Description
Delicious and healthy Banana Oatmeal Cookies made with ripe bananas, oats, and a touch of cinnamon. These soft, chewy cookies are perfect as a snack or dessert, featuring optional chocolate chips or nuts for extra flavor and texture. Easy to prepare and bake, they offer a wholesome treat suitable for vegetarians and can be adapted for a vegan diet.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 2 ripe bananas (mashed)
- 1 cup quick oats or old-fashioned oats
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup melted coconut oil or unsalted butter
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour or whole wheat flour
Optional Ingredients
- 1/4 cup chocolate chips or raisins
- 1/4 cup chopped walnuts or pecans
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking and ensure even baking.
- Mash Bananas: In a large bowl, thoroughly mash the ripe bananas until smooth and creamy, which forms the natural base for the cookies.
- Add Wet Ingredients: Stir in the melted coconut oil or butter, brown sugar, and vanilla extract into the mashed bananas, mixing well to combine.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: Add the oats, ground cinnamon, salt, baking soda, and flour to the banana mixture, stirring until just combined to form the cookie dough.
- Fold in Optional Ingredients: If using, gently fold in the chocolate chips or raisins along with the chopped walnuts or pecans, incorporating them evenly throughout the dough.
- Shape Cookies: Drop tablespoon-sized portions of the dough onto the prepared baking sheet, spacing them about 2 inches apart to allow for spreading. Flatten each cookie slightly with the back of a spoon or your fingers.
- Bake Cookies: Bake in the preheated oven for 10–12 minutes or until the edges are lightly golden, indicating they are cooked through but still soft inside.
- Cool Cookies: Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely, ensuring they set properly.
Notes
- For a vegan version, use dairy-free chocolate chips and ensure the brown sugar is vegan-friendly.
- These cookies freeze well and make an excellent grab-and-go snack or quick breakfast option.
- To add extra richness, mix in a spoonful of peanut butter into the dough before baking.
