Banana Oatmeal Cookies
Posted Mar 19, 2021, Updated Jan 19, 2025
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These banana oatmeal cookies are easy to make with a few simple ingredients in 20 minutes. Banana oat cookies are a delicious breakfast, snack or healthy dessert – add chocolate chip or your favorite mix-ins to make them extra-special!
These banana oatmeal cookies are healthy enough to eat for breakfast! Made with a handful of nutritious ingredients in a mere 20 minutes – enjoy these banana oat cookies as a delicious breakfast, snack or healthy dessert (also, try these breakfast cookies and homemade granola bars)! Add chocolate chip or your favorite mix-ins to make them extra-special!
My kids love it when I make these banana oatmeal chocolate chip cookies – because they think they’re eating dessert when really they’re enjoying a healthy and nutritious treat! I like making a batch and tossing them in the freezer to always have on hand for busy mornings or as a quick snack. They’re gluten-free, dairy-free and easy to make vegan too.
Banana Oatmeal Cookies: Ingredients & Substituions
Let’s chat about the ingredients in these banana oatmeal chocolate chip cookies, as well as possible substitutions!
- Overripe bananas. Make sure your bananas are ripe and sweet. If using bananas that have been previously frozen, thaw them in the microwave or at room temperature before using in this recipe.
- Honey/Maple Syrup. Both liquid sweeteners work well in these banana oatmeal cookies. Agave or brown rice syrup can also be used.
- Egg. you can use a flax egg or egg replacer to make these vegan/egg-free.
- Quick-cooking oats. Rolled/old fashioned oats can be used, however the texture will be different.
- Cinnamon. Don’t leave it out! The cinnamon makes these the absolute best banana oatmeal cookies ever.
- Sea salt. If using iodized salt, reduce the amount by half.
- Chocolate chips. Regular-sized or mini chips work great in this recipe. We’ll chat later about a variety of possible mix-ins other than chocolate chips.
How to Make Banana Oatmeal Cookies
Follow the step-by-step photos to learn how to make these healthy banana oat cookies, and don’t forget to watch the video!
To begin, mash the bananas together in a large mixing bowl. Then, add honey, egg and vanilla and stir to combine.
Next, add oats, cinnamon and sea salt and stir until combined.
Add Mix-ins
Once the batter is homogenous (uniform throughout), gently stir in mix-ins, if desired. I prefer to make these banana oatmeal chocolate chip cookies and add some semi-sweet chocolate chips (regular or mini). However, there are some other add-in ideas:
- Cinnamon Chips (yum)!
- White chocolate chips
- Coconut
- Dried fruit (raisins, cherries, cranberries, blueberries, etc).
- Peanut butter chips
- Chopped nuts
Bake & Cool
Use a 1 tablespoon measuring spoon or a 1 ½ tablespoon cookie scoop to measure portions of the banana oatmeal cookie dough, and place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper spaced about 2” apart.
Bake the banana oat cookies in a preheated oven for 12-15 minutes, or until the tops are just set and the bottoms are very lightly browned. Then, let them cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire cooling rack to cool completely.
Serve
Serve these healthy banana oatmeal cookies slightly warm or at room temperature.
Store/Freeze
Once completely cooled, store these banana and oat cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for 2 days, in the refrigerator for up to 1 week, or in the freezer for up to 2 months.
Banana Oatmeal Cookies FAQs
This recipe lasts for up to 1 week in the refrigerator, and 2 months in the freezer.
Yes, you can use an egg replacer, chia egg or flax egg (1 TBS chia/flax mixed with 2.5 TBS warm water).
Yes! This recipe is made with fruit, oats, and naturally sweetened. They’re a great, healthy, low-calorie snack or treat.
If you make and love my recipes, it would mean so much to me if you would leave a comment and rating! And don’t forget to follow along on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, TikTok and Youtube – be sure to tag @joyfoodsunshine and use the hashtag #joyfoodsunshine so I can see your creations!
Banana Oatmeal Cookies
Equipment
Ingredients
- 3 bananas overripe (about 1 ¼ cups mashed banana)
- 2 Tablespoons honey (or maple syrup)
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 ½ cup quick cooking oats
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- ¼ tsp fine sea salt
- ½ cup chocolate chips or other add ins like shredded coconut, dried cranberries, raisins, etc.
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper, set aside
- In a large mixing bowl, mash the bananas.
- Add honey, egg and vanilla and stir to combine.
- Add oats, cinnamon and sea salt and stir until combined.
- If desired, add mix-ins and stir until evenly distributed.
- Use a 1 tablespoon measuring spoon or a 1 ½ TBS cookie scoop to measure portions of the dough, and place them on the prepared baking sheet spaced about 2” apart.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 12-15 minutes, or until the tops are just set and the bottoms are very lightly browned.
- Let cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire cooling rack to cool completely.
- Serve slightly warm or at room temperature.
Video
Notes
- Overripe bananas. Make sure your bananas are ripe and sweet. If using bananas that have been previously frozen, thaw them in the microwave or at room temperature before using in this recipe.
- Honey/Maple Syrup. Both liquid sweeteners work well. Agave or brown rice syrup can also be used.
- Egg. you can use a flax egg or egg replacer to make these vegan/egg-free.
- Quick-cooking oats. Rolled/old fashioned oats can be used, however the texture will be different.
- Cinnamon. Don’t leave it out! The cinnamon makes these the absolute best banana oatmeal cookies ever.
- Sea salt. If using iodized salt, reduce the amount by half.
- Chocolate chips. Regular-sized or mini chips work great in this recipe. Other possibilities include: cinnamon chips, white chocolate chips, coconut, dried fruit (raisins, cherries, cranberries, blueberries, etc), peanut butter chips, chopped nuts, etc.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Made these yesterday as I was looking for a healthier cookie option. I used honey and when I pulled out my oats I realized they weren’t quick oats, but whole oats. I used them anyway and had to add 1/2 cup of flour to thicken the cookie dough and make it scoopable. I also didn’t have chocolate chips on hand but had raisins so added them instead. Great recipe, one I feel good about feeding to my grandson and one I will make again (and next time will try with the quick oats to see how the recipe as written works).
Next time, if you only have whole oats, just pulse them in the blender until they reach the texture of quick cooking oats! Easy hack!
I make these so often I just measure with my heart now, so clean up is even easier. Super easy to snack on while holding an infant, and filling enough to put a dent in a cavernous breastfeeding-associated appetite.
Modifications: Large flake rolled oats instead of quick oats because that’s what we keep on hand, and 1/4-1/2 cup flour for a little structural integrity assistance.
Mix ins of choice are chocolate chips, almond slivers, shredded coconut.
I’m so happy you love them Emily! I totally understand about measuring with your heart! 😉
Thank you!! These are great and super easy. Will definitely be making them regularly. I added shredded coconut to half the batch and that came out really well too.
Thank you Alyssa! Love the addition of shredded coconut, yum!
Just made these, had 4th banana, so I added more oats, honey & some peanut butter. My mix in was chocolate chips. Delicious!
This is my second batch. Awesome recipe, thank you! I swopped the egg for 3Tbls of peanut butter. Used rolled oats slightly blitzed. Added 1 cup of cranberries, chocolate chips and slivered almonds. They were delicious!
Love the idea of using peanut butter!
I just made a batch of these delicious healthy cookies. My husband loved them as did I. Will definitely be making these again. Thank you for sharing
Thank you Tamara!
I accidentally used orange extract instead of vanilla. Oops. I also added coconut and walnut. The whole combination was really good!
That sounds delicious, David!
I’m a 71 year old male, just learing to cook, and I had all ingredients on hand so I gave it a try, very easy, I added dark chocolate chips. I will be making these again and again. Thank you. Is it still healthy if you eat a dozen at a time? 😆🤣
Thank you so much for taking the time to let me know you love this recipe, Louis! I think yes – especially with dark chocolate! 😉
sooo delicious. i even added some protein powder and therefore cut down the baking time a little bit. they came out perfect!!
Love the addition of protein powder, Jadyn!
Just made them. Delicious. Next time I’m going to add dried cranberries.
A great mix in idea, Mary!
What a delicious healthy cookie recipe! I always have these ingredients on hand and they came together very easily! Even my husband who has a real sweet tooth loves them!
Thank you Jen!