Banana Oatmeal Raisin Cookies (2024)

I buy a few bananas every time I go to the grocery store, and they are quickly gobbled up. So, I rarely get to make these delicious banana oatmeal cookies when the bananas are at peak ripeness.

(Luckily, I have a neat trick to ripen them quickly, which I'll share below.)

While I adore making bananas dipped in pancake batter and banana yogurt muffins, I usually opt for these cookies when I have two overripe bananas.

Why? The riper the banana, the sweeter it is, which is why there's no added sugar in this recipe. (It doesn't have any flour, either!)

Banana cookies are also incredibly easy to make, utterly delicious, and perfect for a healthy breakfast, snack, or after-dinner treat. Plus, they're portable.

My go-to recipe is these banana oatmeal cookies with raisins. They're sweet with a slightly chewy texture.

It's a tasty version of the popular 3-ingredient banana cookie recipe you may have seen around the web. We added cinnamon and vanilla.

And if I want to use up extra ingredients from my pantry, I make over-the-top banana everything cookies. Yum!

Ingredient Notes

You'll need just 5 simple ingredients to make healthy banana oatmeal raisin cookies:

Of special note:

• Oatmeal - We used old-fashioned oats, but the quick-cooking instant oats should work.
• Raisins, dried cranberries, and chocolate chips can be used in this recipe with great results.
• Very ripe bananas with brown spots on the outside and practically oozing out of the skin are perfect!

Please see the recipe card at the bottom of this post for the complete list of ingredients with measurements plus recipe instructions.

How to Ripen Bananas in the Microwave

A ripe banana is the biggest stumbling block to enjoying one of these healthy Banana Oatmeal Cookies right away. In a pinch, you can soften the banana in the microwave!

Poke an unpeeled banana all over with a knife. Place the banana on a microwave-safe plate and cook on high for 30 seconds. Check to see if it is soft. If not, continue cooking and checking at 15-second intervals. Allow it to cool first before using.

It will be less sweet using the microwave technique, but you will be snacking on these Banana Oatmeal Raisin Cookies in no time.

Directions with Pictures

Here's how to make delicious banana oatmeal cookies with raisins:

Step 1: Mash bananas in a medium bowl with a fork. Stir in cinnamon and vanilla extract.

Step 2: Mix with rolled oats with the wet ingredients and fold in the raisins.

See Also

Chocolate Chip Banana Muffins - Real Little MealsOatmeal Banana Bread (Vegan)Breakfast Cookies (Healthy & 2 Ingredients)35 Healthy Desserts You're Going to Love

Step 3: Use a cookie scoop to drop Tablespoon-sized balls of batter on a parchment-lined cookie sheet. Lightly press and flatten each ball until it's about ½ inch thick.

Step 4: Bake for about 15 minutes in a 375° F oven or until firm.

Top Tips

• The batter does not spread during baking, so shape the cookies the way you like before they go in the oven.
• Taste the batter to see if it's to your liking. If needed, add up to 1 Tablespoon of maple syrup, honey, or agave nectar for a little more sweetness. Extra raisins will also add to the sweetness.
• Tuck some raisins on top for a pretty cookie.