4.41 from 251 votes

3-Ingredient Banana Oatmeal Cookies

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197 Comments

Servings: 11 cookies

20 mins

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Banana oatmeal cookies made with just 3 simple ingredients. They’re vegan, gluten-free and perfect for an on-the-go breakfast or healthy treat.

It doesn’t get much better than cookies made with just three ingredients! You likely have everything in your pantry so you can make a batch whenever you need a simple breakfast or a healthy, delicious treat.

This recipe is definitely reminiscent of a bowl of oatmeal… but you’re eating it in cookie form which is pretty fun! Because these have such minimal ingredients, I give them to Liv too. She loves munching on them for breakfast or a snack. If you have older kiddos, this would be the perfect after-school snack for those hungry little bellies!

An overhead photo of 5 cookies on a plate.

Healthy Breakfast Cookies

Cookies for breakfast? You better believe it! I refer to these cookies as “breakfast cookies” because they are packed with nutritious ingredients to keep you fueled all morning long. I kept them super simple so you can whip them up the morning of, or you can meal prep them ahead of time for a grab-and-go meal or snack.

Ingredients measured out to make banana oatmeal cookies: chocolate chips, quick oats and ripe bananas.

What You Need

  • bananas – make sure you are using ripe bananas! The riper the bananas the sweeter they’ll be. And you’ll be mashing them so you want them to pretty soft and caramel-y. The banana peels should be speckled with brown spots.
  • quick oats – grab gluten-free oats if necessary! Quick oats are pre-cooked, dried, rolled and pressed slightly thinner than rolled oats which make them a great quick-cooking base for these cookies!
  • chocolate chips – I recommend Lily’s chocolate chips which are low in sugar and calories. I also like Enjoy Life chocolate chips which are allergen friendly.
  • optional add-ins – I kept these cookies super simple with just three ingredients but if you want to take these cookies to the next level, you can add in vanilla extract, ground cinnamon, nut butter, sea salt, etc.
Collage for four photos showing the steps on how to make banana oatmeal cookies: mashed banana and oats in a bowl. Mixture mixed together with a spoon, adding chocolate chips and then stirring in the chips.

How to Make Banana Oatmeal Cookies

I bet you’ll find yourself making these cookies quite often because of how easy they are to make! Here’s how simple they are to make:

Mash: Mash bananas using the back of a fork. You want the bananas to have a fairly smooth consistency, but a few small chunks are okay.

Mix: Add in oats and gently stir until oats and bananas are fully combined and a thick dough forms. Gently stir in chocolate chips.

Scoop: Using a 1 Tablespoon measuring spoon, scoop mixture and place on baking sheet about 1 to 2 inches apart. These cookies don’t spread while baking, so make sure to press each ball into a cookie shape. Add a few extra chocolate chips on top if you prefer.

Bake: Place in the oven and bake for 12 – 15 minutes. Remove from oven, let cool a few minutes and enjoy!

A stack of 5 banana cookies on a white plate, there are two cookies in the bottom left out of focus and ingredients in the background.

Oatmeal Cookies Tips

  • Shape the cookies – these cookies won’t spread during baking like traditional cookies do so make sure you shape them into a cookie before baking.
  • Use ripe bananas – I mentioned this above but the riper and more brown-speckled your bananas are the better! Also, make sure you’re using fresh, not previously frozen and thawed bananas.
  • Have fun with more mix-ins – try adding chopped nuts, dried fruit or other mix-ins of choice! The options are endless!
  • Double the recipe – since these cookies freeze so well, I recommend doubling the recipe and storing some of the cookies in the freezer for a later date.
An overhead photo of 6 cookies on a plate with chocolate chips sprinkled around. You can also see a banana and cup of chocolate chips in the top corners.

How to Store Leftovers

After allowing these cookies to cool completely, store them in an airtight container on the counter for 2-3 days, in the refrigerator for up to a week or freezer for up to 3 months. If freezing, make sure to thaw overnight in the fridge before enjoying.

If you enjoyed this recipe, please consider leaving a ⭐ star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below.

4.41 from 251 votes

Banana Oatmeal Cookies

Banana oatmeal cookies made with just 3 simple ingredients. They're vegan, gluten-free and perfect for an on-the-go breakfast or healthy treat.
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes
Servings: 11 cookies
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Ingredients  

  • 2 ripe bananas, about 1 cup mashed
  • 1 cup quick oats
  • ¼ cup chocolate chips
  • Optional add-ins: ¼ tsp vanilla, ½ tsp cinnamon, 1 Tablespoon nut butter, pinch of sea salt

Instructions 

  • Preheat the oven to 350 F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone mat.
  • Mash bananas using the back of a fork. You want the bananas to have a fairly smooth consistency, but a few small chunks are okay.
    A mixing bowl with oats on one side and mashed banana on the other, prior to being mixed together. A silver spoon rests inside the bowl.
  • Add in oats and gently stir until oats and bananas are fully combined and a thick dough forms.
    Banana and oats mixed together inside of a bowl with a silver spoon.
  • Gently fold in chocolate chips.
    A mixing bowl with the ingredients for banana cookies all mixed together. There is a silver spoon resting inside the bowl.
  • Using a 1 Tablespoon measuring spoon, scoop mixture and place on baking sheet about 1 to 2 inches apart. Press each ball into a cookie shape and add a few extra chocolate chips on top if you prefer.
    A sheet pan lined with parchment paper with cookies scooped onto it. There is a cookie scoop resting on the sheet pan.
  • Bake for 12-15 minutes.
  • Remove from oven, let cool and serve.

Nutrition

Serving: 1 cookie | Calories: 63kcal | Carbohydrates: 13g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 2g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Potassium: 77mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 3g

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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About Brittany

Hey there, I’m Brittany, the creator of Eating Bird Food, cookbook author, health coach and mama of two littles. Here you’ll find quick and easy recipes that make healthy fun and enjoyable for you and your family!

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4.41 from 251 votes (158 ratings without comment)

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197 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    Just made these! Super easy and yummy! They’re pretty dense and moist! My 3yr olds reaction was “mmmm,yummmm.” Made them with my littles; all natural ingredients and GF and Vegan (with the ingredients we used). Definitely making these again!

    1. Woo! Love the toddler approval, Rosie! Thanks for making them and coming back to leave a review. I really appreciate it!

  2. 5 stars
    I loved this recipe because it was fast and easy but nutritious as well!
    I am trying to cut down on sugar Intake and will be making these more often….like every weekend! 😅

    1. Woo! I’m glad this recipe is a hit for you, Elaine! Thanks for making it and coming back to leave a review, I so appreciate it.

  3. 5 stars
    So good and so easy! I added all the extras and a little more oats bc my bananas were a little bigger. So glad I doubled the recipe and can’t wait for my toddler to try them.

    1. Woo! So glad these were a hit for you, Erin! Thanks for coming back to leave a review, I really appreciate it.

  4. 5 stars
    I was craving something sweet but still somewhat healthy. Those took literally 5 mins to make and were delicious!!! Don’t hesitate to add a couple of things, like cinnamon (cause I’m obsessed with cinnamon) and peanut butter for protein!!

    1. Yay! Love little helpers in the kitchen. Thanks for leaving a review, I appreciate it so much!

  5. 5 stars
    I made this recipe yesterday in hopes that my kids would eat them instead of chocolate chip cookies. It worked!! They love them. They were SO easy to make. My husband even approved! Will definitely be making them again very soon.

    1. Yay! Happy to hear your kids and husband loved them! Thanks for making them and coming back to leave a review, I appreciate it.

  6. 5 stars
    Ok, these were soooooo delicious! I ate 5 for breakfast! I did add the cinnamon and vanilla. I used Lily’s semi sweet baking chips!
    Can’t wait to have more!

  7. 5 stars
    Uh yuuuummmm! These were so good! I added in sugar free peanut butter and sprinkled chocolate chips on top. I omitted the chocolate chips on a few so the dogs could try them too (I saw someone else’s comment about doing that). They obviously loved them too!
    Thank you for another great and easy recipe!

    1. Woo! I love that these are being enjoyed by humans AND dogs! Treats for everyone 🙂 Thanks for coming back to leave a review, Tara, I appreciate it!

  8. Are these cookies really banana tasting? I do not like the taste or texture of ripe bananas, that’s why I’m asking. I don’t eat banana bread.

    1. Hi, Vickie. I would say yes, you definitely taste the banana. I don’t think it’s overwhelming but if you don’t like bananas I think you would taste it. I will say it’s not like the texture of a ripe banana thanks to the oats and baking!

    1. Woo! SO happy to hear that, Keira! Thanks for coming back to leave a review and star rating, I really appreciate it.