Healthy Oatmeal Banana Dark Chocolate Cookies

When it comes to finding a dessert that satisfies both your sweet tooth and your desire to eat something nourishing, these Healthy Oatmeal Banana Dark Chocolate Cookies check every box. They’re soft, chewy and loaded with fiber and whole grains. Best of all, they come together quickly with simple pantry staples and are perfect for breakfast, an afternoon pick me up, or even a guilt free dessert.

Ingredients

These banana oatmeal cookies are made with simple ingredients like

• Ripe Bananas – The riper, the better! Bananas not only act as a natural sweetener but also replace butter or oil for moisture.
• Quick Oats – Provide fiber, texture, and a hearty base for the cookies. You can also use old fashioned oats instead of quick oats.
• Dark Chocolate – You can use either dark chocolate that comes in a bar (which may be a bit healthier) or opt in for convenience and choose dark chocolate chips.
• Brown Sugar – If your bananas aren’t very ripe or you like sweeter cookies, you will want to add in a bit of this but it is totally optional and can be left out.
• Honey
• Vanilla Extract
• Flour
• Salt

You can throw everything into one bowl, mix, drop them on a cookie sheet and bake. They are really so quick and easy to make!

These cookies are a great thing to whip up when you have some ripe bananas laying around that you don’t know what to do with. I also like to throw my bananas into the freezer if I just have one or two that don’t get eaten and turn brown. Then when you have enough, you can let them thaw for a little bit on the counter and turn them into cookies!

Tips for the Best Cookies

• Use very ripe bananas. The ones with lots of brown spots will give the best sweetness and flavor.
• Don’t overbake. These cookies are meant to be soft and chewy, not crispy.
• Customize mix-ins. Swap chocolate for dried cranberries, coconut flakes, or chopped nuts.
• Add protein. Stir in a scoop of your favorite protein powder to turn these cookies into a post-workout snack.

Storage & Freezing

• Countertop: Store in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
• Fridge: Keep for up to a week for a firmer texture.
• Freezer: Freeze cookies in a single layer, then transfer to a freezer-safe bag. Reheat in the microwave for 20–30 seconds.

Q & A

Can these cookies just be sweetened with honey?

Yes, you can definitely just use honey to sweeten these cookies especially as ripe bananas are naturally sweet. I just wanted them a bit sweeter so I added a bit of brown sugar. It’s completely optional!

How ripe should my bananas be?

The riper, the better! Bananas with brown spots or even mostly brown peels are perfect because they’re naturally sweeter and mash more easily. Avoid all yellow bananas and especially green bananas as they won’t add enough sweetness or moisture.

How can I make these cookies sweeter without adding refined sugar?

If your bananas aren’t very ripe or you want a sweeter treat, add extra honey or even some maple syrup. You can also increase the amount of dark chocolate or use semi-sweet chocolate chips instead.