Banana Oatmeal Cookies - Easy 6-Ingredient Recipe! (2024)

By: AlyssaRating 52 Comments on Banana Oatmeal Cookies

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These chewy banana oatmeal cookies are made without gluten, dairy, sugar, or oil, but they’re packed with fiber to keep you full and satisfied. Enjoy them as a light breakfast or pre-workout snack!

this recipe

I know these banana oatmeal cookies aren't the most beautiful cookies you've ever seen, but boy are they delicious. They're moist, chocolatey, and chewy. That's theperfect combo in my book!

They're essentially like eating a bowl of oatmeal in cookie form. So instead of spiking your blood sugar like crazy and leading to a sugar crash, or going through your system super quickly and leaving you ravenous an hour later, these banana oatmeal cookies will sustain you. Which means you can totally eat them for breakfast, like these Tahini Banana Breakfast Cookies and Pecan Pie Quinoa Breakfast Cookies.

Why You’ll Love This Banana Oatmeal Cookie Recipe

  • Hearty and satisfying. These cookies are packed with fiber and complex carbohydrates, making them a great option for breakfast or as an energizing snack.
  • Vegan and gluten-free. Banana oatmeal cookies are naturally gluten-free and vegan, which means you don’t have to buy pricy gluten-free flour blends or egg replacers.
  • Easy and quick to make. With just one bowl and 5 minutes of prep time, these cookies are perfect for busy days. Start by mashing your banana, then you'll add in your flax egg, stir in your dry ingredients and bake 'em up!
  • Kid-friendly. The sweetness from the banana and chocolate chips makes these cookies a hit with kids. They’re a great option for school lunches or after-school snacks.

What You’ll Need

Here are all of the ingredients you’ll need when making these banana oatmeal cookies. Make sure to check out the recipe card at the bottom of the page to see the exact quantities for each ingredient.

  • Bananas – The riper the better! Not only will ripe bananas make the cookies sweeter, they’ll also add a more pronounced banana flavor.
  • Flax egg – Combine1 tablespoon flaxseed meal with 3 tablespoons water.
  • Rolled oats – Also known as old-fashioned oats.
  • Quinoa flakes –Or just use more oats.
  • Unsweetened cocoa powder – Either Dutch process or natural cocoa powder will work, or use cacao powder for a less-processed option.
  • Mini chocolate chips – I like using mini chocolate chips because they distribute more evenly into the dough, giving you more chocolate in every bite!

How to Make Banana Oatmeal Cookies

  • Prepare. Preheat your oven to 350ºF and coat a baking sheet with non-stick cooking spray.
  • Mix the wet ingredients. In a small mixing bowl, mash the banana with a fork or potato masher. Stir in the flax egg.
  • Finish the dough. Add the remaining ingredients and stir to combine.
  • Form the cookies. Spoon the cookie dough onto the cookie sheet and gently flatten each ball of dough with the back of a spoon.
  • Bake. Place the pan in the oven and bake for 13 to 15 minutes, or until browned and mostly set.
  • Cool. Remove the pan from the oven, then transfer to a wire rack to cool.

Tips for Success

  • Shape the cookies. These banana oatmeal cookies are a non-traditional recipe, so they don’t spread and rise like a recipe made with all-purpose flour, baking powder, and eggs. Shape the cookies before baking so they bake evenly and stick together; you can wet your hands slightly when shaping the cookies to prevent sticking.
  • Let the cookies cool completely. It’s hard to resist warm cookies fresh out of the oven, but if you let the cookies cool before eating them, they’ll hold together better.
  • Add maple syrup or honey, if needed. If your banana isn’t quite as sweet as you’d like, you can add a touch of maple syrup or honey to the dough. Since this recipe isn’t made with wheat flour or eggs, you can taste it and sweeten accordingly.

Variations

Here are some ideas for swapping out ingredients in these banana oatmeal cookies:

  • Banana. Unfortunately, this one is the trickiest. I think you could potentially get away with a blend of another fruit puree plus an additional flax egg, but I haven't tried it so can't be sure!
  • Flax egg.A regular chicken egg or chia egg will also work!
  • Rolled oats.You can swap in quinoa flakes or another flaked grain of choice.
  • Quinoa flakes.Quick cooking oats or another flaked grain will work here as well.
  • Cocoa powder.You could try powdered peanut butter for peanut butter banana oatmeal cookies.
  • Chocolate chips.These are totally optional, so feel free to just leave them out or stir in some chopped nuts, hemp hearts, or dried fruit.

How to Store

These banana oatmeal cookies can be stored in an airtight container for 2-3 days at room temperature.

Can I Freeze This Recipe?

Yes, you can absolutely freeze these banana oatmeal cookies! Let them cool completely and then place them in an airtight container or freezer-safe bag and freeze for up to 3 months. To thaw, remove from the freezer and let sit at room temperature for about an hour, or warm them up in the microwave.

More Healthy Oatmeal Cookies to Try

  • Carrot Cake Quinoa Breakfast Cookies
  • Zucchini Bread Breakfast Cookies
  • Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies
  • No-Bake Chocolate Quinoa Cookies

Banana Oatmeal Cookies

4 from 5 votes

These chewy banana oatmeal cookies are made without gluten, dairy, or sugar, but they’re packed with fiber to keep you full and satisfied!

author: Alyssa

yield: 12 Cookies

Banana Oatmeal Cookies - Easy 6-Ingredient Recipe! (15)

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep: 5 minutes minutes

Cook: 15 minutes minutes

Total: 20 minutes minutes

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and grease a cookie sheet with non-stick cooking spray.

  • In a small mixing bowl, completely mash the banana. Stir in the flax egg.

  • Add the remaining ingredients and mix until fully combined.

  • Spoon the cookie dough on the cookie sheet, and gently flatten with the back of a spoon.

  • Bake 13 – 15 minutes, until browned and only slightly tender to the touch. Remove from oven, transfer to a wire rack and cool.

  • Store in a covered container for 2 – 3 days (if they last that long!).

Video

Notes

This recipe could be easily doubled, tripled, quadrupled even!

Nutrition

Serving: 1cookie | Calories: 84kcal | Carbohydrates: 15g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 2g | Sodium: 3mg | Potassium: 114mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 20IU | Vitamin C: 1.7mg | Calcium: 12mg | Iron: 0.7mg

cuisine: American

course: Snack

★★★★★

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Banana Oatmeal Cookies - Easy 6-Ingredient Recipe! (16)

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Banana Oatmeal Cookies - Easy 6-Ingredient Recipe! (2024)

FAQs

Why are my homemade oatmeal cookies hard? ›

Overbaking is the most common cause of hard oatmeal cookies. Cookies continue to cook on the baking sheet even after they're removed from the oven, so try taking them out when they're just lightly golden and still a bit soft in the middle. They'll firm up as they cool, resulting in a chewier texture.

Why can't you use instant oats for oatmeal cookies? ›

Oatmeal: For the perfect, chewy texture use old-fashioned (or rolled) oats. You can use quick oats, just be aware it will change the texture of the cookies.

Why are my oatmeal cookies not soft? ›

Oatmeal cookies require more moisture to stay soft. Consider adding an extra egg yolk or a touch of milk to your dough to enhance moisture content.

How long do homemade oatmeal cookies last? ›

Information. Bakery or homemade cookies can be stored at room temperature two to three weeks or two months in the refrigerator. Cookies retain their quality when stored in the freezer for eight to 12 months.

What is the secret ingredient to keep cookies soft? ›

If you enjoy your cookies soft and chewy, chances are likely the recipe contains a common ingredient that serves a very specific purpose. No, it's not granulated sugar, nor the butter. It's not the egg, all-purpose flour, or even the vanilla extract. The simple, yet oh-so-necessary component is cornstarch.

What ingredient makes cookies harder? ›

Baking powder

Baking powder contains sodium bicarbonate and acidic salts. The reaction of these two ingredients results in a cookie that is soft and thick, but slightly harder.

Can I substitute old-fashioned oats for quick oats in oatmeal cookies? ›

When it comes to the two types you probably already have in your kitchen—rolled oats and quick oats—you can use them in recipes interchangeably. If you need quick oats, but only have rolled oats, just pulse the rolled oats a few times in the blender to get the textural effect your recipe needs.

Is it better to use quick oats or old-fashioned oats for oatmeal cookies? ›

Old fashioned oats provide a chewy, nutty texture and flavor to oatmeal cookies. They are thicker and heartier than quick oats (instant oats). I don't recommend using quick oats because the cookies won't have as much texture and you want a nice and chewy oatmeal cookie that is hearty with lots of texture going on.

How do you moisten oatmeal cookie dough? ›

Dry – “Dry” or “Crumbly” dough is a product of over-mixing or using too much of any ingredient during the mixing process. This can be reversed by adding one to two tablespoons of liquid (water, milk or softened butter) to your mix.

How do you tell if oatmeal cookies are done? ›

Easy to Notice Signs:
  1. Golden Brown Edges – Check the edges of the cookies for a golden brown colour. This indicates that the cookies have caramelized and are likely done. ...
  2. Set Centres – Gently touch the centre of a cookie. ...
  3. Light Cracking – Look for light cracks on the surface of the cookies.
Oct 18, 2023

Should you refrigerate oatmeal cookie dough before baking? ›

Firm dough prevents the cookies from spreading too much, which is why chilling the dough is a crucial step for cut-out and rolled cookies. "The colder and more solid the fat is, the less the cookie will spread," says food stylist and recipe developer Caitlin Haught Brown.

Do you have to refrigerate oatmeal cookie dough? ›

Homemade cookie dough should be stored in small containers in the refrigerator for two to four days or freeze for two months. Alternatively, small quantities of dough can be frozen and thawed in the refrigerator as needed.

Why do you have to refrigerate oatmeal cookie dough? ›

Popping your dough in the fridge allows the fats to cool. As a result, the cookies will expand more slowly, holding onto their texture. If you skip the chilling step, you're more likely to wind up with flat, sad disks instead of lovely, chewy cookies. Cookies made from chilled dough are also much more flavorful.

How do you fix hard oatmeal cookies? ›

The easiest way to soften cookies with bread is to place the cookies in an airtight container with a slice of bread and leave them for a few hours. The bread will release moisture and help to rehydrate the cookies, making them soft and chewy once again.

How do you soften homemade oatmeal cookies? ›

The best way to soften up those hard cookies is something you probably already have in your kitchen… bread! That's right, a piece of fresh bread will make those tough treats soft and chewy.

How do you make oatmeal cookies soft again? ›

Just wrap a cookie or two in a damp paper towel and then put them in the microwave for about 10 to 15 seconds. The moisture from the paper towel should soften the cookies right up. So if you wonder how to soften hard cookies quickly? Microwave is the way!

Why are my cookies hard instead of chewy? ›

Ever accidentally bake a batch of cookies for too long, only to find that they were crunchy and hard instead of soft and chewy? The opposite goes for under-baking. Pull your cookies out of the oven a minute or two early (while the centers are still gooey).

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