These soft and chewy healthy banana cookies are the perfect way to get your sweet fix without the added sugar! Naturally sweetened, nutritious and great for all ages! {Gluten-free, vegan & no added sugar}
We’ve been on a hunt for mess-free snacks lately that are especially good for on the go.
Because these days, it seems like we are always on the run.
Our criteria for mess-free snacks are:
- Not too crumbly.
2. Not too sticky.
3. Doesn’t stain easily.
For any of you who have a toddler, know a toddler or have encountered a toddler, you understand the importance of these criteria.
Toddlers are MESSY. They’re super cute. But messy.
So we try, at the very least, to stay somewhat clean when we’re out and about.
Up until this point, our go-to on-the-run snacks have been these mini almond butter muffin bites and nut-free apple oat energy bites.
But one day, I got the urge to experiment with a healthy cookie recipe…one without any added sugar and plenty of nutrients.
Enter these healthy banana cookies (AKA chewy banana oatmeal cookies)!
How to Make Healthy Banana Cookies
There aren’t too many recipes out there that you can whip together as fast as this banana cookie recipe. There also aren’t too many cookie recipes that are as healthy as this one.
But we’ll chat about that later ;)
Let’s get to the nitty gritty of how to make these cookies happen.
I promise…this won’t take long at all.
First, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Next, mash two overripe bananas in a large bowl. This is a great opportunity to put those spotty bananas that are about to go bad to good use.
Mix in the natural peanut butter. Natural means that the only ingredient on the list should be “peanuts.” No salt, added sugar, hydrogenated oils, or other funky ingredients manufacturers like to add. We don’t need any of that in these cookies.
Next, add the applesauce, oats, cinnamon and vanilla extra and mix until combined. Toss in any desired add-ins.
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Using a large spoon, evenly distribute the cookie mixture across the baking sheet.
The mixture should make about twelve cookies.
Bake the cookies for 25 to 30 minutes or until lightly browned on the outside.
The cookies will still be quite soft when you remove them from the oven, but will harden up slightly as they cool. Keep in mind that the texture of these cookies is supposed to be quite soft and slightly chewy, not hard and crunchy like some cookies.
What makes these Banana Cookies Healthy?
Every ingredient used in these cookies adds a dose of nutrients, making it very hard to argue about their health benefits.
Cookies with benefits? Sign me up!
- Oats – source of soluble fibre, B vitamins, magnesium, iron and zinc
- Natural peanut butter– source of healthy fats, vitamin E and protein
- Banana – source of potassium, fibre, and also provides plenty of natural sweetness so no added sugar is required.
- Cinnamon – provides antioxidants and can also help to manage blood sugar levels.
- Unsweetened applesauce – provides plenty of vitamin C and once again provides a dose of sweetness to avoid the use of added sugar.
Other reasons to love these healthy banana cookies
There’s a few reasons why we’ve been making these cookies on repeat lately!
They are:
- Easy to make
- Portable
- Soft and chewy
- Naturally sweetened
- Not messy
- Easily customizable
- Great for kids and adults
- The perfect way to use up those overripe bananas!
Can I use steel cut oats or quick oats instead of rolled oats for these cookies?
For the purpose of this recipe, steel cut oats would not be a good option since they tend to be more hard and chewy. Not the consistency we’re going for with these cookies.
Quick oats would work as a substitute, just keep in mind that the cookies won’t have as much texture or be as chewy. However, they’ll still turn out just fine if you go with quick instead of the rolled oats.
Optional Add-ins for these Healthy Banana Cookies
There are a number of ways you can spruce these cookies up! Feel free to add in any of the following ingredients, depending on what you’re feeling:
- Mini dark chocolate chips
- Chopped walnuts
- Pumpkin seeds
- Hemp hearts
- Raisins
- Vanilla or unsweetened protein powder (can use vegan or whey
How long do these cookies last?
After baking, these cookies should last at room temperature stored in an air-tight container for about four days. Beyond that, I would recommend freezing them to preserve their freshness.
Are these cookies freezer-friendly?
Yes! Once they’re baked, allow them to fully cool.
Place them in a large ziplock bag or air-tight container to freeze. Place in the fridge or at room temperature overnight to thaw.
The cookies can be stored in the freezer for up to three months.
Can I make these cookies nut-free?
Definitely! Don’t you love recipes that are easily customizable?!
Instead of the natural peanut butter, you can sub in sunflower, pumpkin seed butter or Wow butter!
You can also replace the optional nuts with Hemp hearts or seeds, or leave them out all together.
Can babies and toddlers eat these healthy banana cookies?
Yes! They’re amazing cookies for babies and toddlers since they are easy to chew and don’t contain any added salt or sugar. Due to their soft texture, they are especially great for baby-led weaning or teething.
However, it is recommended that you stick to the base of the recipe and avoid add-ins such as nuts and seeds as these can be a choking hazard.
Are these cookies suitable for older children and adults?
Absolutely! These would be great to pack into your children’s lunch box (you can sub in sunflower/pumpkin seed butter or Wow butter to make them nut-free).
Similarly, for adults, they’re a great way to get that sweet fix without the added sugar. You can even add a scoop of protein powder for a higher protein option that also serves as a suitable pre or post workout snack!
Totally my kind of cookie!
Did you make this recipe? Scroll down to leave a rating and review!
Healthy Banana Cookies
Ingredients
- 2 overripe bananas mashed
- 1/3 cup natural peanut butter
- 2/3 cup unsweetened apple sauce
- 1 1/2 cups rolled oats can use gluten-free if necessary
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Optional add-ins:
- Mini dark chocolate chips
- Chopped walnuts
- Hemp hearts
- Raisins
- Scoop of vanilla protein powder
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Mix all ingredients for the cookies in a large bowl until evenly distributed. Using a large spoon, evenly divide the mixture to form twelve cookies on the baking sheet.
- Place in oven and bake for 25-30 minutes or until lightly browned.
- Store at room temperature for up to four days or in the freezer for up to three months.
Nutrition
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What could I use as a substitute for the apple sauce?
You could try subbing in some extra banana, or you could even try experimenting with sweet potato or pumpkin in place of the apple sauce! Hope it works out for you!
These are delicious!! I added one scoop of vanilla protein powder, a little sea salt (like one turn of the grinder), and maybe a palmful of semi-sweet chocolate chips. Really satisfied my sweet tooth without all the flour, butter, and sugar of most cookies! Thanks for sharing your recipe!
Thanks so much Genna! Love the addition of the protein powder, sea salt and chocolate chips! Definitely a healthier way to satisfy that sweet tooth! Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment :)
Easy healthy cookies that my 2 year old loves for a snack. I added dark chocolate chips and a little unsweetened coconut.
So glad your little one is enjoying these cookies! Love the addition of the chocolate chips and coconut! Thanks for stopping by to comment!
Can I use frozen bananas?
I think frozen bananas would work! I haven’t tried using frozen bananas yet for this recipe, so if you have a chance to try it out, please let me know how it turns out!