Four Ingredient Banana Oatmeal Cookies

Before You Get Started

Here are a few things to keep in mind to help your cookies turn out perfectly every time:

• Choose the right oats: Rolled oats, also referred to as old-fashioned oats, are the ideal oats to use in this recipe. They are naturally gluten-free and bake wonderfully into the perfect cookies!
• Ripe bananas are best: When it comes to using bananas in baking, you always want to use the ripest ones you can find. These will develop the sweetest flavor when baked, making the cookies as delicious as possible.
• Pick your nut butter: Peanut butter is my personal preference, but you can also use almond butter if you prefer that instead.
• Chocolate type: You can use any kind you like! Bittersweet, semi-sweet, dark chocolate, and milk chocolate chips would all work great.
• Prep your oats for texture: If you like a softer cookie, pulse some of the oats in a food processor or blender to break them down slightly.

How to Make Oatmeal Banana Cookies

These cookies are so simple to make and only use a few pantry staples:

1. Mix everything in one bowl

Mash your bananas, stir in the peanut butter, then add the oats and chocolate chips.

2. Shape your cookies

Scoop the dough, form it into cookies with slightly damp hands, and place on a lined baking sheet.

Pro tip: These cookies won't spread, so shape them how you want them to look once baked.

3. Bake until set

Pop them in the oven and bake until the edges are golden and the cookies feel firm.

Alternative Cooking Option: You can also bake these in an air fryer at a lower temperature. Just check early to avoid over-browning.

Recipe Variations

In the mood to get creative? Here are some of my favorite ways to switch up this dish:

• Add a little spice. For some added flavor, try adding a pinch of cinnamon or nutmeg to your cookies.
• Add some nuts. This is a great way to add extra flavor and heart-healthy fats. Some of my top picks include walnuts, pecans, and almonds.
• Make them dairy-free. You can easily make this recipe dairy-free and vegan by using dairy-free chocolate chips.
• Swap out the nut butter. If you aren't a big peanut butter fan or you don't have any at home, don't worry. You can swap it out for another nut butter, like almond butter or even sunflower seed butter, for a nut-free version.
• Customize the sweetness: These cookies are lightly sweetened from bananas alone, but you can add a touch of maple syrup or honey if you like things sweeter.
• Add some seeds. For tons of added nutrients and a nutty flavor, try adding some seeds to your cookies. Great options include chia seeds, hemp seeds, pumpkin seeds, and flax seeds.
• Make them extra chocolatey. If you're a chocoholic looking to double up on the chocolate flavor, try adding some cocoa powder to the cookies.

How to Store Banana Oatmeal Cookies

This is one of those recipes where I always recommend making extra. You'll thank me later! These oatmeal cookies store incredibly well both in the fridge and in the freezer. Make sure to allow them to cool down to room temperature, then transfer the cookies to an airtight container or storage bag. Once properly packed, you can store oatmeal cookies in one of two ways:

• In the fridge for up to 1 week.
• In the freezer for up to 3 months.