The combination of crispy oats, sweet banana, nutritious nuts, seeds, berries, and smooth peanut butter creates a unique and irresistible texture that will sure to be loved by many.
The satisfaction from the crunch and the chewiness make these healthy oatmeal cookies unlike any other.
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Why It's Yummy
- Nutritious - Oats are a great source of fiber and essential nutrients.
- Fulfilling - They will keep you full for longer, making them a great snack!
- Low in sugar - Traditional oatmeal cookies are often made with a lot of sugar, but here we are using maple syrup and banana which can help to reduce the sugar content while still providing enough sweetness for these healthy oatmeal cookies.
- Related: Cranberry Overnight Oats
Ingredients
- Oats - quick oats, steel-cut oats, old-fashioned rolled oats. For even-looking uniform cookies, use quick oats, for chunky - rolled oats. Use certified GF oats if needed.
- Oat Flour - or regular all-purpose flour or gluten free flour (with or without xanthan gum).
- Salt - sea salt or kosher salt for the best natural flavor. Salt is optional but helps to enhance all the flavors and intensify the cocoa and maple syrup taste.
- Peanut butter - almond butter can be used instead. I don't recommend using natural peanut butter as this can create dry cookies. Although be sure to check the ingredients in your peanut butter, I recommend no sugar added.
- Vanilla bean paste or pure vanilla extract - both can be used interchangeably in baking. I just find that paste has a stronger vanilla flavor.
- Maple syrup - or honey or agave syrup.
- Nuts, seeds and dried fruit - just mix & match and use what’s available in your kitchen pantry.
I used freeze dried raspberries for a little extra crunch but you can use dried fruit of choice instead.
My few comments on the ingredients + don't forget to read the Tips section!
The full recipe and ingredients can be found in the recipe card below this post.
How To Make Healthy Oatmeal Cookies
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
Combine. In a large bowl, mix together the mashed banana, egg, maple syrup, salt, cinnamon, and peanut butter.
You can use an electric hand-held mixer or spatula.
Add flour and combine.
Fold in the oats, dried fruit seeds, and almonds.
Shape the cookies. Using a 2-tablespoon-sized cookie scoop, shape the mixture into cookie shapes and gently press down.
Bake. Transfer to a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or silicon matt and bake for 14-15 minutes.
- Related: cranberry overnight oats
These cookies will be soft with a very light crisp exterior. If you want them crisper, bake them for an extra 2 minutes.
Tips
- Make sure to go for no sugar-added oats as many brands may contain added sugars.
- Always wash nuts and dried fruit - despite having these packaged and labeled ‘’ready to eat’’ you still have to wash your dried fruit and nuts (not the freeze-dried berries though). This is especially true if you have purchased them loose.
- To create smaller versions of these healthy oatmeal cookies, consider using a smaller cookie scoop or measuring tablespoon. It's important to keep in mind that smaller cookies will require less baking time, as they will cook faster due to their smaller size.
- You can also add more spices in addition to cinnamon. Nutmeg, cardamom, or ginger will add extra flavor.
- Use whole grain flour - if using regular all-purpose flour instead of oat flour, replace it with whole grain flour to increase the fiber and nutrient content of your cookies. For the oats as well, use whole grain oats without any additives and added sugar.
- Vegan - make these cookies vegan by using flax seed egg or chia egg.
- Further reading - How to measure baking ingredients.
Freezing And Storing Instructions
- To Store. Keep the cookies stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. Or refrigerate for longer.
- To Freeze. Transfer cookies to an airtight container or freezer-friendly bag and freeze for up to 3-4 months. Defrost in the refrigerator and let come to room temperature before eating.
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Recipe
The Best Healthy Oatmeal Cookies
INGREDIENTS
- ½ cup mashed banana, ripe
- ¼ cup oat flour , or gluten-free flour if needed
- 1 cup old-fashioned oats, or certified gluten-free oats
- 1 egg
- ¼ cup pure maple syrup
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ cup peanut butter , or other nut butter or allergy-friendly substitute
- ¼ cup pumpkin seeds
- ¼ cup sunflower seeds
- ¼ cup crushed freeze-dried berries, or dried fruit, I used raspberry
- ½ cup almond flakes , or chopped almonds
INSTRUCTIONS
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- In a large bowl, mix together the mashed banana, egg, maple syrup, salt, cinnamon, and peanut butter. You can use an electric hand-held mixer or spatula.
- Add flour and combine.
- Fold in the oats, dried fruit seeds, and almonds.
- Using a 2 tablespoon-sized cookie scoop, shape the mixture into cookie shapes and gently press down. Transfer to a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or silicon matt and bake for 14-15 minutes. These cookies will be soft with a very light crisp exterior. If you want them crisper, bake for extra 2 minutes.
VIDEO
ADD YOUR OWN PRIVATE NOTES
NUTRITION
FAQs
Avoid over-baking and store the oatmeal cookies in an airtight container at room temperature. To maintain moisture, consider adding a slice of bread or a damp paper towel to the container.
Oatmeal is commonly perceived as a healthy ingredient in cookies, being a whole grain with fiber, aiding digestion, and lowering cholesterol; it also provides protein, iron, magnesium, and zinc, but moderation is key, and they are best enjoyed as snacks rather than meals.
Easy Healthy Cookie Recipes
For all baking recipes, hop on to our Desserts collection.
Note: Nutrition information is estimated and varies based on products used.
Full Nutrition Disclaimer can be found here.
Julia | The Yummy Bowl
Healthy Oatmeal Cookies - The satisfaction from the crunch and the satisfaction from the chewiness make this cookie unlike any other.
Luis
This is a wonderful totally nutritious recipe
Julia | The Yummy Bowl
thank you so much Luis, glad you liked it!
Colleen
What is the serving size please? I am Type II diabetic. Is the nutritional value for one cookie? Thank you.
Julia | The Yummy Bowl
Colleen, my nutrition calculator is showing 110 kcal per 1 cookie, but this is always estimate and will depend on exact ingredients you'll be using. You can also try this to calculate according to your ingredients: https://www.verywellfit.com/recipe-nutrition-analyzer-4157076
Jennifer Comfort
Perfect snack that isn't all sugar! My family loved them! I now plan ahead and ask for suggestions before going to the the market. We like to experiment with different seeds, nuts, and berries. Thank you!
Julia | The Yummy Bowl
nuts and seeds are incredible and nutritious indeed!
John Richards
These look great, but what happened to the rhubarb?
Ellie
These look absolutely delicious, I can't wait to try! They look exactly like ones I had before that I loved and have been searching for the recipe! I love how they can be made gluten-free & to fit other dietary restrictions. Plus, great variety in switching up the nut butter, nuts or seeds, and fruit! I'll try them first with dried cranberries. Yum!
*Tip for diabetics- look into natural Monk Fruit Sugar! It doesn't impact blood sugar or insulin levels. <3
Julia | The Yummy Bowl
thank you for sharing the tip Ellie, glad you enjoyed!
Maria
Can I add fresh blueberries instead?
Thank you
Julia | The Yummy Bowl
you could try, but they will add moisture to cookies
Brandi
These are so easy to make and were delicious! We have been eating them for breakfast.
Julia | The Yummy Bowl
thank you!
Ned
This was just the cookie I was looking for! Healthy and delicious! It was perfect!
Julia | The Yummy Bowl
thank you!
Sharon
Love this recipe, I would totally make it with sunflower seed butter instead of peanut butter. I sometimes wash my dried fruit too and I'm curious why you wash them or your seeds and nuts? Thanks!
Julia | The Yummy Bowl
debris and dirt and chemicals are on them 🙂
Dannii
These cookies were amazing. They had everything we love in them and the perfect texture.
Julia | The Yummy Bowl
they are perfect!