Healthy No-Sugar-Added Banana Oat Cookies
Meta Description: Bake these delicious and Healthy Banana Oat Cookies with no added sugar! This easy recipe uses ripe bananas and applesauce for natural sweetness, packed with oats, dark chocolate,
Ingredients
(Based on 1x column)
- ▢ 3 ripe bananas, mashed
- ▢ ⅓ cup unsweetened applesauce
- ▢ 2 cups oats (rolled or quick-cooking)
- ▢ ¼ cup almond milk (or other milk)
- ▢ ¼ cup raisins or chopped nuts (e.g., walnuts, pecans)
- ▢ 1 cup no-sugar-added dark chocolate chunks (e.g., Lily’s brand), optional
- ▢ 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ▢ 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- ▢ (Implied but not listed: Pinch of salt, which is standard in almost all cookies to balance sweetness. Adding 1/4 tsp salt to ingredients). ¼ teaspoon salt
Instructions
1. Prepare Oven and Baking Sheet:
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (177°C).
- Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat to prevent the cookies from sticking.
2. Combine Wet Ingredients:
- In a large mixing bowl, mash the 3 ripe bananas thoroughly using a fork or a potato masher until they are mostly smooth (a few small lumps are okay).
- Add the ⅓ cup of unsweetened applesauce to the mashed bananas. Stir until well mixed.
- Add the 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract and 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon to the banana mixture; stir until evenly distributed. (Add your pinch of salt here too).
3. Add Oats, Milk, and Mix-ins:
- Add the 2 cups of oats to the banana mixture and mix thoroughly until all the oats are moistened.
- Pour the ¼ cup of almond milk into the mixture to add a bit more moisture for the oats to absorb. Stir well.
- If using, gently stir in the ¼ cup of raisins or nuts and the 1 cup of dark chocolate chunks until they are well combined throughout the cookie dough.
4. Shape and Bake the Cookies:
- Using a tablespoon or a small cookie scoop, spoon portions of the mixture onto the prepared baking sheet. Leave a little space between them, though these cookies will not spread much.
- Use the back of a spoon or your clean, slightly damp hand to gently flatten each portion of dough slightly. This helps them cook evenly.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 15-20 minutes. The cookies are done when they feel firm to the touch and the bottoms are lightly golden.
5. Cool and Serve:
- Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes to allow them to set up.
- Carefully transfer the cookies to a wire cooling rack to cool completely.
- Once cooled, serve and enjoy your delicious and healthy cookies!