Description

These Healthy Banana Oatmeal Cookies are a delicious and wholesome snack made with ripe bananas, rolled oats, and natural nut butter. Naturally sweetened with honey or maple syrup and lightly spiced with cinnamon and vanilla, these cookies are a perfect guilt-free treat that can be enjoyed by the whole family. They are gluten-free, dairy-free, and vegetarian, making them suitable for a variety of dietary preferences.

Ingredients

Scale

Dry Ingredients

1 1/2 cups rolled oats
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt

Wet Ingredients

2 ripe bananas, mashed
1/4 cup natural peanut butter or almond butter
1/4 cup honey or maple syrup
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Optional Add-ins

1/4 cup mini chocolate chips or raisins
2 tablespoons chopped nuts or seeds

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Instructions

Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking and ease cleanup.
Mash Bananas: In a medium bowl, mash the ripe bananas until smooth, ensuring no large lumps remain for a consistent texture.
Combine Wet Ingredients: Stir in the natural peanut butter (or almond butter), honey (or maple syrup), cinnamon, vanilla extract, and salt into the mashed bananas until well combined.
Add Oats: Fold the rolled oats into the wet mixture and mix thoroughly until the dough comes together.
Incorporate Optional Ingredients: Gently fold in any optional add-ins such as mini chocolate chips, raisins, chopped nuts, or seeds if using.
Shape Cookies: Using a heaping tablespoon, scoop the dough onto the prepared baking sheet, spacing them evenly apart. Gently flatten each cookie slightly with the back of the spoon or your fingers.
Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 12 to 14 minutes or until the edges turn lightly golden, indicating they are fully cooked.
Cool: Remove the cookies from the oven and allow them to cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. This helps them set and prevents crumbling.

Notes

For best taste and texture, eat these cookies within a few days or freeze them for up to 2 months.
To boost nutrition, consider adding a scoop of protein powder or ground flaxseed to the dough.
These cookies are naturally sweet but can be adjusted by adding more or less honey or maple syrup according to your preference.
Be sure to use rolled oats and not instant oats to maintain the proper texture.