These simple, naturally-sweetened peanut butter banana oatmeal cookies are the perfect healthy treat for a school or work lunchbox. They’re made with just 4 ingredients– oats, peanut butter, banana, and chocolate chips. 
I first tried these simple peanut butter banana oatmeal cookies when one of my good friends made them in college, so I knew what to expect when I tried making a version of peanut butter banana oatmeal cookies myself.
They’re are an easy, healthy treat that doesn’t taste overly decadent or sweet. They’re soft rather than crispy and almost remind me of a banana bread cookie. They’re definitely not your typical cookie, but I think they’re delicious.
You can preheat the oven, mix up the batter, and enjoy one of these cookies in 20 minutes from start to finish!
Along with the bananas, peanut butter, oats, chocolate chips, and a sprinkle of salt, you can also add a small amount of honey or coconut sugar if you prefer your cookie to taste a bit sweeter. I don’t love overly-sugary desserts, but I enjoyed the addition of a tablespoon of honey to liven these up after only sweetening them with banana the first time. But it’s up to you!
Roll the cookie dough into balls and then lightly flatten them since they don’t spread in the oven. Before you know it, you’ll be enjoying some cookies hot out of the oven.
I’m still a major dessert lover, so I usually keep a couple of healthy treats in my freezer (in addition to ice cream, which I do have some nights!). Some of my favorite healthier treats are Yasso Greek yogurt bars and these amazing double chocolate peanut butter muffins (which only have 8 grams of sugar).
I often throw a mini treat in my lunchbox to snack on between classes or enjoying after dinner as a healthy dessert, and these peanut butter banana oatmeal cookies are perfect for that.
I hope you enjoy these peanut butter banana oatmeal cookies as much as I do!
If you try these peanut butter banana oatmeal cookies, feel free to let me know in a comment and leave a star rating, or take a photo and tag me @livbane on Instagram! I’d love to see!
4-Ingredient Peanut Butter Banana Oatmeal Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 1/4 cups mashed ripe banana (2 very large bananas, about 290g weighed without peel)
- 1/2 cup peanut butter (I use natural, no sugar added)
- 1 Tbsp. honey or coconut sugar (optional)
- 2 cups quick-cooking oats
- 1/8 tsp. salt
- 1/4 cup chocolate chips (I use semi-sweet or dark)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- Peel bananas and mash in a medium mixing bowl. Add the rest of the ingredients, including optional honey or sugar if using, and stir to combine.
- Cover a cookie sheet with parchment paper. Drop approximately 20 tablespoon-size spoonfuls onto a cookie shape and flatten with a spatula.
- Bake for 8-10 minutes, until cookies have set and are just beginning to lighty brown. Let cool for 5-10 minutes and then remove from cookie sheet.
- For optimal freshness, store leftover cookies in an airtight container on the counter for up to 2 days, in the fridge for up to 1-2 weeks, or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Notes
Nutrition
A Healthy Liv original recipe
So glad to see this recipe. Love easy to make cookies using oatmeal instead of flour.
Yes! Love that they have oats for some extra nutrients and gluten-free if that’s a dietary concern!
I tried these and really enjoyed them for a less sweet cookie option! I find many desserts to be too sweet, anyway!
I’m so glad you enjoyed these, May!!
Ok so mine were definitely not photogenic, but they were delicious! Thanks for sharing these recipes!
I’m so glad you enjoyed these cookies, Amber!!
I made these this morning and loved them! I had some unsweetened coconut that I threw in as well, and it was really good. Thank so much for the recipe!
*Thank you
Haha gotta love it when you type so fast you leave out a word!
Haha so glad to hear that you enjoyed these! Unsweetened coconut sounds like a perfect addition!
These were ok. I guess they aren’t supposed to be super delicious considering that they dont have white sugar and white flour. we still enjoyed them though. Glad I tried the recipe!
Thank you very much for this recipe! I used chunky peanut butter and extra honey. I think that the peanut chunks helped to hold the cookie together. I will make them again.
So glad you enjoyed these 😀
Just made these and we love them! A perfect after school treat for my daughter. Thank you!
I was craving something like this today and am so glad I found the recipe. I added cinnamon, a splash of vanilla, and ground flax to mine. The result was perfection! It was exactly what I needed to eat…in fact, I had 5 and considered that my dinner. Yum!!