Description
These 3-ingredient oatmeal cookies are a simple and wholesome treat made with ripe bananas, rolled oats, and peanut butter. Perfect for busy days, they come together quickly with no mixer required, offering a cozy, healthy snack that you can customize with optional add-ins like chocolate chips or raisins.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 2 ripe bananas
- 1 cup rolled oats (old-fashioned oats)
- 1/2 cup peanut butter
Optional Add-Ins
- Chocolate chips
- Raisins
- A pinch of cinnamon
- A splash of vanilla extract
- A tiny pinch of salt
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Set your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper to prepare for baking the cookies.
- Mash the bananas: In a medium bowl, mash 2 ripe bananas until they are mostly smooth, leaving a few small lumps for texture.
- Stir in the peanut butter: Add 1/2 cup of peanut butter to the mashed bananas and mix until the mixture is creamy and cohesive.
- Add the oats: Stir in 1 cup of rolled oats. The dough will become thick and slightly sticky, scoopable but not pourable.
- Fold in optional add-ins: If desired, gently fold in chocolate chips, raisins, a pinch of cinnamon, a splash of vanilla, or a tiny pinch of salt to enhance the flavor.
- Portion and shape: Scoop tablespoon-sized mounds onto the lined baking sheet and gently flatten them. These cookies won’t spread much during baking.
- Bake: Place the baking sheet in the oven and bake for 10–12 minutes, until the edges look set and the tops feel lightly firm to the touch.
- Cool briefly: Let the cookies rest on the baking sheet for about 5 minutes, then transfer them to a rack to finish setting and maintain a tender texture.
- Texture tips: For softer cookies, bake closer to 10 minutes; for firmer, toastier cookies, bake near 12 minutes.
Notes
- Use ripe bananas with brown spots for natural sweetness and better mashability.
- Old-fashioned rolled oats provide a hearty texture; quick oats can be used but will result in a softer cookie.
- Peanut butter can be substituted with almond or sunflower butter if preferred.
- Optional add-ins like chocolate chips or raisins are tasty but not necessary.
- Cookies can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or refrigerated for up to a week.
- These cookies are naturally gluten-free if using certified gluten-free oats.
