• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Salads Soups and Sweets logo

menu icon
go to homepage
  • Home
  • Recipe Index
  • Meal Plan
  • About Me
  • Shop
    • 3 Best Soups for Fall
  • Free Resources
  • Contact
search icon
Homepage link
  • Home
  • Recipe Index
  • Meal Plan
  • About Me
  • Shop
    • 3 Best Soups for Fall
  • Free Resources
  • Contact
×
  • A collage of four different lemon desserts with a text overlay that reads, "35 Lemon Desserts for Easter."
    Lemon Desserts for Easter
  • A chocolate chip oatmeal cookie on a cooling rack.
    Nestle Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe
  • A spicy margarita on the rocks made with 1800 tequila and garnished with a lime wheel.
    1800 Tequila Margarita Recipe
  • Nestle Toll House Cookie Bars on a piece of parchment paper, that have been cut into squares.
    Nestle Toll House Cookie Bar Recipe
  • A No Bake Key Lime Pie in a graham cracker crust. The pie is topped with swirls of whipped cream, lime wheels and sprinkled with friesh lime zest.
    Eagle Brand No Bake Key Lime Pie Recipe
  • A serving bowl of Smashed Potato Salad topped with fresh dill and parsley.
    Smashed Potato Salad
  • A Lemon Loaf with lemon glaze on a rectangular serving platter.
    Lemon Loaf Recipe
  • A chocolate dipped strawberry on a piece of parchment paper surrounded by other chocolate covered strawberries.
    How Long Do Chocolate Covered Strawberries Last In The Fridge
  • A strawberry dipped in white chocolate with a dark chocolate drizzle in a Valentine paper cupcake liner surrounded by other dipped and decorated strawberries.
    How to Make Valentine Strawberries
  • A chocolate chip cookie cup topped with chocolate buttercream frosting and sprinkles.
    ​Chocolate Chip Cookie Cups
  • A glass jar of Caesar Dressing with a spoon in it.
    Is Caesar Dressing Gluten and Dairy Free?
  • Peach Jalapeno Jam in a white ramekin with a spoon dipping into it.
    Peach Jalapeno Jam Recipe
Home

Published: Jul 18, 2023 · Modified: Apr 14, 2024 by Natalie Booras · This post may contain affiliate links · 2 Comments

The Best 3-Ingredient Banana Oatmeal Cookies (no peanut butter)

Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

These 3-ingredient banana oatmeal cookies (no peanut butter) can make a quick breakfast or be a great snack to satisfy a sweet craving. It's hard to believe that three-ingredient cookies could be so delicious. But they are a surprisingly good little treat.

With only three wholesome ingredients, they are incredibly simple and quick to prepare. This great recipe doesn't require any added sweetener. They offer a guilt-free indulgence that can be enjoyed as a snack, breakfast cookie, or healthy dessert option.

In addition, they're made with minimal effort and can be whipped up in no time, making them a convenient option for those craving a homemade treat without spending too much time in the kitchen.

If you're looking for other banana recipes, try my Banana Bread Recipe with Pancake Mix, Banana Coffee Cake Recipe, or my Banana Pudding with Cream Cheese.

A baking sheet with 3-ingredient banana cookies on it. The cookies are surrounded by banana slices and sprinkled oats.

Table of Contents

Toggle
  • Why You'll Love This Recipe:
  • Equipment
  • Ingredients
  • Substitutions
  • Variations
  • Instructions
  • Storage and Freezing
  • Pro Tip
  • 3-ingredient Banana Oatmeal Cookies
    • Equipment
    • Ingredients  1x2x3x
    • Instructions 
    • Notes
    • Nutrition

Why You'll Love This Recipe:

Quick and Easy Recipe - This banana cookie recipe makes a healthy snack when you only have a little time in the kitchen. You can make an entire batch in less than 30 minutes.  

Naturally Sweetened - The sweetness in these cookies primarily comes from overripe bananas, which means there's no need for added sugar. The natural sugars in bananas lend a pleasant sweetness and, when combined with the chocolate chips, provide a delightful flavor that helps create these healthy banana cookies.

Basic Ingredients and Budget-Friendly Recipe - With just three simple ingredients, these cookies are perfect for everyone, even those with certain dietary restrictions. They're not only egg-free but they're also made without peanut butter. So people with nut allergies can enjoy them as well.

Equipment

  • Large Mixing Bowl
  • Potato Masher (optional)
  • Wooden Spoon or Rubber Spatula
  • Cookie Scoop
  • Parchment Paper
  • Large Cookie Sheet
An overhead view of a cooling rack with banana chocolate chip cookies on it.

Ingredients

  • Ripe Bananas - For best results, use bananas with brown spots on the peels for the mashed banana for this recipe. They have the perfect natural sugar to sweeten this banana oatmeal cookie recipe. And because bananas can be used in baking as a binder, it holds the cookie together without requiring an egg in this recipe.
  • Old Fashioned and Quick Oats - The best type of oats for this cookie is a mixture of old-fashioned and quick oats. The old-fashioned oats create a chewy texture for these healthy cookies. You can put the oats in a food processor and pulse for a finer texture until you get the desired texture. This is similar to creating oat flour. The quick oats help absorb some of the liquid and which helps hold the cookies together. However, we liked the combination of the two different oats. Combining mashed bananas and oats gives these cookies a soft and chewy texture. They have a slight denseness due to the oats, resulting in a satisfying bite. 
  • Mini Chocolate Chips - We opted for mini semi-sweet chips instead of regular-sized ones. This helps prevent the cookies from being overly bulky. The added chocolate chips provide gooey pockets of melted chocolate, enhancing the overall texture and taste.

*For specific ingredient amounts, please scroll down to the recipe card.

The ingredients needed to make the 3-ingredient banana cookies include ripe bananas, old-fashioned and quick oat and mini-chocolate chip morsels.

Substitutions

  • Gluten-Free - Make these gluten-free using certified gluten-free oats instead of regular ones. I like Bob's Red Mill.
  • Dairy-Free - Switch out the mini-chocolate chips for an allergen-free choice. I like the Enjoy Life brand or the Nestle Toll House allergen-free semi-sweet chocolate chips.

Variations

  • Milk or Dark chocolate chips - If you prefer either of these over semi-sweet, they would be a great option. However, you may only be able to find regular-sized chips in those varieties. They will still work. Make sure not to add too many - your cookies may fall apart.
  • Pecans or walnuts - If you aren't dealing with a nut allergy, add a handful or two of chopped nuts to the cookie dough.
  • Other add-ins - Dried fruits, coconut flakes, or a teaspoon of cinnamon are great ways to customize this cookie.

Instructions

Step 1. Preheat oven to 350℉. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper. Set aside.

Step 2. In a large bowl, mash bananas with a fork or potato masher. Leaving some small chunks of banana is ok.

Step 3. Add the oats and combine them with a wooden spoon or rubber spatula until incorporated.

Step 4. Fold in the mini chocolate chips.

Step 5. Using a 2 Tablespoon cookie scoop, place the dough onto the prepared baking sheet. Flatten each scoop slightly into a cookie shape.

The steps to make the 3-ingredient banana  cookies include mashing the banana, stirring in the oats, folding in the chocolate chips and baking the cookies.

Step 6. Place the cookie sheet on the center rack of the oven. Bake for 12-15 minutes or until the cookies are lightly golden brown.

Step 7. Remove the cookies from the oven and allow them to cool on the baking sheet for 10 minutes.

Step 8. Transfer to a cooling rack until completely cooled and set.

Storage and Freezing

Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. Alternatively, store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 7 days.

For longer storage, place the cookies on a baking sheet in a single layer until frozen. Then place them in a freezer-safe sealed container or bag for up to 3 months.

A cookie with a bite taken out of it being held up to show the inside texture of the cookie.

Pro Tip

Fresh green bananas will not work for this recipe. The best bananas for these cookies are ones that are ripe and soft bananas. If you don't have any, you can ripen bananas in the oven for this recipe. Follow my How To Ripen Bananas In The Oven for Baking tutorial.

In addition, the amount of banana is really important. When creating this recipe, we made a version with about 1 ½ cups of banana and they weren't as good. Mash the bananas and then add them to a measuring cup for the correct amount (1 cup).

A plate of banana oatmeal cookies with sliced bananas and oats scattered around it.
Are old-fashioned oats the same as rolled oats?

Yes. They are flat and flakey.

Do banana cookies go bad?

Not necessarily. They had the best texture and taste within the first day or two. And the color seemed to darken, similar to how a banana browns with time. We recommend freezing them if you don't plan to eat them in the first three days.

Why are overripe bananas used for baking?

They're sweeter with natural sugars because more of the fruit's starch has been converted to sugar. They're also softer, so they're easier to mash.

A stack of 3 banana oatmeal cookies.

3-ingredient Banana Oatmeal Cookies

These 3-ingredient Banana Oatmeal Cookies are incredibly simple and quick to prepare. This great recipe doesn’t require any added sweetener. In addition, they’re made with minimal effort and can be whipped up in no time, making them a convenient option for those craving a homemade treat without spending too much time in the kitchen.
5 from 2 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes mins
Cook Time 15 minutes mins
Total Time 25 minutes mins
Course breakfast, dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 18 cookies
Calories 62 kcal

Equipment

  • Large Mixing Bowl
  • Potato Masher (optional)
  • Wooden Spoon or Rubber Spatula
  • Cookie scoop
  • parchment paper
  • Large Cookie Sheet

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup mashed banana (about 2 large or 3 medium bananas)
  • 1 cup old-fashioned oats
  • ½ cup quick oats
  • ½ cup mini chocolate chips

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 350℉. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper. Set aside.
  • In a large bowl, mash bananas with a fork or potato masher. Leaving some small chunks of banana is ok.
  • Add the oats and combine them with a wooden spoon until incorporated.
  • Fold in the mini chocolate chips.
  • Using a 2 Tablespoon cookie scoop, place the dough onto the prepared baking sheet. Flatten each scoop slightly into a cookie shape.
  • Place the cookie sheet on the center rack of the oven. Bake for 12-15 minutes or until the cookies are lightly golden brown.
  • Remove the cookies from the oven and allow them to cool on the baking sheet for 10 minutes.
  • Transfer to a cooling rack until completely cooled and set.

Notes

Storage and Freezing
Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. Alternatively, store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 7 days.
For longer storage, place the cookies on a baking sheet in a single layer until frozen. Then place them in a freezer-safe sealed container or bag for up to 3 months.
Pro Tip
You will need ripe bananas for this recipe. They are sweeter and easier to mash than bananas that aren't quite ripe.
See blog post for more tips and tricks.

Nutrition

Serving: 1cookieCalories: 62kcalCarbohydrates: 11gProtein: 1gFat: 2gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.2gMonounsaturated Fat: 0.1gTrans Fat: 0.01gCholesterol: 1mgSodium: 4mgPotassium: 69mgFiber: 1gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 19IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 10mgIron: 0.4mg
Keyword 3-ingredient banana oatmeal cookies
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

More Cookies

  • A baked Grinch Crinkle Cookie on a wire cooling rack.
    Grinch Crinkle Cookies
  • Peanut Butter Cookies on a piece of parchment paper.
    Peanut Butter Cookie Recipe Without Butter
  • Bourbon Balls, covered in powdered sugar and cocoa powder, in a small white bowl.
    Old Fashioned Bourbon Balls Recipe
  • Golden and classic Oreos dipped in dark chocolate and decorated with Halloween Sprinkles.
    Halloween Oreo Cookies

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Charlotte says

    July 18, 2023 at 9:08 pm

    5 stars
    Love how quick and easy this recipe is with pantry staples! Thanks so much for sharing!

    Reply
  2. Tiffany Welsh says

    August 19, 2023 at 2:40 pm

    5 stars
    I’m saving this one for sure! Always looking for ways to use ripe bananas and this sounds delicious.

    Reply
5 from 2 votes

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

Footer

  • Accessibility Policy
  • Terms and Conditions

Copyright © 2025 Salads Soups and Sweets on the Cookd Pro Theme

Rate This Recipe

Your vote:




A rating is required
A name is required
An email is required

Recipe Ratings without Comment

Something went wrong. Please try again.