Banana Oatmeal Cookies
These are the easiest (and most delicious) banana oatmeal cookies you’ll ever make! They come together with just 3 ingredients and bake into an irresistibly chewy texture that’ll make it hard to stop at one cookie. But that’s okay – these cookies are on the healthier side!
The Best 3 Ingredient Banana Oatmeal Cookie Recipe
Whether it’s the holidays or a typical weekday, a batch of easy-to-make banana oatmeal cookies delivers pure joy. So here’s a little nudge to keep these 3 ingredient cookies up your sleeve. They’re delightfully chewy, pretty darn healthy, and have that delicious chocolate banana flavor we all know and love.
Banana oatmeal cookies make waking up in the morning much more enjoyable with a fresh cup of coffee. You’d could even consider them a breakfast cookie, if you omit the chocolate chips. Plus, they’ll give you a fun way to cook with oats aside from your oatmeal or overnight oats routine!
What’s In These Oatmeal Cookies?
The best part is that you’ll likely have these three ingredients on hand. But there’s a few things to keep in mind (per ingredient) to make sure your cookies turn out perfectly. Here’s a few tips:
- Bananas: Since you’ll be mashing these, make sure your bananas are quite ripe! That way, they’ll also be sweet enough where you don’t need to add additional sugars.
- Oats: After a few test runs, I found that using quick cooking oats results in a smoother and chewier texture. You can certainly add old fashioned rolled oats into the mix, but the cookies will have a chunkier, more raw oat-y texture (as they’ll absorb less of the mashed banana).
- Chocolate Chips: I love to use semi-sweet chocolate chips. But if you’re more of a milk or dark chocolate type of person – add in what you like! And if you’re looking to mix in other ingredients besides chocolate chips, keep on reading for more ideas.
Find the printable recipe with measurements below.
How To Make Banana Oatmeal Cookies
Now that we’ve got the ingredients situated, you’ll be glad to hear the baking part is just as easy! But first, preheat your oven heated to 350°F (177°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Make the banana oat mixture. First, mash up the bananas in a large bowl. I normally do this with a fork for a quick and easy mash. But you can also use a potato masher if you have one. Then stir in the oats until everything is well combined.
Add the chocolate chips. This is where you can add your favorite add-ins, whether that’s chocolate chips or something else. Just give it all a stir until the cookie dough is perfectly combined.
Make the cookie shape. Each cookie is about 1 ½ tablespoons of dough (which should make 15 cookies). After all the dough is portioned out on the baking sheet use your fingers to flatten them into a round cookie shape as they won’t flatten as they bake.
It’s baking time. This will take a short 13 to 15 minutes! Once you remove them from the oven, let them cool on the baking sheet for a couple of minutes before you enjoy.
A Few Tips…
- Make sure to use quick cooking oats. Technically, you can use half rolled oats and half quick cooking oats. But as I mentioned above, quick cooking oats creates a much smoother and enjoyable texture – especially for cookies.
- Feel free to switch up the mix-ins! Treat these cookies like an energy ball and give them a nutritional boost with healthy mix-ins. You could add dried fruit (raisins and cranberries are great), chopped nuts such as almonds or pistachios, all sorts of seeds (pumpkin, chia, flax, etc.), and even spices such as cinnamon or a tiny splash of vanilla extract.
- Use a cookie scoop for same-sized cookies. This is my all-time favorite cookie scoop whenever I make cookies.
Ways To Store
Although these cookies can easily be devoured, it’s always a good idea to save some for the following day. So here’s a few ways you can store them either for a week or to enjoy months later!
- To store: These cookies will keep at room temperature for up to 4 days in an airtight container or sealable bag (I love to use Stasher bags for this). The cookies do have quite a bit of natural moisture, so I also add a folded paper towel in the bottom of the container or one side of the bag.
- To freeze: Make a second batch and freeze them! Trust me, they’ll come in handy when you’re craving something sweet, but don’t have the time to bake. Just store them in a freezer safe container or bag and add parchment paper in between each layer to prevent the cookies from sticking to each other. Thaw them in the fridge overnight before you’d like to enjoy.
Side note: don’t be alarmed when these cookies turn darker brown. They will naturally become darker due to the banana browning over time. But they’re still safe to consume!
Banana Oatmeal Cookies Recipe Video
Watch how easy these oatmeal cookies come together in the video below!
More Easy Cookie Recipes
You can never have enough cookie ideas right? I think you’ll also love a few of these cookie recipes, so give them a try!
- No Bake Cookies
- Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Mint Double Chocolate Cookies
- Flourless Almond Butter Cookies
- Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies
What’s there not to love about these banana oatmeal cookies? They’re easy and delicious! If you make them, let me know how they turned out! I’d love to hear what you think in the comments below.
Banana Oatmeal Cookies
Ingredients
- 2 large ripe bananas, about 1 cup mashed
- 1 ½ cups quick cooking oats
- ½ cup chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (177°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. In a large bowl, mash the bananas with a fork until they're smooth and pureed.
- Add the oats and stir until the mixture is well combined.
- Add the chocolate chips or your favorite mix-ins, then stir again.
- Drop 1 ½ tablespoon portions of dough onto the baking sheet (I love to use this cookie scoop), then use your fingers to flatten them into a round cookie shape.
- Bake the banana oatmeal cookies for 13 to 15 minutes. Remove from the oven, let cool for a few minutes, then enjoy.
Lisa’s Tips
- If you need new baking sheets, I swear by these heavy duty baking sheets!
Love these cookies!! Could you substitute pumpkin for the banana?
I haven’t tried, but it could maybe work! If you give it a go, let me know how it turns out.
Love this recipe for a quick, easy, delicious sweet treat! Tip – if you only have rolled oats instead of quick-cooking, just pop them in a food processor and pulse a few times. Then they mix together better and bake well!
Oops!! Forgot to leave a rating with my post. I would give this recipe more than 5 stars if I could. It’s delicious and so flexible. I love being able to whip these up in a jiffy.
These look fabulous! Can I make them with regular oats rather than quick cooking oats? Would I need to do anything to prepare the oats beforehand?
I find that the texture is much smoother with quick cooking oats. If you’re using rolled oats, pulse them in a food processor if possible!
Simple and delicious! Loved them
Just made these. Wow are they good! So simple to make. I added a handful of chopped walnuts. Will make this again and again!
Glad you enjoyed these banana oatmeal cookies Kathy!
Yes!! Exactly what i was looking for!!
Made it with two tablespoons of maple syrop, omg :D
Will be making these for the coming sixty years ;)
greetings from holland :)!
Glad you loved these oatmeal cookies Zien!
Hi Lisa!
Thanks so much for the recipe I just made it and turn out really well, loved that is not sweet but still satisfice my sweet tooth, healthy, easy and quick to make, I just had a little inconvenient that is super embarrassing, the paper stayed stick in the cookies, I don’t know if it was the brand of it or if I needed to add some kind of grease, anyways the little paper on the back of the cookies did not stop anybody in the house to finish with them tonight :) super happy everybody loved them.
Thanks so much for sharing and I will keep practicing :)
Loved the recipe! Super easy, basically a pantry recipe which is great. Any recos on how best to store the leftovers? Can they be left out or do they need to be refrigerated?
Hi there! Heads up, I will always provide storage instructions in the post :) But, you can store them in the fridge or freezer (find details for each in the post) :).
I really appreciate this recipe because it tastes great even though there is no flour or fat or sugar. Next time I’ll make it with cinnamon and will reduce the chocolate chips to see if it is still as good. I think it will be.
Just made some tonight. But added vanilla extract, cinnamon, and protein powder. Due to intermittent fasting, I gonna taste them tomorrow morning—can’t wait!!
I was surprised how good these were for only being 3 ingredients! My chocolate chips are rather large so I had a little too many when I mixed it in with the banana oat mixture, next time I think I’ll just press the chips on top :) thanks for a easy delicious recipe
I need to sub gluten-free oats, will that work?
Thanks,
Jeanette
Yes! Everything on my site is actually gluten-free since I have celiac. So, I’m always making sure to buy certified gluten-free oats.
Easy to make and delicious cookies. (Watch the video for extra tips.)
My husband likes a moister cookie, so I made his batch according to the recipe.
I like a crisper cookie. After baking the correct amount of time,
I remove the cookies from the oven, turn them over, and bake 15 more minutes.
Yum, really good with coffee, tea or hot water before bed.
No more bananas going to freezer purgatory. Banana is starting to look less than desirable, I make a half batch. I have started getting creative with the add ins and I am currently adding a combination of semi sweet chocolate chips and dried cranberries. This recipe has become a definite go-to. Thank you so much for sharing
I made this cookie very delicious and healthy.kids love it for school snack
So happy you loved it Bella!
I’m thrilled to find a healthier treat my husband enjoys. He can’t wait until the end of the week to offer up the too ripe bananas for this recipe. Our favorite version is using mini chocolate chips and your tip for half quick and half rolled oats.
Happy to hear you found a healthy treat your husband enjoys Lynn :)
Love this recipe. Easy to make with the added benefit of being a healthy treat.
I’ve been wanting to make this recipe since it came out and finally got around to it. So easy and so delicious! Doesn’t give you that feeling of eating too many sweets. Best of all it’s so quick. This is a great treat to make with kids.
Happy to hear you and the kiddos are loving these cookies Angie!
SO quick! SO good!
Easy & Delish!! Thank you. I made these more then once, great alternative to regular cookies. I did do what others had suggested in the reviews, vanilla & walnuts. Next time I think Iwill try adding protein powder, little egg white, and peanut butter chips.
I’ve been making these cookies for a few months now (found them on another blog) but love that I’m seeing them here. I’m buying extra bananas every week now just so I end up with one or two very ripe ones for baking. If my baking is delayed, I peel the bananas, pop them into a container and freeze them until I’m ready to bake. Defrosting actually brings out the moisture which is great since I use old fashioned oats. I also use mini chocolate chips instead of regular. Love these – just sweet enough and, you’re right, they’re great with coffee!
Such an easy recipe and my kids loved it!
How long do these keep for please
many thanks
You can always find the storage instructions written in the post :) But, these will keep for up to 4 days at room temperature or fridge. Alternatively, you can freeze them for up to 2 to 3 months.
I can’t believe three ingredients could make something so delicious. Make sure you shape them to your liking before baking because they don’t rise or spread.
Glad your banana oatmeal cookies were a success Karen!
it is a easy way to cook a deferent recipe woo nice one
I freaking LOVE these! So easy, cheap, and DELICIOUS! Definitely going to start making very frequently.
Just what I needed. I just had meniscus surgery to remove multiple tears a few days ago. Although I am weight barring I am on crutches and can’t make it down the stairs to our pantry. I gathered what I deemed essential before hand to have a few meals planned but just wanted something sweet afterwards. This was savior. I did tweak the recipe to what I had within reach. I had old fashioned oats and a open bag of chocolate and peanut butter chips. It still didn’t disappoint. They set up in the oven and worked just fine. The best part was I gathered everything I needed in a reusable bag and took it to the kitchen table. I had everything mixed up and in the oven in minutes. These cookies do have moisture. Be sure to store them with a paper towel.
These came out great (there will be no leftovers), but I am wondering if there is an equally great cookie/snack I can make that is actually crispy like a cookie?
You can give my chocolate chip cookies or almond butter cookies a try for a crispier cookie :)
I absolutely love this recipe! If I added a chocolate/vanilla powder protein, how would that change that outcome of the cookie?
Happy you love the cookies, Kyle! Yes, you could add a scoop or so of protein powder without affecting the cookies too much.
Yummy…I added slivered almonds and cranberry and they’re crunchy and chewy!
Love the additions of almonds and cranberries! Glad you loved them :)
This is such a great recipe to riff off of! I did one batch by the recipe, and the next with an egg, nut butter, and cinnamon and they were both great. Cookies are such a nice alternative to MORE banana bread when you’ve got old bananas!
Glad you enjoyed these cookies with a few variations as well!
These are the easiest and so delicious. I added a couple tablespoons of peanut butter along with the mini chocolate chips. Yum.
Thanks for this receipes banana oat meal cookie very easy and great ideas to make them different thanks.
Glad you enjoyed these banana oatmeal cookies Claire!
Love them – they turned out perfectly well, I added vanilla flavour to give them a seasonal taste
Glad you enjoyed these banana oatmeal cookies Barbara!
Great recipe. Thank you
Glad you enjoyed these cookies!
Great cookies and love the video and all the helpful tips to make it great! Thank you!
I add SALT, vanilla extract and use raisins with cinnamon for an actual meal “cookie”. With choc chips it becomes a healthier cookie.
I add sesame seeds or shredded coconut often too.
Sometimes you have to add something more if the bananas are very liquidy.
We make these up all the time!
Loving all the additions you made to this cookie!
Hi Lisa, can these be frozen!
Yes! You can always find storage instructions written in the post :)
How easy are those banana oatmeal cookies! And so satisfying. This is a keeper ❣
Glad you enjoyed these cookies Hanne!
Delicious, although I did add a little cinnamon, salt, vanilla, maple syrup and almond butter! They were a hit with the whole family! Thank you for continuing to inspire us with healthy recipes.
These are a great blank slate to add so many other things! Love the cinnamon and vanilla :)
maybe i will use your recipe someday!!!
;)
Can you make quick cooking oats by chopping them in a food processor?
You can pulse it a few times in a food processor.
Hi Lisa, these look fantastic, I can’t wait to make them. I’m wondering how long they will last if refrigerated and would you recommend freezing? Thanks for everything you do, love your recipes.
You can always find storage instructions written in the post :) But, these can be stored at room temperature in a sealed bag for up to 4 days, and also in the freezer.