Learn to make the very best wholesome banana oatmeal cookies from scratch! They’re completely chewy and moist with comfortable oats and naturally candy fruit taste filling each chunk. This simple recipe is fast to whip up utilizing healthful elements — and also you most likely have the whole lot it’s worthwhile to make them in your kitchen already!
I utterly screwed up whereas packing for my final street journey.
The day earlier than I left, I loaded items for my dad and mom into the trunk of my automobile and positioned my canine’s spare mattress within the backseat. I threw garments right into a suitcase, tossed two cozy scarves on prime, and even remembered to convey my each day dietary supplements and nutritional vitamins.
Earlier than heading to mattress, I checked the meticulous “To Do” listing saved on my telephone, which included the whole lot left to seize, flip off, lock up, and shut down within the morning. I mentally reviewed each and the order by which I deliberate to do them as I shut my eyes and drifted off to sleep.
But partway via the thick Los Angeles visitors the next morning, vehicles inching alongside on both facet of me whereas I slumped over and glanced on the clock for the hundredth time, I stiffened, sat straight up, and practically whacked my brow with my palm as a thought entered my thoughts.
I forgot to convey the bananas.
The lengthy, lovely, brilliant yellow, completely good bananas sitting on my counter. Proper subsequent to the pistachios and darkish chocolate bars — issues I really did bear in mind to pack — that I deliberate to snack on throughout my drive.
I sighed, leaned again, and checked the clock once more, all whereas praying that (a) I’d make it via LA someday this century and (b) the bananas wouldn’t flip gross and moldy or entice tens of millions of ants by the point I returned.
By some miracle…
The universe granted each of my needs. It solely took an additional hour to slog via the Southern California visitors, and people bananas merely seemed brown and spotty after we have been reunited per week later. No fuzzy inexperienced stuff or ants in sight.
I grinned at my good luck, reached for my mixing bowls, and shortly pulled a batch of those wholesome banana oatmeal cookies from the oven. Maybe I used to be influenced by the reduction coursing via my veins, however… I assumed they have been a a lot higher use of these bananas than consuming them plain as a street journey snack!
QUICK OVERVIEW – HEALTHY BANANA OATMEAL COOKIES
Problem: Primarily simple, together with for a lot of newbie bakers.
Style: Cozy and candy with a brilliant fruity banana taste and notes of heat cinnamon within the background.
Texture: Smooth and chewy with tender oats in each chunk.
INGREDIENTS TO MAKE HEALTHY BANANA OATMEAL COOKIES
Let’s speak in regards to the elements you’ll have to make these wholesome banana oatmeal cookies! I’m hoping it’s secure to imagine you may have staples like baking powder, vanilla, and salt… So we’ll primarily cowl the extra attention-grabbing and necessary ones.
Oats. It’s just about unattainable to make oatmeal cookies with out them! For this recipe, you’ll want instant oats. They’re additionally referred to as “fast cooking” or “one-minute” oats. They’re not those offered in particular person brown paper packets with flavors like apple cinnamon or maple brown sugar!
Prompt oats solely comprise one ingredient: oats! They’re smaller and thinner than conventional old style rolled oats. That dimension distinction means they soften quicker, particularly in baking recipes, and that provides your banana oatmeal cookies the greatest comfortable and chewy texture.
Trace: You could find instantaneous oats proper subsequent to the old style rolled oats on the grocery retailer!
Tip: Gluten free instant oats work equally properly, in case you’d prefer to make your wholesome banana oatmeal cookies gluten free.
Flour. To make these oatmeal cookies more healthy, I used entire wheat flour. I actually like the way it provides further fiber and micronutrients to baked items. On this recipe, the mixture of cinnamon and sweetness of the mashed banana mainly masks the entire wheat flour taste some individuals often detect, so these oatmeal cookies style regular — not “wholesome” in any respect!
Tip: In the event you’d prefer to make your banana oatmeal cookies gluten free, I’ve included my prime suggestions within the Notes part of the recipe, plus a couple of extra on my Oatmeal Cookie FAQ Page!
Butter or coconut oil. Since you aren’t utilizing any eggs to make these cookies (extra on that momentarily!), the butter or coconut oil provides them their good chewy texture. Each work equally properly, and stick-style vegan butter does too — in case you’d prefer to make these wholesome oatmeal cookies vegan, dairy free, and nut free!
Tip: I used to be extremely shocked by how properly this vegan butter labored on this recipe! It didn’t splatter or pop in any respect once I melted it within the microwave (like another manufacturers do), and no person might inform the distinction between the batch made with it versus those made with common unsalted butter. (It makes nice blueberry scones too!)
I do know some individuals may be tempted to exchange the butter or coconut oil with extra mashed banana to make their cookies fats free — however I actually hope you don’t! With none butter or coconut oil, these cookies have a really bread-like, gummy, and even robust texture. You’re solely utilizing 2 tablespoons (lower than ½ teaspoon per cookie!), and that small quantity makes a large distinction within the cookies’ texture.
Bananas. It’d be unattainable to make banana oatmeal cookies with out the fruit! For the very best outcomes, use the ripest, darkest, spottiest bananas that you’ve got. Those which can be pure brown are very best! These further ripe (and even borderline overripe!) bananas have a sweeter style and stronger taste. Additionally they add much more moisture to the cookie dough, which provides your oatmeal cookies a good softer and chewier texture.
Over time, I’ve examined this recipe with completely different quantities of mashed banana. Though ¼ cup is my typical commonplace, particularly when including different mix-ins (like peanut butter, strawberries, or chocolate chips!) to stop the banana from overwhelming these different flavors… I discovered I needed a little bit of a sweeter and stronger banana taste when leaving the cookies plain. So for this extra primary model, you’ll use 6 tablespoons of mashed banana as a substitute.
Pure maple syrup. As a substitute of refined granulated sugar, you’ll sweeten these wholesome banana oatmeal cookies with pure maple syrup. It’s the sort that comes straight from maple timber, and it’s typically offered in skinny glass bottles or squat plastic jugs (like this!). There ought to solely be one ingredient on the label: maple syrup!
Tip: I don’t suggest utilizing pancake syrup or sugar free maple syrup. These will negatively affect the feel of your cookies — particularly the latter. As a result of it’s typically water-based, it tends to make these oatmeal cookies actually bready and dry.
HOW TO MAKE THE BEST BANANA OATMEAL COOKIES
Now let’s cowl methods to make these wholesome banana oatmeal cookies! Like I discussed earlier, this recipe is straightforward and easy — however I nonetheless have some suggestions so that you can be certain that your cookies prove completely.
Measure the elements appropriately. That is actually necessary! Mismeasuring can drastically change the style and texture of your oatmeal cookies.
For the flour and oats, use this method (and my fork trick!) or a kitchen scale. ← That’s the one I personal, and I really like the way it makes my baked items prove with the proper style and texture each time.
The oats act like little sponges and take in numerous moisture from the cookie dough. In the event you add an excessive amount of of the oats or flour or scoop them straight from their containers, your cookies will prove cakey, bready, or dry — not comfortable and chewy. It takes a couple of further moments, however I promise it’s well worth the time to measure appropriately!
For the mashed banana, all the time measure it by cups, tablespoons, or grams — by no means by banana dimension! Not all “small,” “medium,” or “massive” bananas are the very same dimension… And including an excessive amount of or not sufficient mashed banana can throw off the whole texture of your baked treats. (Belief me; I do know from private expertise! 😉 )
Room temperature elements. That is particularly necessary due to the butter or coconut oil. To make this recipe as simple as doable, you’ll use melted butter or coconut oil as a substitute of softened. (I hardly ever bear in mind to set out butter far sufficient upfront for it to melt correctly!) Nevertheless…
If any of your elements are chilly and not at room temperature, they’ll instantly re-solidify the butter or coconut oil. Pure maple syrup tends to be the principle offender right here! Most maple syrup manufacturers suggest storing it within the fridge when you’ve opened the bottle, so bear in mind to set it out upfront — or simply pop it within the microwave for a bit to rapidly convey it as much as room temperature!
Let the cookie dough relaxation. While you first combine the whole lot collectively, the cookie dough shall be actually shaggy and moist. Chances are you’ll even assume I’m loopy… It nearly resembles thick muffin batter greater than cookie dough!
Nevertheless, letting it sit on the counter for a bit permits the oats to work their magic and begin absorbing moisture. This stiffens the cookie dough and makes it simpler to work with.
Flatten and form. After resting, the cookie dough will nonetheless be too sticky to form along with your arms, so use a spoon and spatula to switch it to your baking sheet. (I exploit these mini spatulas — aren’t they cute?)
You’ll additionally have to flatten the cookie dough previous to baking. Due to the banana, these oatmeal cookies don’t unfold whereas baking, in order that they’ll look nearly precisely the identical earlier than and after their journey to the oven… Simply now not uncooked!
Tip: In the event you’d like your cookies to be good spherical circles, use a spatula to clean out their edges after flattening the mounds of cookie dough. That is precisely what I do to make my cookies — I don’t use any particular tools! Simply these cute mini spatulas… And a few endurance. 😉
Bake — however not too lengthy! Your banana oatmeal cookies are executed baking when the facilities nonetheless really feel a bit comfortable and underdone. The warmth from the nice and cozy baking sheet will cook dinner these facilities during (with out drying out the sides!) whilst you allow them to relaxation earlier than transferring them to a wire rack.
Professional Tip: In case your cookies are a bit lopsided and never fairly as spherical as you’d like after baking, instantly use a butter knife to clean out any lumps or bumps round their edges. You must do that the second you take away them from the oven, whereas the cookies are nonetheless piping sizzling and earlier than they’ve totally set. In addition to the mini spatula and endurance, that is my different trick for making lovely, completely spherical cookies!
FAQS ABOUT BANANA OATMEAL COOKIES
Are these wholesome banana oatmeal cookies low calorie, gluten free, dairy free, eggless, or vegan?
Sure — to the whole lot! As written, this oatmeal cookie recipe is of course clear consuming, low fats, dairy free, egg free, vegan, and made with no refined sugar. In the event you use butter, whether or not unsalted or the stick-style vegan form, then your oatmeal cookies will even be nut free.
I’ve included my prime gluten free suggestions within the Notes part of the recipe, plus a couple of extra on my Oatmeal Cookie FAQ Page. (There’s a hyperlink to this FAQ Web page within the Notes part of the recipe too!)
Can I exploit old style rolled oats?
Sure — however pulse them in a food processor or blender first! You need them to be about ¼ to ⅛ of their unique dimension. This makes them nearer in dimension and thickness to instantaneous oats, so your cookies will nonetheless be simply as comfortable and chewy.
Can I substitute extra banana for the butter or oil? Or applesauce?
Please don’t! It’ll change the feel of your oatmeal cookies… And never in a great way. See the “Banana” header within the Substances part above for extra data!
Can I exploit a special sweetener?
You certain can! I’ve shared a couple of choices within the Notes part, and also you’ll discover extra on my Oatmeal Cookie FAQ Page.
Can I exploit sugar free maple syrup?
I don’t suggest it. Sugar free maple syrup is usually water-based, which regularly makes your oatmeal cookies prove bready or dry.
My cookies turned out cakey and dry. Why’s that?
There are a couple of completely different culprits! An excessive amount of flour, too many oats, not sufficient mashed banana, or not sufficient maple syrup will all yield cookies which can be cakey, bready, or dry. Overbaking the cookies will even yield a drier texture. See the “Measure the elements appropriately” and “Bake — however not too lengthy!” sections above for extra data!
How ought to I retailer these wholesome banana oatmeal cookies? And the way lengthy will they maintain?
Retailer them in an hermetic container. If left at room temperature, they’ll final for a few days. If refrigerated, they’ll final for a minimum of 4 or 5 — if not nearer to per week or extra.
Can I freeze these banana oatmeal cookies?
Completely! As soon as totally baked and cooled, these oatmeal cookies freeze very well. I prefer to reheat particular person frozen cookies within the microwave on 30% energy till warmed during. When thawed like this, they nearly style freshly baked!
Who wants banana bread when you possibly can have banana cookies — in lower than half the time?? 😉 And if you make your individual, bear in mind to snap an image and share it on Instagram utilizing #amyshealthybaking and tagging @amyshealthybaking IN the photograph itself! (That ensures I’ll see your image! 🙂 ) I’d like to see your wholesome banana oatmeal cookies!
Wholesome Banana Oatmeal Cookies
These oatmeal cookies are an enormous favourite round right here! They’re completely chewy and moist with comfortable oats and naturally candy fruit taste filling each chunk. This simple recipe is fast to whip up utilizing healthful elements — and also you most likely have the whole lot it’s worthwhile to make them in your kitchen already! Retailer any leftover cookies in an hermetic container. They’ll maintain for a minimum of a few days if saved at room temperature or nearer to per week (if not longer!) if saved within the fridge.
Substances
- 1 cup (100g) instant oats (gluten free if obligatory and measured like this)
- ¾ cup (90g) entire wheat flour or gluten free* flour (measured like this)
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- ¼ tsp salt
- 2 tbsp (28g) coconut oil or stick-style vegan butter, melted and cooled barely (see Notes!)
- 6 tbsp (95g) mashed banana (see Notes!)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ½ cup (120mL) pure maple syrup
Instructions
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In a medium bowl, whisk together the oats, flour, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt. In a separate bowl, stir together the coconut oil or butter, mashed banana, and vanilla until thoroughly combined. Stir in the maple syrup. Add in the oat mixture, and stir until just incorporated. Let the cookie dough rest at room temperature for 15 minutes.
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Utilizing a spoon and spatula, drop the cookie dough into 15 rounded scoops onto the ready sheet. Flatten to ⅜”-thick utilizing a spatula. Bake at 325°F for 9-12 minutes. Cool on the pan for 10 minutes earlier than turning out onto a wire rack.
Notes
IMPORTANT BANANA NOTES – READ BEFORE BEGINNING: For the very best outcomes, use very ripe bananas. Ones which can be pure brown are very best! (On the very least, they need to be extra brown than yellow.) Brown bananas have a sweeter taste and stronger banana style than pure yellow ones, and so they additionally yield a extra softer and chewy cookie texture.
Measure the banana by grams or tablespoons — not by “1 tiny banana.” Not all tiny bananas are the very same dimension, which regularly impacts each the style and texture of your cookies.
IMPORTANT BAKING NOTES – READ BEFORE BEGINNING: These cookies don’t unfold. They’ll look precisely the identical earlier than and after baking (simply now not uncooked!), so it’s necessary to flatten the cookie dough earlier than baking.
Do not over-bake these cookies! They’re prepared to return out of the oven when the facilities nonetheless really feel barely comfortable and underdone. The warmth from the nice and cozy baking sheet will proceed to cook dinner the facilities during whilst you let the cookies relaxation for 10 minutes after pulling the pan from the oven.
OATS NOTES + ALTERNATIVE: Instant oats are often known as “fast cooking” or “one-minute” oats. They arrive in massive canisters, similar to old style oats. They’re not those within the small flavored packets of oatmeal.
To make your individual, add the identical quantity of old style rolled oats to a meals processor, and pulse 10-12 instances or till the oats are about ¼ to ⅛ of their unique dimension.
FLOUR ALTERNATIVES: White whole wheat flour, whole wheat pastry flour, or all-purpose flour could also be substituted for the entire wheat flour. Oat flour (gluten free if wanted) may additionally be substituted, however be very cautious when measuring it as a result of it tends to be extra absorbent than wheat-based flours!
COCONUT OIL + VEGAN BUTTER NOTES + ALTERNATIVES: For stick-style vegan butter, I actually like this one and this one. (← I used to be shocked by how properly that one melted within the microwave. It didn’t splatter or pop in any respect like another manufacturers do!)
Common unsalted butter could also be substituted for the coconut oil or stick-style vegan butter.
Don’t substitute further mashed banana (or applesauce) for the coconut oil or butter. That may give your cookies a extra cakey, bready, or dry texture.
SWEETENER ALTERNATIVES: Honey or agave could also be substituted for the pure maple syrup. No matter which you employ, be certain that it’s at room temperature. If chilled, it is going to re-solidify the melted butter or coconut oil.
I typically do not suggest substituting sugar free maple syrup. It is usually water-based, which makes your oatmeal cookies prove extra cakey or bready.
GLUTEN FREE VERSION: Use licensed gluten free instantaneous oats (like these) and licensed gluten free oat flour (like this). Alternatively, for a non-oat-flour model, use the next: ½ cup (60g) millet flour, 2 tablespoons (15g) tapioca flour, 2 tablespoons (15g) brown rice flour, and ½ teaspoon xanthan gum. Most store-bought gluten free flour blends (I like this one from Bob’s Purple Mill) will even work, if measured like this.
NUT FREE VERSION: Use stick-style vegan butter (I like this one and this one) or unsalted butter instead of the coconut oil.
DAIRY FREE, EGG FREE + VEGAN VERSION: No modifications obligatory!
HOW TO STORE: Retailer leftover cookies in an hermetic container. If left at room temperature, they’ll maintain for a few days. If refrigerated, they’ll final nearer to per week (if not longer!). As soon as baked and totally cooled, these oatmeal cookies additionally freeze very well!
For solutions to all different questions relating to substitutions and suggestions, see my Oatmeal Cookie FAQ page.
{gluten free, egg free, dairy free, vegan, clear consuming, low fats, nut free}
View Nutrition Information + Weight Watchers Points
You might also like Amy’s different recipes…
♡ Healthy Chocolate Chip Banana Oatmeal Cookies
♡ Healthy Strawberry Banana Oatmeal Cookies
♡ Healthy Blueberry Banana Oatmeal Cookies
♡ Healthy Banana Monster Cookies
♡ Healthy Banana Cupcakes
♡ Healthy Banana Cake
♡ Healthy Banana Brownies
♡ …and the remainder of Amy’s healthy oatmeal cookie recipes and healthy banana recipes!
