You won't believe how delicious these Healthy Banana Oatmeal Cookies are! Naturally-sweetened, gluten-free, and vegan friendly, these Banana Oat Cookies satisfy your sweet tooth but are still make a perfectly healthy, balanced snack. In fact, you can even enjoy these cookies for breakfast!
If you have overripe bananas, these Banana Oat Cookies are the perfect treat to whip up, along with Banana Bread, Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Banana Muffins, Banana Baked Oatmeal, and Banana Oat Pancakes.
Say the word cookie, and the inner cookie monster seems to come out in all of us!
Wouldn't it be nice if we could eat warm cookies out of the oven morning, noon, and night?
I am right there with you! And that is why I know you will love these Banana Oatmeal Cookies, they are healthy enough to even enjoy for breakfast!
These cookies contain no oil, no sugar, no dairy, no nuts, no corn, no gluten, and are made with whole grains and fruit. But do NOT let the list of healthy ingredients scare you off.
These cookies are moist, tender, chewy, and perfectly sweet. And yes, Banana Oat Cookies do not have the traditional buttery richness of a traditional Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookie, these healthy cookies certainly satisfy your sweet tooth and are a wholesome treat that kids LOVE!
Notes on Ingredients
Banana Oat Cookies are made with just 5 ingredients. However, I do have a few tips on selecting ingredients and substitutions that can be made.
- Bananas: The riper the banana, the sweeter the cookie! If you happen to have frozen bananas stashed in your freezer, this is a great recipe to use them up. Simply microwave 3 frozen bananas until completely defrosted and mash well (no need to drain off the sweet liquid that may form after heating the bananas.)
- Dates: Whole dried dates have been referred to by my children as God's Candy. They add just the right of sweetness without adding any sugar to a recipe. You can purchase dried dates online, or at your local grocery store near the dried fruit. Sometimes, grocery stores will have dried dates in the produce section of the store as well. Just be sure to purchase WHOLE DATES as chopped dates have been coated in cornstarch and sugar. If you can't find dates, feel free to use raisins in their place. The cookies won't be quite as sweet, but still delicious.
- Applesauce: Be sure to use no sugar added applesauce to keep these cookies refined sugar-free.
- Oats: You can use quick cook oats or old fashioned oatmeal for this recipe. Be sure to use certified gluten-free oats if you have a gluten sensitivity/allergy.
- Optional: If you like, stir in up to 1 cup chocolate chips the cookie batter. My kids LOVE it when I do this!
How to Make Banana Oatmeal Cookies
These Banana Oatmeal Cookies are incredibly easy to make, in fact, they are one of the first recipes my kids made all on their own.
However, I have a few tips that will help ensure your cookies turn out perfectly.
- Soak your dates. Dates can be a bit hard when taken out of their packaging, but if you soak in hot water they soften up perfectly and are much easier to blend into the cookie batter. I recommend soaking the dates in hot water for at least 10 minutes. If you soak longer than 30 minutes, the soaking liquid becomes sweet and is a fabulous addition to pancake batter, used to sweeten coffee or oatmeal.
- Process the oats. I recommend adding the oats to the food processor or blender along with the bananas, dates, and applesauce to break down the oats slightly. This helps give these cookies a more cookie-like consistency. If you do not have a food processor, chop up the soaked dates, and then mash together with bananas, applesauce, cinnamon, and oats. You will have a chunkier, but still delicious Banana Breakfast Cookie.
- Portion out an equal amount of dough. It is important that all of your cookies are the same size so that they bake evenly. Use either a small cookie scoop or tablespoon measuring spoon, scoop out cookie dough using the onto a baking sheet. Use your hands to roll into small balls or slightly flatten, if you prefer a flatter cookie.
Storage
Once your cookies are baked, cool completely, and then place into an airtight container. You can store these Banana Oat Cookies at room temperature for up to 24 hours, after that store in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
More Recipes Using Dates
I often find it is more cost-effective to purchase a large bag of whole dates than it is to buy in smaller amounts. They can be stored in an airtight container for up to 6-8 weeks once the package has been opened. While perfect in this recipe for Banana Oatmeal Cookies, they are also fabulous in many other recipes.
If you gave this Healthy Breakfast Cookie a try, I would love for you to leave a comment and review below.
Healthy Banana Oatmeal Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 cup dates
- 3 ripe bananas mashed well
- ⅓ cup unsweetened applesauce
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 2 cups oatmeal either quick or old fashioned work in this recipe
Instructions
- Soak dates in 1 cup hot water for at least 10 minutes to soften (and up to 3 hours). Drain dates from soaking liquid.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- In a food processor, mix together bananas, apple sauce, dates, and cinnamon until well combined. Add in oats and pulse together mixture until just combined.
- Drop by rounded tablespoons unto a cookie sheet and bake at 350 for 15 minutes.
- Remove cookies from oven and let cool on cooling rack for 10 minutes. Remove cookies from tray and cool completely.
Equipment Needed
Notes
- If you do not have a food processor, chop up the soaked dates, and then mash together with bananas, applesauce, cinnamon and oats. You will have a chunkier, cookie.
- Be sure to use whole, pitted dates that have ave not been coated with sugar. If you can't find whole dates, raisins will work as well, but the cookies will not be as sweet.
- Feel free to stir in 1 cup of chocolate chips to the prepared cookie dough right before baking.
- You can use quick cook oats or old fashioned oatmeal for this recipe. Just be sure to use certified gluten-free oats if you need these cookies to be gluten free.
- Banana Breakfast Cookies can be stored at room temperature for 24 hours in an airtight container and up to 5 days refrigerated. They can also be frozen for up to 3 months.
Nutrition
This post was originally published in August 2017 but has been updated in January 2020 with new tips.
CJ
Instead of chocolate chips, I'd like to add unsweetened cocoa powder for a little chocolate taste. How much can be added in order not to affect consistency of the batter?
Kristen Chidsey
I would add no more than 1/4 cup. Enjoy!
Gargi
Can I substitute the applesauce with date paste?
Kristen Chidsey
Hi Gargi! I think the dates may overpower the cookies since they are already one of the main ingredients. Instead, I would suggest using extra bananas.
karen a barber
I will have to make this healthy yummy snack, but for now, I really want to say I love your little girl she is so sweet and confident making this recipe.
My granddaughter helps me prep, I need to step her up a few notches like your daughter!
Thanks so much for sharing....Hug that little sweety for me, please!
Nona
Kristen Chidsey
You are so sweet!! Thank you! My daughter will love hearing how this inspires you to cook more with your granddaughter!
Danielle
Just stumbled across this recipe while looking to clarify one I had been given shorthand from someone else- I’m loving the simplicity of the recipe and real ness of the ingredients without them being overly .. “crunchy granola mom.” Thanks for helping me find healthy and yummy recipes to feed my kids!
Kristen Chidsey
Awe, I am so glad you found my site and are so far enjoying my recipes. I hope you find many more here to enjoy.
Karen pearce
I am making these this week. Thinking of adding powdered peanut butter to them. I love PB and banana. Not putting in dates. Wondering how much I should add and how it might effect calories per cookie? Or if you already have a similar recipe?
Kristen Chidsey
Hi Karen, if you aren't using dates, this recipe would work with raisins. But It will not work with these ratios by completely omitting. If you are looking for a more traditional cookie/bar you may want to make my Peanut Butter Banana Bars--they are still a bit healthier, but don't have dates in them 🙂
Janelle
Can you please tell me how long these keep and should they be stored at room temperature or fridge.
Thanks in advance
Kristen Chidsey
Hi Janelle! Banana Breakfast Cookies can be stored at room temperature for 2 days in an airtight container and up to 5 days refrigerated. They can also be frozen for up to 3 months.
Taylor
Love that there's no added sweeteners in these cookies! Healthy and delicious!
Kristen Chidsey
I am so glad you enjoyed this healthier treat Taylor!