Best Banana Oatmeal Cookies (2024)

These banana oatmeal cookies are soft, tender, and naturally sweetened! Packed with wholesome oats, ripe bananas, coconut sugar, and a touch of warming spices, they’re a healthy-yet-satisfying treat. Enjoy them as a morning snack on the go or a nutritious dessert to curb your sweet tooth.

❤️ Why you’ll love this recipe

• Healthier alternative: Made with good-for-you ingredients, banana oatmeal cookies are a nourishing option for a sweet treat.
• Customizable: Add your favorite mix-ins, like chocolate chips, chopped pecans, dried cranberries, or raisins, for a personalized touch.
• Easy to make: With less than 20 minutes of hands-on time in the kitchen, these cookies are quick and simple enough to prepare for beginner bakers!
• Naturally sweetened: Ripe bananas and coconut sugar provide natural sweetness without the need for refined sugars or other additives.
• Great for all occasions: You can eat banana oatmeal chocolate chip cookies as a snack, a dessert, or a quick on-the-go breakfast.

If you love banana oat cookies, you should really check out our vegan oatmeal cookies, vegan oatmeal raisin cookies, vegan peanut butter cookies, and vegan ginger molasses cookies.

🍌 Healthy banana oatmeal cookies

These banana oatmeal cookies taste like an oatmeal cookie and a slice of banana bread had a baby! With the natural sweetness of bananas and the wholesome flavors of rolled oats, they turn out irresistibly chewy, tender, sweet, and soft.

They have recently become one of our go-to choices when we’re in need of a healthier dessert, and we have a feeling this will soon be the case for you too! You’ll love the addition of coconut sugar and cinnamon, both adding warm, caramel-like, and complex notes.

Of course, if you want them sugar-free, you can just as easily leave the coconut sugar. We suggest serving your banana oatmeal chocolate chip cookies warm from the oven with a tall glass of plant milk or a cup of coffee for a snack or dessert you can actually feel good about!

🌱 Are banana oatmeal cookies vegan?

Banana oatmeal cookies are known for their minimal ingredients, so most recipes you’ll find online are vegan-friendly. Bananas serve as an easy egg replacement, and we opted for coconut oil as a satisfying alternative to butter.

You’ll be happy to know the texture turns out perfectly moist, tender, and chewy, all without the need for any animal ingredients!

🛒 Ingredients & substitutions

• Ripe bananas: Provide natural sweetness and moisture, so make sure they are loaded with spots for the best results. You can also substitute them with an equal amount of applesauce or pumpkin puree.
• Coconut sugar: Adds a subtle caramel flavor and more sweetness. If you don’t have coconut sugar, replace it with brown sugar or cane sugar.
• Coconut oil: Creates a richer taste and tender texture. Melted vegan butter will also work if you don’t have coconut oil on hand.
• Vanilla: Enhances the overall flavor, adding sweet, creamy notes. We always suggest pure vanilla extract for baking as it is much more potent than artificial.
• Rolled oats: Give the cookies a satisfyingly chewy texture and adds fiber. We prefer to roughly pulse rolled oats, but you can also use quick oats. If you have gluten allergies, make sure the oats are certified gluten-free.
• Baking powder: Helps the cookies rise, preventing a dense texture. Baking powder can be replaced with a third or quarter of the amount of baking soda and a splash of vinegar or lemon juice.
• Cinnamon: Adds warmth and depth of flavor. Make sure to use Ceylon cinnamon, not cassia. Alternatively, substitute it with nutmeg or allspice.
• Salt: Plays an important role in balancing the sweetness and enhancing the flavor of these banana oatmeal chocolate chip cookies. Don’t skip it!
• Add-ins: Customize your cookies with dark chocolate chips, chopped nuts, and your favorite dried fruits. Or, omit the mix-ins altogether for a simple recipe.

For a complete ingredient list and step-by-step guide, scroll down to our recipe card.

📝 How to make banana oatmeal cookies

Step 1: Mix the wet ingredients

We find it easier to mash our bananas on a plate, but you can use a shallow bowl as well. Once the texture is nice and smooth, grab out a large mixing bowl and combine the mashed bananas, coconut sugar, melted coconut oil, and vanilla extract.

Step 2: Wish the dry ingredients

In another bowl, mix together the pulsed rolled oats, baking powder, ground cinnamon, and salt. Whisk the mixture thoroughly to evenly distribute the baking powder and spices.

Step 3: Combine the mixtures

Now that both dry and wet ingredients are combined, slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients. Be careful not to overmix the dough, or you may end up with tough banana oat cookies!

If you’re using optional add-ins, now’s the time to fold in your choice of chocolate chips, chopped nuts, or dried fruits (like raisins).

Step 4: Shape the cookies

We find it helpful to shape the cookies with a cookie scoop for more consistency and even baking. Drop the dough balls onto parchment paper or silicone mat-lined baking sheets, spacing them about 2 inches apart.

Gently flatten the cookie dough mounds with the back of a spoon or your fingers, as these banana oatmeal cookies won’t spread much while baking.

Step 5: Bake the cookies

Bake the cookies for 12-14 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden and the center is just set. The cookies will still be moist and soft, but they will firm up as they cool.

Let them cool on the baking sheet for about 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. Happy eating!

If you have questions about these banana oatmeal cookies, check out our FAQs or leave a comment down below!

🧋 What to serve with banana oatmeal cookies

We dare you to come up with a better combo than warm banana oat cookies and a cold glass of plant milk. But, for the sake of being open to new things, you might like to try some of these serving suggestions:

• Drinks: Pair your cookies with a hot cup of Hokkaido milk tea, jasmine milk tea, taro milk tea, or a dirty chai latte.
• Creamy additions: Top them with a dollop of ice cream or vegan whipped cream, or create a homemade banana oatmeal cookie ice cream sandwich!
• Jam or compote: Much like banana bread, these banana oatmeal chocolate chip cookies pair well with some fruity jam, strawberry compote, or blueberry compote.
• Fresh fruit: For a fresh twist, serve your healthy banana oatmeal cookies alongside sliced bananas, juicy strawberries, or tangy raspberries.

🌡️ Storage & reheating

For leftover banana oatmeal cookies, follow these storage and reheating instructions:

• Room temperature: We suggest keeping your cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3-4 days.
• Fridge: For anything longer than a few days, store the cookies in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
• Freezer: Transfer the fully cooled cookies to a freezer-safe container or bag with the air removed. If stored this way, they will last up to 3-4 months.
• Reheating: To enjoy warm cookies again, microwave them for 10-15 seconds or heat them in an oven at 325 degrees F for about 3-5 minutes.
• Prep ahead: You can prepare the dough in advance, then cover and refrigerate it for up to 2 days before baking the cookies.

♻️ Variations

• Dried fruit: Add dried cranberries, blueberries, cherries, or raisins for a fruity twist.
• Seeds: Mix in your favorite seeds to the batter for an extra crunch. Good options include sunflower or pumpkin seeds, hemp hearts, flaxseeds, and chia seeds.
• Spices: Experiment with other spices like cardamom, ginger, clove, allspice, or pumpkin pie spice.
• Nut butter: Try using cashew butter, almond butter, or peanut butter in place of coconut oil for an oil-free version. Just note that the texture will vary slightly.
• Vegetables: Fold in shredded zucchini or carrots for added nutrition and moisture.
• Quinoa: Replace some oats with quinoa flakes for a unique texture.
• Citrus: Add orange or lemon zest for a bright element.
• Tropical: Sprinkle in some coconut flakes for added texture and a tropical taste.

🧑‍🍳 Top tips

• Use ripe bananas: For the ideal moisture and sweetness levels, wait for your bananas to be extremely ripe. Lots of brown spots are a must!
• Pulse the oats: Pulse the oats to bind the cookies better, resulting in a more uniform texture.
• Don’t overmix: Avoid overworking the dough to prevent dense or tough cookies.
• Use a cookie scoop: To help your cookies bake evenly and consistently, we suggest using a cookie scoop. For reference, we used a 2-tablespoon scoop.
• Flatten the dough: The dough doesn’t spread much as it bakes, so we suggest gently flattening the cookies with a spoon before adding them to the oven.
• Don’t overbake: The cookies may seem slightly moist as they come out of the oven, but they will continue to set as they cool.
• Cool first: Let the cookies cool for a few minutes on the pan before moving them to a wire rack. This allows them to finish baking and setting.

💬 FAQ

🍴 More dessert recipes

If you loved these healthy banana oatmeal cookies, be sure to check out some more mouthwatering vegan desserts like these:

• Tahini Cookies: The more grown-up cousin of classic peanut butter cookies.
• Vegan Banana Bread: A sweet, moist, and tender recipe made egg and dairy-free.
• 2-Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies: A quick and easy-to-make recipe.
• Peanut Butter Protein Balls: Simple, healthy, and satisfying on-the-go snack.