You need a simple recipe for soft, chewy banana oatmeal cookies that uses ripe bananas for natural sweetness. This easy recipe delivers a wholesome snack perfect for breakfast or a quick dessert.
Author:michaelcarter
Prep Time:10 min
Cook Time:15 min
Total Time:25 min
Yield:About 18 cookies 1x
Category:Snack
Method:Baking
Cuisine:American
Diet:Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
3 very ripe medium bananas, mashed
2 cups rolled oats (old-fashioned work best for texture)
1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce or 1/4 cup melted coconut oil
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup mix-ins (optional: chocolate chips, chopped walnuts, or raisins)
Instructions
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
In a large bowl, mash the ripe bananas until mostly smooth. You want some small lumps for texture.
Stir in the applesauce or melted coconut oil and vanilla extract until combined.
Add the rolled oats, cinnamon, baking soda, and salt to the wet ingredients. Mix until everything is just incorporated. Do not overmix.
If using, fold in your chosen mix-ins like chocolate chips or nuts.
Drop rounded tablespoons of the dough onto the prepared baking sheets, leaving about 2 inches between each cookie. Flatten them slightly with the back of a spoon; these cookies do not spread much on their own.
Bake for 12 to 15 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden brown. For the softest texture, pull them out when the centers still look slightly soft.
Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. This helps them set into their final chewy texture.
Notes
For the best results and the chewiest texture, use very ripe bananas—the spottier, the better.
If you prefer a thicker cookie, chill the dough for 15 minutes before scooping.
To make these gluten free banana cookies, ensure you use certified gluten-free rolled oats.
These banana breakfast cookies store well in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days.