Banana Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe

A Sweet Start

My grandson calls these his “monkey cookies.” I still laugh at that. It is because of the bananas. He loves to mash them with a fork in my big yellow bowl. It is a wonderful, messy job for a helper.

This recipe is a cozy one. It makes the whole kitchen smell like a warm hug. You are making something good for your body and your heart. That matters more than you might think.

Mixing Up Memories

I learned to bake with my own grandmother. Her hands were covered in flour. She never measured anything exactly. She just knew.

I do not have her magic touch. So I use measuring cups. It is okay to follow the steps. The real magic is in the sharing. What is your favorite food memory from when you were small?

Why These Ingredients Work

The bananas make the cookies soft and sweet. You do not need much extra sugar. The oats and walnuts make them feel sturdy. They are like a little snack that sticks with you.

Using what you have is a good lesson. It teaches you to be creative. Ripe bananas are perfect for this. They are too soft for eating, but just right for baking. This is a good way to not waste food.

The Fun Part: Making the Dough

Mix the wet things in one bowl. Mix the dry things in another. Then you get to pour them together. Doesn’t that smell amazing? The vanilla and maple syrup are so good.

Stir it all up until it looks like one happy family. The dough will be thick and lumpy. That is how it should be. Fun fact: Rolled oats are also called old-fashioned oats. They give the cookies a nice, chewy feel.

Ready for the Oven

Drop little mounds of dough onto your pan. Then press them down gently with your fingers. They will not spread much on their own.

Now, the waiting is the hardest part. You will know they are done when the edges turn a light gold. Do you like your cookies soft and chewy or a little bit crispy around the edges?

A Cozy Treat to Share

Let the cookies cool for a few minutes. They are very tender when they are hot. I love having one with a glass of cold milk.

Food always tastes better when you share it. It is a simple way to show someone you care. Who would you share a plate of these warm cookies with today?

Ingredients:

Ingredient	Amount	Notes
Ripe bananas, mashed	2 large (about 3/4 cup)
Almond butter	1/2 cup
Maple syrup	3 tbsp
Vanilla extract	1 tsp
Rolled oats	2 cups
Salt	1/4 tsp
Cinnamon	1/2 tsp	Optional
Chocolate chips	1/4 cup
Walnuts, chopped	1/3 cup

My Cozy Banana Cookie Story

I have always loved the smell of baking cookies. It makes a house feel like a home. My grandson, Leo, inspired this recipe one rainy afternoon. He had some bananas that were too spotty to eat. “Don’t throw them out,” I told him. Those brown bananas are the sweetest.

We decided to make something simple and good. This recipe is like a big, warm hug. You just mix everything in two bowls. There’s no fussy chilling or complicated steps. I still laugh at how Leo ate half the dough before it even saw the oven. Doesn’t that smell amazing when it bakes?

Ingredients

• 2 ripe bananas
• 1/2 cup almond butter
• 1/4 cup maple syrup
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 cups rolled oats
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/2 cup chocolate chips
• 1/4 cup chopped walnuts

Instructions

Step 1: First, get your oven nice and warm. Set it to 350°F. Then, line your baking sheet with parchment paper. This little trick saves so much scrubbing later. I learned that the hard way after many messy pans!

Step 2: Now, let’s make the wet mix. Grab a bowl and mash your bananas well. Stir in the almond butter, maple syrup, and vanilla. It will look a little lumpy and that’s just fine. This is the sweet, sticky glue that holds our cookies together.

Step 3: In another bowl, mix the dry stuff. That’s the oats, salt, cinnamon, chocolate chips, and walnuts. I love the crunch walnuts add. (A hard-learned tip: If your almond butter is oily, give it a good stir first!).

Step 4: Pour your wet mixture into the dry bowl. Stir it all up until you don’t see any dry oats. The dough will be thick and sturdy. This is when Leo always sneaks a taste. Can you guess his favorite part? The chocolate chips, of course!

Step 5: Use a spoon to drop mounds of dough onto your sheet. Gently press down on each one to flatten them. They don’t spread much, so this helps them bake evenly. I like to make them all the same size.

Step 6: Slide them into the oven for 12 to 15 minutes. You’ll know they’re done when the edges turn a lovely golden brown. Let them cool on the pan for a few minutes. They are very soft when they first come out. Do you like your cookies chewy or crispy? Share below!

Cook Time: 12–15 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes
Yield: 12 cookies
Category: Snack, Dessert

Three Fun Twists to Try

This recipe is like a favorite sweater. It’s cozy, but you can dress it up. Here are a few ways we like to change it. It’s fun to get creative in the kitchen.

Sunshine Cookie: Swap the chocolate chips for dried cranberries and sunflower seeds. It tastes like a sunny day.

Trail Mix Delight: Use peanut butter instead of almond butter. Add a handful of raisins with the chocolate chips.

Double Chocolate Dream: Mix in a tablespoon of cocoa powder with the oats. Then use white chocolate chips for a sweet surprise.

Which one would you try first? Comment below!

The Perfect Little Treat

I love how these cookies feel like a complete little treat. They are perfect just as they are. But sometimes, it’s nice to make them extra special. I have a few simple ideas for you.

For a real treat, crumble one over a bowl of vanilla yogurt. You can also pack two in a lunchbox with a small apple. They travel so well. A cold glass of milk is always the best friend to a cookie.

If you’re having friends over, try pairing them with a cold glass of almond milk. For the grown-ups, a nice cup of coffee with a splash of cream is wonderful. The nutty flavors in the cookie love coffee. Which would you choose tonight?

Keeping Your Cookies Happy

These cookies are best friends with your fridge. Just pop them in an airtight container. They will stay fresh for about five days.

You can also freeze them for a sweet treat later. I wrap each cookie tightly in plastic wrap. Then I place them all in a freezer bag.

I once forgot a batch on the counter overnight. They were a bit dry in the morning. Now I always tuck them away right after they cool.

This matters because a little planning saves food and money. You can bake a big batch on Sunday. Then you have a ready-made snack all week.

Have you ever tried storing it this way? Share below!

Easy Fixes for Cookie Troubles

Is your cookie dough too wet or sticky? This happens if your bananas are very large. Just add a few more tablespoons of oats.

Are your cookies not spreading in the oven? Remember to press them down gently. I remember when I forgot this step once. My cookies looked like little mounds!

Do they stick to the pan without parchment paper? Lining your tray is a simple fix. This small step makes a huge difference.

Fixing small issues builds your cooking confidence. It also makes your food taste just right. Every baker learns by doing, I promise.

Which of these problems have you run into before?

Your Quick Cookie Questions

Q: Are these cookies gluten-free? A: Yes, if you use certified gluten-free oats. Always check your oat package to be sure.

Q: Can I make the dough ahead? A: Absolutely. You can keep the dough in the fridge for one day. Then just bake when you are ready.

Q: What can I use instead of almond butter? A: Peanut butter works wonderfully. You can use sunflower seed butter too.

Q: Can I double this recipe? A: Of course! Just use a bigger bowl. You might need to bake in two batches.

Q: Are the walnuts optional? A: Yes, you can leave them out. The cookies will still be delicious and chewy. Fun fact: The riper the banana, the sweeter your cookie!

Which tip will you try first?

Bake, Share, and Enjoy

I hope you love baking these cookies as much as I do. They always make my kitchen smell wonderful. It is a simple joy to share.

I would be so happy to see your creations. Please share a picture of your finished cookies. It makes my day to see your baking adventures.

Have you tried this recipe? Tag us on Pinterest!

Happy cooking!

—Olivia Hartwell.