oatmeal cookies on a plate with chocolate chips
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These banana oat cookies are a perfect breakfast snack alongside your breakfast coffee smoothie or a sweet compliment to this savory southwest breakfast burrito. Made with staple pantry items, these banana oatmeal cookies are easy to make and can be stored for a few days or frozen for months!

 “Just made your banana oatmeal cookies, so healthy, so easy and soo good! Thanks for sharing your recipes with us❤️” – Lindsay

Table of Contents

  1. Recipe at a glance
  2. Ingredients to make the cookies
  3. Popular substitutions & additions
  4. How to make banana oatmeal cookies
  5. Tips for making the best banana oatmeal cookie
  6. WHAT TO SERVE WITH BANANA AND OATMEAL COOKIES
  7. How to store banana oat cookies
  8. Frequently asked questions
  9. More cookie recipes to try:
  10. Banana Oatmeal Cookies Recipe

Recipe at a glance

Cuisine Inspiration: American
Primary Cooking Method: Baked
Dietary Info: Vegan and Gluten-Free
Key Flavor: Banana and Chocolate
Skill Level: Easy

Summary

  • Quick and Easy: Only 3 ingredients mixed up in a single bowl make this cookie recipe one of the easiest to master. 
  • Great Meal Prep Snack: Easily add this recipe to your meal prep routine. You can pop a cookie or two, or three into your lunch before work.
  • Kiddo Friendly: A simple step-by-step recipe that is great for littles learning about baking and wishing to be super hands-on.
  • Anyone can enjoy: Delicious and packed with fiber and protein, these are a hit with everyone, no matter their diet! 

Ingredients to make the cookies

  • Bananas: Use over-ripe rather than under-ripe bananas. They are naturally sweeter and also contain more antioxidants.
  • Quick Oats: Oats are a great source of fiber and protein and keep these cookies gluten-free. You can make them with regular oats, but the consistency is better with quick oats.
  • Chocolate Chips: You can use any kind of chocolate chips for this recipe. Use dairy-free to make them vegan, or use semi-sweet, milk or white if you prefer. I recommend mini chocolate chips, though if possible.
  • Spice it up: Without adding too many more ingredients, easily enhance the flavor of this cookie by adding a pinch of cinnamon or a bit of vanilla before baking.
  • Nuts & Crunch: Increase the protein and nutrients by adding slivered almonds, chia seeds, and flax seeds.
  • Tropical twist: Add shredded coconut, sweetened or unsweetened, to your cookie dough. Alternatively, you can top the cookies with a drizzle of dark chocolate and then sprinkle with coconut for flavor and contrast.
  • Chopped bananas: For an extra burst of banana flavor and moisture, you can add small chunks of bananas to the dough. Instead of mashing these pieces, keep some diced banana pieces out to fold gently into the cookie dough. These banana pieces should come from a firmer banana as to hold its shape.
3 ingredients to make the recipe

How to make banana oatmeal cookies

  1. Mash the bananas in a bowl until very soft.
  2. Add the oats on top.
  3. Stir until well combined and the mixture forms a paste-like consistency.
  4. Fold in the chocolate chips.
4 image collage to show how to mix the cookie dough in one bowl
  • Divide the dough into balls and place on a baking sheet and flatten slightly. Bake until set and golden brown.
Cookie dough before baking on parchment paper

“So yummy! I don’t like my cookies to be super sweet and this is perfect when I feel like a snack! My family likes them! Make sure to use ripe bananas because I understand why it is very important to (it will become fudgy)” – Nadia

  1. Change up the add-ins! I used chocolate chips for this recipe, but you can use raisins or other dried fruits like cranberries or mango if you prefer.
  2. Make you own quick oats. If all you have is rolled oats, you can pulse them in a food processor or blender a few times until they break down slightly so they’re smaller and softer.
  3. Add more flavor. Add in a teaspoon of cinnamon or vanilla extract. If your bananas aren’t over-ripe, you can add in a tablespoon of honey or maple syrup to make them a little sweeter.
  4. Allow the cookies to cool before eating them. It’s so tempting to grab a warm cookie from the oven and bite into it. But the texture of these cookies improves and gets chewier when cooled before eating.

WHAT TO SERVE WITH BANANA AND OATMEAL COOKIES

How to store banana oat cookies

These banana oatmeal cookies have a pretty good shelf life, and will keep either at room temperature or in the fridge for around 7 days. Store them in an airtight container.

Can I freeze banana oat cookies?

Yes! You can freeze these, so be sure to make a double batch! Let the cookies cool completely before freezing solid on a baking sheet. You can then transfer them to a bag or airtight container, and they will keep well for a month or two.

Frequently asked questions

What are the best oats to use?

I like to use quick oats for this recipe. You can also use old fashioned oats but the cookie might be more crumbly that way. It’s best to avoid steel cut oats, as these can be quite tough in texture and need more cooking time.

Can I use frozen bananas for this cookie recipe?

Yes, you can use frozen bananas. This is very helpful when you have too many ripe bananas, simply freeze the rest for future desserts. Before baking, thaw out your frozen bananas, mash, and then add them to your cookie dough. Keep in mind that frozen bananas may rele

Are banana oatmeal cookies healthy?

Packed with wholesome potassium-rich bananas and fiber-full oatmeal, these cookies don’t offer any added sweetener making them a healthier cookie option. Any additional ingredients you add will alter whether the cookie stays on the healthier side. Use whole ingredients, dark chocolate, and no refined sugars. And as always, enjoying your cookies in moderation, too much of a good thing, isn’t always a good thing.

Banana oatmeal cookies after baking on a blue plate

These banana oatmeal cookies are a great healthy snack and the perfect option if you are trying to cut back on refined sugar. They are super quick to make, so are great to have on hand when you get a sweet craving!

If you’ve tried this healthy-ish feel good Banana Oatmeal Cookies recipe or any other recipe on FeelGoodFoodie, then don’t forget to rate the recipe and leave me a comment below! I would love to hear about your experience making it. And if you snapped some shots of it, share it with me on Instagram so I can repost on my stories!

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Banana Oatmeal Cookies

Easy and quick to make with 3 ingredients only, these healthy banana oatmeal cookies are gluten-free, refined sugar free and kid-friendly!
4.9 from 146 votes
Servings 15 cookies
Course Dessert, Snack
Calories 74
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes

Ingredients
  

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper
  • In a large bowl, mash the bananas with a fork until they have a liquid-like consistency. Add the oats and stir with a fork to combine. Fold in the chocolate chips.
  • Divide the dough into 1 ½ tablespoon-sized balls using a spring-loaded scoop and flatten them slightly with a spatula. Makes about 15.
  • Bake for 9-11 minutes or until cookies are set and slightly lightly brown and set.
  • Cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

Notes

Storage: Store any leftovers in an airtight container. They will last about 7 days in the fridge or on the countertop.
Freezing Instructions: To freeze the cookies, shape them into balls and place them on a baking sheet in the freezer until very cold and solid, about 20 minutes. Then transfer to a freezer-safe plastic bag. Freeze for up to 1 month for best taste.

Nutrition

Calories: 74kcal, Carbohydrates: 14g, Protein: 2g, Fat: 2g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 1mg, Sodium: 3mg, Potassium: 95mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 5g, Vitamin A: 19IU, Vitamin C: 1mg, Calcium: 10mg, Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information provided is an estimate. It will vary based on cooking method and specific ingredients used.

Cuisine American
Course: Dessert, Snack

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Recipe Rating




Comments

  1. Definitely not what I was expecting. My “cookies” came out gummy, dry, and flavorless. I don’t know what it would take to doctor this recipe. More liquid? Maybe adding some Cinnamon or peanut butter? We’ll pass on this the next time we have ripe bananas and just make banana bread instead.

    1. So sorry to hear that. It shouldn’t have been gummy, but if you don’t use an overripe banana, it can turn out that way. To add more flavor to these cookies, I recommend adding in a teaspoon of cinnamon or vanilla extract. If your bananas aren’t over-ripe, you can add in a tablespoon of honey or maple syrup to make them a little sweeter. Also, you can change up the add-ins! I used chocolate chips for this recipe, but you can use raisins or other dried fruits like cranberries or mango if you prefer.

  2. Yummy yummy in my tummy! It’s very delicious, fast, and easy to make! Thank you so much for the recipe! ^^ d:

  3. So yummy! I don’t like my cookies to be super sweet and this is perfect when I feel like a snack! My family likes them! Make sure to use ripe bananas because I understand why it is very important to (it will become fudgy 🙁 )
    Would def recommend!

  4. How much banana do you use. I know it says 2. But do you use large medium or small???
    Thank you
    Kim

    1. I’m sorry to hear that. It shouldn’t have been gummy, but if you don’t use an overripe banana, it can turn out that way. To add more flavor to these cookies, I recommend adding in a teaspoon of cinnamon or vanilla extract. If your bananas aren’t over-ripe, you can add in a tablespoon of honey or maple syrup to make them a little sweeter. Also, you can change up the add-ins! I used chocolate chips for this recipe, but you can use raisins or other dried fruits like cranberries or mango if you prefer.

  5. Just made your banana oatmeal cookies, so healthy, so easy and soo good! Thanks for sharing your recipes with us❤️

  6. I expected these to be good, but I didn’t expect them to be as good as they are. WOW! These are a must make all the time!

  7. Made these today. They are great!

    I added vanilla and walnuts to the mixture. I did need to an additional half banana and an extra 2TBS of oats.

    I also made my own quick oats by putting my protein oats in food processor. My new favorite cookie.

  8. Made these immediately! Such a fast and easy healthy snack. Added craisins. Wondering if I could add some almond butter to the recipe? Any thoughts?

  9. I made these because of the simple and healthy ingredients. They are good! I think I will bake alittle more next time. I like a more drier and crunchy cookie . But I will make again with any ripe banana! Thank you!

  10. I like these a lot and it fits into my diet plan. The sweetness of the banana, the texture of the oats and the little sting of dark chocolate bitterness makes for a great cookie! Thanks!

  11. This is my kind of recipe. I am a lazy cook/baker and do not like to fuss with a lot of ingredients. I used old fashioned oats and a mixture of milk chocolate chips and peanut butter chips. I also added a cinnamon spice mix I had. They reminded me more of a oatmeal breakfast bite rather than a cookie, just a lot healthier. This is probably due to the type of oats I used but they taste great. Definitely making this again.

  12. I had a couple over ripe bananas on counter and was dreading making banana bread today, because I already have a couple bananas in freezer…Ha! This recipe came at the right time today, and let me tell you it’s delicious!! So delicious, that me and my 1.5 year old can’t stop eating them ;). I used old fashioned oats… half with mini chocolate chips, half without and turned out spectacular!! Thank you again, Yumna for another fabulous recipe!!!