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    April 6, 2021

    4-Ingredient Banana Oatmeal Cookies

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    These 4-ingredient banana oatmeal cookies are a healthy snack to satisfy any sweet tooth. They're made with simple ingredients (bananas, oatmeal, peanut butter, and chocolate chips) and are low in added sugar compared to traditional cookies!

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    4-ingredient banana oatmeal cookies with chocolate chips and sprinkled with sea sealt.
    Jump to:
    • Why You'll Love These 4-Ingredient Banana Oatmeal Cookies
    • Equipment
    • Ingredients
    • How to Quickly Ripen Bananas
    • How to Make 4-Ingredient Banana Oatmeal Cookies
    • Variations & Substitutions
    • How to Make These Banana Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies Gluten-Free
    • Pro Tips
    • Storage, Make Ahead, & Serving
    • Recipe FAQ
    • Other Recipes You May Like
    • 4-Ingredient Banana Oatmeal Cookies Recipe

    Why You'll Love These 4-Ingredient Banana Oatmeal Cookies

    This is probably the easiest cookie recipe out there because it calls for just 4 ingredients and takes 20 minutes to make. They make for a delicious afternoon snack to satisfy that sweet tooth (or any time of the day, honestly). These healthy cookies are sure to be a big hit with family and friends!

    Equipment

    • Large mixing bowl (3-quart) - this is one of the easiest cookie recipes because it requires just one bowl! You'll want a big enough bowl to mash the bananas, mix in the oats and nut butter, and then fold in the chocolate chips.
    • Fork or potato masher - a regular kitchen fork will work great to mash the banana. I like to use a potato masher if I'm doubling or tripling the recipe because it makes mashing that many bananas so much easier!
    • Large baking sheet - depending on the size of your baking tray, you should be able to fit all of the dough into one batch. These cookies don't spread, so I space them about 1-2 inches apart!
    • Parchment paper - I use parchment paper in essentially every baking recipe! It's fantastic at preventing the cookie dough from sticking to the cookie sheet.
    • Tablespoon or small cookie scoop - I scoop about 2 Tablespoons of cookie dough onto a prepared baking tray and then press into a cookie shape. This makes the perfectly sized cookie!

    Ingredients

    Full ingredients, measurements, and instructions can be found in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

    ingredients to make 4-ingredient banana oatmeal cookies
    • Ripe bananas - it's important to use ripe brown bananas as opposed to greener, unripe ones! They're easy to mash and are much sweeter, which make ripe bananas perfect for this easy recipe. Regardless of their ripeness, bananas are a source of fiber and potassium.
    • Oats - I like to use old-fashioned oats in this recipe. They provide B vitamins and fiber, as they are a complex carbohydrate. I haven't tried this recipe with quick oats so if you do, let me know in the comments below! I would advise against using steel cut oats. These oats are tougher and don't absorb liquid the same as old-fashioned oats.
    • Natural peanut butter - the chocolate peanut butter banana flavors combine so well in this cookie recipe! You can use any nut or seed butter you'd like: almond butter, cashew butter, sunflower seed butter, etc. I just recommend looking for a natural nut butter with minimal ingredients! The ingredients label should be whatever nut or seed the butter is made of and maybe salt. I would avoid any other extra oils! Natural nut butters are a good source of unsaturated fats. You can use creamy peanut butter or crunchy!
    • Dark chocolate chips - chocolate chips just elevate these 4 ingredient oat cookies to another level! I love using mini chocolate chips because they spread evenly throughout the cookie dough. You can omit these if you want or use a different type of chocolate chip!

    How to Quickly Ripen Bananas

    A lot of baking recipes like these peanut butter banana oatmeal cookies require ripe bananas. They're easy to mash and are much sweeter than unripe bananas (fun fact: they actually have more sugar! Unripe bananas are higher in starch, which converts into sugar as the bananas ripen).

    To speed up the ripening process, place the bananas in a brown paper bag with a few apples (any variety of apple will work). Fold the paper bag over and clip it closed with a clothespin, chip clip, or binder clips. Let the bag sit on the kitchen counter at room temperature for 2-3 days, or until the bananas have brown spots and are ripe!

    How to Make 4-Ingredient Banana Oatmeal Cookies

    mashed banana in a large mixing bowl.

    1: In a large bowl, mash bananas with a fork.

    4-ingredient banana oatmeal cookie dough without chocolate chips.

    2: Add oats and nut butter to the mashed bananas. Stir until combined.

    4-ingredient banana oatmeal cookie dough with chocolate chips in a large mixing bowl.

    3: Fold in dark chocolate chips with a rubber spatula.

    raw 4-ingredient banana oatmeal cookies on a baking sheet.

    4: Using a Tablespoon or small cookie scoop, scoop 2 Tablespoons of cookie dough onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Press into a circular cookie shape with your fingers (you may want to spray your fingers with nonstick cookie spray beforehand to prevent sticking!).

    4-ingredient banana oatmeal cookies on a baking sheet.

    5: Bake cookies at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 12-14 minutes, or until slightly golden brown, firm in the center, and the edges have set.

    Once cool, sprinkle with flaky sea salt, and enjoy!

    Variations & Substitutions

    • There are so many things you could add to these easy oatmeal cookies to switch things up:
      • Sunflower or pumpkin seeds
      • A different nut butter like almond or sunflower seed butter (or using a chunky nut butter for extra texture!)
      • Dried fruit like raisins or dried cranberries
      • Cacao nibs
      • Unsweetened shredded coconut
      • Chopped walnuts or pecans
      • Splash of pure vanilla extract

    How to Make These Banana Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies Gluten-Free

    To make these 4-ingredient banana oatmeal cookies gluten free, be sure to use certified gluten-free oats and check that the chocolate chips don't contain gluten for whatever reason. Otherwise, this recipe is totally gluten free (and vegan if using vegan chocolate chips)!

    4-ingredient banana oatmeal cookies with chocolate chips and sprinkled with sea salt.

    Pro Tips

    • It's hard to tell when the cookies are done because they don't get those classic golden brown edges like traditional cookies or spread too much. A great way to tell if they're done is by gently pressing on the center of a cookie and if it's fairly firm, they're done! The edges should be set as well. If the center is still soft and mushy, bake another 1-2 minutes until firm. Be careful not to burn your finger here!
    • After scooping the cookie dough balls onto the prepared baking sheet, I recommend spraying your fingers with nonstick cooking spray and then gently pressing down to form circular cookies that are even in thickness. These cookies won't spread in the oven, so I like to shape them into the desired shape before baking!
    • ​If the cookie dough is too wet to form into a cookie shape, chill it in the refrigerator for 30-45 minutes or freezer for 15-20 minutes. The dough will naturally be a little bit more wet and softer than traditional cookie dough due to the nature of the ingredients.

    Storage, Make Ahead, & Serving

    • STORAGE: If you have any leftover cookies, store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. You can keep them at room temperature but they won't last as long! These cookies also freeze really well for up to 1 month in an airtight container or freezer bag.
    • MAKING AHEAD: These 4-ingredient cookies are a healthy treat that can be easily made ahead of time. Simply follow the recipe as-is and store the cookies in an sealed container and keep in the refrigerator or freezer until you're ready to eat them! They're delicious when warmed up in the microwave for ~15-20 seconds 🙂
      • Unlike traditional cookies, I don't recommend freezing the dough to bake another time. The cookie dough is very wet and may not have the same results as when it's baked fresh.
    • SERVING: My favorite way to serve the cookies is fresh out of the oven with a sprinkle of flaky sea salt for the perfect snack or sweet treat! If I'm having these for a quick breakfast, I'll add a high quality protein like a piece of cottage cheese frittata, scrambed eggs, or plain Greek yogurt.
    a stack of 4-ingredient banana oatmeal cookies.

    Recipe FAQ

    Do banana oatmeal cookies need to be refrigerated? 

    Technically, these 4-ingredient banana oatmeal cookies do not need to be refrigerated and can be stored at room temperature. However, they'll last a few days longer if you store them in an airtight container in the fridge!

    My dough is too wet to form cookies, what should I do?

    I would recommend putting the dough in the refrigerator for 30-45 minutes or the freezer for about 15 minutes to harden up! This dough will be on the wet side from the mashed ripe bananas but should stick together enough to form a cookie shape on the cookie sheet.

    My bananas aren't ripe, what should I do?

    I highly recommend using ripe bananas because they mash easier and are sweeter than unripe bananas. To speed up the ripening process, I would place the bananas in a brown paper bag with a few apples. Fold the top of the bag over and clip with a clothespin or chip clip to seal the bag. Let this sit on the counter for 2-3 days and then check your bananas!

    Other Recipes You May Like

    • lemon blueberry cookies scattered around with blueberries and lemon slices around them.
      Healthy Lemon Blueberry Cookies
    • banana nut protein muffins stacked on top of each other
      Banana Nut Protein Muffins
    • carrot cake oatmeal bars drizzled with a protein glaze and sliced into 9 squares. a knife and bowl of glaze are around the bars.
      Carrot Cake Oatmeal Bars
    • Easy Healthier Banana Bread

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    If you give this recipe a try, please rate and review it below! I would love to hear your feedback. Also snap a photo and tag me on Insta @theperfectpearr so I can see your creation!
    Print

    4-Ingredient Banana Oatmeal Cookies Recipe

    a stack of 4-ingredient banana oatmeal cookies.
    Print Recipe
    Pin Recipe

    5 from 1 review

    These 4-ingredient banana oatmeal cookies are a healthy snack to satisfy any sweet tooth. They're made with simple ingredients (bananas, oatmeal, peanut butter, and chocolate chips) and are low in added sugar compared to traditional cookies!

    • Author: Lauren
    • Prep Time: 8 minutes
    • Cook Time: 12 minutes
    • Total Time: 20 minutes
    • Yield: 11 cookies 1x
    • Category: Dessert, Snacks, Breakfast
    • Method: Baking
    • Cuisine: American

    Ingredients

    Units Scale
    • 2 large bananas, ripe
    • 1 ½ cups (162g) old-fashioned oats
    • ½ cup (134g) natural peanut butter
    • ½ cup (96g) mini chocolate chips

    Optional add-ins: 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract, ¼ cup chopped walnuts/pecans, ¼ cup raisins or dried cranberries, ¼ cup unsweetened shredded coconut, ¼ cup roasted pumpkin seeds or sunflower seeds

    Instructions

    1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit/180 degrees Celcius.
    2. Prepare a large baking sheet by lining it with parchment paper.
    3. Place peeled bananas in a large mixing bowl and mash with a fork or potato masher.
    4. Add oats and nut butter, and stir with a rubber spatula until combined.
    5. Fold in chocolate chips.
    6. Using a Tablespoon or small cookie scoop, scoop 2 Tablespoons of dough and place on cookie sheet. Space cookie dough balls 2 inches apart.
    7. Using your fingers, gently press down on dough balls and shape into a circular cookie shape. I recommend spraying your fingers with nonstick cooking spray before doing this to prevent dough sticking to them!
    8. Bake 12-14 minutes, or until edges have set.
    9. Cool on a cooling rack for 10-15 minutes. Sprinkle with sea salt and enjoy!

    Notes

    • STORAGE: If you have any leftover cookies, store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. You can keep them at room temperature but they won't last as long! These cookies also freeze really well for up to 1 month in an airtight container or freezer bag.
    • MAKING AHEAD: These 4-ingredient cookies are a healthy treat that can be easily made ahead of time. Simply follow the recipe as-is and store the cookies in an sealed container and keep in the refrigerator or freezer until you're ready to eat them! They're delicious when warmed up in the microwave for ~15-20 seconds 🙂
      • Unlike traditional cookies, I don't recommend freezing the dough to bake another time. The cookie dough is very wet and may not have the same results as when it's baked fresh.
    • SERVING: My favorite way to serve the cookies is fresh out of the oven with a sprinkle of flaky sea salt for the perfect snack or sweet treat! If I'm having these for a quick breakfast, I'll add a high quality protein like a piece of cottage cheese frittata, scrambed eggs, or plain Greek yogurt.
    • It's hard to tell when the cookies are done because they don't get those classic golden brown edges like traditional cookies or spread too much. A great way to tell if they're done is by gently pressing on the center of a cookie and if it's fairly firm, they're done! The edges should be set as well. If the center is still soft and mushy, bake another 1-2 minutes until firm. Be careful not to burn your finger here!
    • After scooping the cookie dough balls onto the prepared baking sheet, I recommend spraying your fingers with nonstick cooking spray and then gently pressing down to form circular cookies that are even in thickness. These cookies won't spread in the oven, so I like to shape them into the desired shape before baking!
    • ​If the cookie dough is too wet to form into a cookie shape, chill it in the refrigerator for 30-45 minutes or freezer for 15-20 minutes. The dough will naturally be a little bit more wet and softer than traditional cookie dough due to the nature of the ingredients.

    Nutrition

    • Serving Size: 1 cookie
    • Calories: 180
    • Sugar: 10
    • Sodium: 29
    • Fat: 9
    • Saturated Fat: 3
    • Unsaturated Fat: 6
    • Trans Fat: 0
    • Carbohydrates: 22
    • Fiber: 2
    • Protein: 5
    • Cholesterol: 0

    Keywords: 4 ingredient banana oat cookies, 4 ingredient banana oatmeal chocolate chip cookies, 4 ingredient oat cookies, healthy cookie recipe, healthy dessert recipe

    Did you make this recipe?

    Please comment below & let me know what you thought. I'd also love if you shared a photo on Instagram and tagged me @theperfectpearr so I can see! And don't forget to SUBSCRIBE to the Perfect Pear newsletter to get new recipes delivered straight to your inbox!

    More Holidays

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    • Chocolate Chip Mug Cake
    • Cranberry Jalapeno Dip
    • No Bake Brownie Bites with Sea Salt
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    1. Liz says

      July 24, 2023 at 8:40 pm

      These cookies are amazing! I added strawberries and chia seeds and they were so tasty. 10/10 recommend! Thanks, Lauren

      Reply
      • Lauren says

        July 25, 2023 at 8:58 am

        Ah yay so glad to hear it, Liz! The strawberries and chia seeds are a great idea. Thank you!!

        Reply
    2. Amanda says

      August 09, 2023 at 4:35 pm

      So delicious and so easy to make! This will definitely be something I make all the time. Perfect for when you’re craving something sweet but healthy!






      Reply
      • Lauren says

        August 10, 2023 at 1:04 pm

        Love to hear it! I'm all about healthy but delicious treats to have when the craving strikes.

        Reply

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    Hi! I'm Lauren. As a dietitian, my goal is to provide you with nutrient-dense recipes that taste good with a sprinkle of indulgent recipes because I'm all about balance.

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