Banana Dark Chocolate Oat Cookies
By the QuiteRecipes team (Jamy & Kaïna) | Food Service Professional, Early Childhood Expert & Parents
Soft flourless cookies with mashed banana and dark chocolate chips - a wholesome, grab-and-go pre-workout treat.
Cookies you can reach for before a workout without an ounce of guilt. Mashed banana handles the sweetness, oats bring the staying power, and dark chocolate chips make sure nobody mistakes them for health food — soft, flourless, and gone fast.
🥄 Ingredients
- 🫗 2 very ripe bananas, mashed (about 1 cup)
- 🫗 1 1/2 cups (150g) rolled oats
- 🫗 1/4 cup (45g) dark chocolate chips (70% or higher)
- 🫗 1/4 cup (60g) unsweetened applesauce
- 🫗 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 🫗 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Nutrition Facts*
*Nutritional information is an estimate and may vary based on ingredients, brands and portion sizes. Values are provided per serving.
👨🍳 Instructions
Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
In a bowl, mash the bananas well, then stir in the applesauce, cinnamon and vanilla.
Fold in the oats and the dark chocolate chips.
Scoop the mixture into 9 mounds, about 2 tablespoons each, and flatten them slightly.
Bake for 11-13 minutes until the edges turn golden.
Cool completely on the baking sheet; the cookies set as they cool.
⚠️ Common Mistakes
- ✕
Underbaking, which leaves the middle gooey.
- ✕
Baking the cookies too thin, so they spread excessively.
- ✕
Skipping the cooling time and trying to move them while hot.
🔄 Variations
Stir in a tablespoon of chia seeds for extra fiber.
Add a handful of chopped walnuts.
Swap the applesauce for peanut butter for a higher-fat, higher-protein cookie.
🧊 Storage
- 📦
Keep in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days.
- 📦
Freeze for up to 2 months and thaw for a few minutes before eating.
💡 Chef Tips
Tip 1: Use the ripest bananas you have; they bring all the sweetness.
Tip 2: Flatten the mounds evenly so they bake through consistently.
Tip 3: Chill the chocolate chips for 10 minutes so they keep their shape in the oven.
Tip 4: Do not overbake - they firm up as they cool.
❓ FAQ
Are these cookies flourless? Yes - oats and banana do all the work.
How many calories per cookie? About 115.
Are they vegan? Yes, when you use vegan-certified dark chocolate chips.
Are they good before training? Yes, two cookies make a great pre-workout snack.
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About the Authors
This recipe and guide was developed, tested, and approved in our home kitchen and daily life. Jamy is a retired Food Service District Manager and Early Childhood Program Manager who spent his career overseeing multi-site restaurant operations, large-scale culinary production, and daycare menu management. Kaïna brings the ultimate real-world test: making sure it brings ease and joy to our kids on a busy weeknight.
Read more about our professional background and philosophy →