This post may contain affiliate links. Read disclosure policy
These Banana Oatmeal Cookies are loaded with ripe bananas, oats, and chocolate chips for a soft cookie that tastes like my favorite banana bread!
I’m going to get real honest with you here for a second…
I don’t like bananas.
I think they’re basically the worst fruit to exist, unless they’re baked into something like my chocolate banana bread or banana coffee cake, in which case they suddenly turn into my favorite fruit.
That’s right – bananas on their own are gross, bananas in baked goods are amazing. I don’t understand it, but it’s my truth.
I think you’ll love this banana cookie recipe – they’re soft, full of oats for a little texture, loaded with sweet banana flavor, and studded with melty chocolate chips. It’s hard to go wrong with these!
No joke, these banana oatmeal cookies are basically banana bread in cookie form and you are going to love it!
Ingredient Notes:
This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon associate and member of other qualifying programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Bananas – Just like when you’re making our classic banana bread recipe, you’ll want to use ripe bananas. The browner the better!
Dry Ingredients – You’ll need all the standard dry ingredients for making oatmeal cookie dough: flour, rolled oats, white sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon, salt, and baking soda.
Wet Ingredients – The remaining cookie dough ingredients include softened butter, eggs, and vanilla extract.
Chocolate Chips – I’m using semisweet chocolate chips for these banana oatmeal cookies, but any variety will do.
What Readers are Saying!
“These cookies came out beautiful! I love the cake like consistency and they are delicious! I didn’t change one single thing. Even the bake time was spot on! Thanks for this yummy recipe.” – Harriet
How to Make Banana Cookies:
Bananas: To start, you’ll want to grab some ripe bananas and mash them with a fork. The more dark spots, the sweeter and softer your bananas will be! Basically, they’re perfect for baking when they’re too mushy for eating. 😉
Helpful Tip!
Keep it simple…
Check out the “Special Tools” section below for some tips on helpful kitchen gadgets that will simplify preparing this recipe and all your other favorite baking recipes!
Cookie Dough: Set the bananas aside and then whip up your oatmeal cookie dough. This is a standard dough – butter, sugar, eggs, vanilla all beat together until creamy. Mixed with flour, oats, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt.
Combine: Once your cookie dough has come together, it’s time to add in those mashed ‘nanas and some chocolate chips and mix until combined.
Bake: This chocolate chip cookie dough is absolute perfection. No need to chill before baking either! Scoop the dough with a cookie scoop onto a baking sheet and then pop them in the oven.
These banana oatmeal cookies bake up in about 12 minutes at 375 degrees. Let them cool on a wire rack and then serve them up!
Special Tools Needed for This Banana Cookie Recipe:
The below links are affiliate links.
Hand Mixer: When making cookies, you’ll need a mixer of some sort. This KitchenAid is budget friendly, has lasted me FOR.EV.ER. and it comes in a variety of fun colors.
Stand Mixer: If you bake a lot of cookies, I recommend investing in a stand mixer. It’s so easy to toss ingredients in and it’s a real work horse. I use mine daily and it’s shown no signs of slowing down. Again – loads of pretty colors to choose from.
Cookie Scoop: I use my cookie scoops alllll the time, for cookies, meatballs, fruit, small scoops of ice cream, biscuits and more. They come in so handy and ensure even sizes for even baking.
FAQs:
You can use rolled/old fashioned oats or quick oats for these oatmeal cookies. I think old fashioned oats have a better, chewier texture than the quick oats but you can use either one!
We keep these cookies stored on the counter in a cookie jar! They should last for about a week.
To freeze these banana cookies you’ll first want to first place them on a baking sheet and freeze uncovered for an hour or so. Then transfer them to a ziplock freezer bag and freeze for up to a few months.
MORE BANANA RECIPES!
- Homemade Dog Treats: Made with peanut butter and banana!
- Banana Bread Muffins: My kids love these muffins!
- Blueberry Banana Bread: The flavors of blueberry and banana together!
- Banana Bread Donuts: Another breakfast favorite!
More cookie Recipes!
- Double Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Air Fryer Cookie
- Cake Batter Cookies
- Peanut Butter Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Perfect Chocolate Chip Cookies
Banana Oatmeal Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 cup butter softened
- 1/2 cup white sugar
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 cups rolled oats
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 3 medium ripe bananas mashed
- 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment or spray with nonstick spray.
- In the bowl of your mixer cream together the butter and sugars until light and fluffy.
- Beat in the eggs and vanilla.
- In a separate bowl stir together the flour, oatmeal, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt.
- Add the dry ingredients to the butter and sugar and beat until just combined.
- Mix in the mashed bananas and chocolate chips until well incorporated.
- Use a large cookie scoop to drop scoops of cookie dough onto the prepared baking sheet. Bake for 12 minutes or until the edges are browned and cookies are set.
- Cool on a wire rack.
LL says
I had a hand of very ripe bananas and stumbled upon this recipe on FB and decided to give it a try. The cookies taste delicious. They are very soft and cake light. Also, the cookies are not very sweet, so I don’t mind when my 7 year old asks to have one for breakfast. I’d call these muffin tops, rather than cookies, but either way I give the recipe 5 stars.
Stacey says
These are AMAZING!!! Thank you so much!!!
Jess says
Should you keep the cookies refigerated after made or okay to keep out? Wasn’t sure with the bananas
Karly says
We keep them in a cookie jar on the counter.
kaveri says
it tastes good but turned out more like a cake than a cookie 😛 I used raisins instead of chocochips. thanks for the recipe 🙂
Karly says
Glad you enjoyed them. They are definitely a cake-y cookie. 🙂
Megan says
Do you use salted or unsalted butter?
Karly says
Salted butter. 🙂
Andrea says
What a fantastic recipe! I used 6 smaller sized bananas and opted to not add chips or nuts. Super soft and delicious. Add some peanut butter to the bottom of cookie and Voila, instant breakfast cookies! ?
Karly says
Brilliant! 🙂
Maryjane says
Did you use quick oats
Karly says
I use both rolled oats and quick oats when baking. I’ve made it with both and they’re both good!
Cheri says
Can you freeze these after baking? Before?
Karly says
You could freeze them either way. We prefer to freeze baking.
Cynthia says
Just baked them. The cookies are soft and cakey I also added half tsp of cocoa. Thanks for the great recipe… love it
Maria says
Love banana and chocolate together. I’ve had it in a quick bread version but never cookies! What a great idea. Can’t wait to make these!
palakc15 says
Just made these yesterday to use up some of my ripe bananas(sick of banana bread!) and they are delicious! never thought to make cookies out of bananas. They are more cake-like then I usually prefer, but they work very well for this type pf cookie. thank you for the awesome recipe!
also I made no substitutes!
Karly says
Glad you enjoyed!
Denise says
Loved them! They were sooo good
Not too caky and outside a drop crunchy like normal cookies
Because of the pandemic I grabbed what ever they had and didn’t realize it said quick steel cut oats, I wouldn’t use them next time, too gritty
The cookies came out fantastic still ,
I added 4 small bananas , pieces of walnuts , semisweet mini chips and dark chocolate chips
The dough seemed a little loose for cookies which worries me so I only baked one to test ,
it came out great!
My only thing is I wish they were a drop sweeter and less crunch from the steel cut oats
I may add more sugar in my mix since I have it in the fridge for now
I would definitely use normal oat meal next time
Thank you again for this recipe !!
Karly says
Hi Denise! Glad you gave them a try. Yes, next time use regular oats – steel cut aren’t meant for baking due to the texture. You could always sprinkle a little coarse sugar over the tops before baking or try adding a bit more to the batter. 🙂
palakc15 says
UPDATE*** the oats are MUCH softer if you let the dough sit in the fridge overnight. I had some dough leftover and decided to wait and bake them the next day – Best idea ever! the cookies didn’t have the distinct oat texture, but instead thesofter oats blended into the soft cookie. still 375 but for 14 min if the dough is cold. I will definitely make these again now.
Jill says
What can you use instead of the oats???
Karly says
I’m not sure of anything that would make a good substitute here.
Melanie says
Would instant oats work in these cookies?? That’s all I have on hand!
Karly says
Yes, they should work fine. The texture may just be a bit different.
Jen loves cookies! says
I read the reviews that said these were cake like cookies. My favorite! Made two dozen tonight and refrigerating the rest for tomorrow. Excited to taste the difference.
Madelyn says
Hi Karly!
Can I use steel oats in place of rolled oats? Thanks, Madelyn
Karly says
No, I’m afraid not without a lot of modification.
Kathi says
Thanks for saying that you don’t like bananas either – I personal can’t stand the smell of them. However, with these cookies – you can’t taste the banana and it just helps the cookes to be more moist Thanks for posting this and your other banana chunk chocolate muffin recipe too.
Kerrie Spicola says
I used quick oats and cinnamon chips. I found the dough pretty loose for cookies. I chilled the dough overnight. I used a 1 tbsp cookie scoop, baked at 350 for 8-9 mins. I haven’t sampled them yet but my 4 year old LOVES them.
Lauren says
What a fun idea! Can’t wait to try them.
Bernie - A Gouda Life says
How is it I’ve never thought to turn ripe bananas into cookies — with chocolate chips no less! Genius. Just added to my must try list.
Karly says
Hope you enjoy!!