Description
These Chewy Banana Oatmeal Cookies are a delightful treat combining the natural sweetness of ripe bananas with hearty oats and warm cinnamon. Soft and chewy with optional add-ins like chocolate chips or nuts, they make a perfect snack or breakfast-on-the-go that’s easy to prepare and satisfying for the whole family.
Ingredients
Scale
Wet Ingredients
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup mashed ripe banana (about 1 medium banana)
Dry Ingredients
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1 1/2 cups old-fashioned oats
Optional Add-ins
- 1/2 cup chocolate chips, chopped nuts, or raisins
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper to prevent sticking and ensure easy cleanup.
- Cream Butter and Sugars: In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar using a mixer or spoon until the mixture is smooth, fluffy, and well combined.
- Add Wet Ingredients: Beat in the egg, vanilla extract, and mashed banana until the mixture is fully combined and smooth, adding moisture and flavor to the dough.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, salt, and ground cinnamon to evenly distribute leavening and spices.
- Combine Wet and Dry: Gradually add the dry mixture to the wet ingredients, stirring just until everything is combined without overmixing to keep the cookies tender.
- Add Oats and Optional Mix-ins: Fold in the old-fashioned oats and any optional add-ins such as chocolate chips, chopped nuts, or raisins to add texture and flavor complexity.
- Shape Cookies: Drop spoonfuls of dough onto the prepared baking sheets, spacing them about 2 inches apart to allow for spreading during baking.
- Bake Cookies: Bake the cookies for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges turn lightly golden while the centers remain soft and chewy, indicating perfect doneness.
- Cool Cookies: Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheets for 5 minutes to set before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely, which helps maintain their chewy texture.
Notes
- Ensure bananas are ripe for natural sweetness and best flavor.
- You can customize your cookies by adding chocolate chips, nuts, or raisins.
- Don’t overbake; removing at slight golden edges keeps cookies chewy.
- Store cookies in an airtight container to maintain freshness and softness.
- Use old-fashioned oats for best texture; quick oats may make cookies less chewy.
