01 -
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat. This ensures your Easy Banana Oatmeal Cookies | Healthy Breakfast & Snack won't stick and makes cleanup a breeze.
02 -
In a large mixing bowl, thoroughly mash the **2 large ripe bananas** until smooth, about **1 cup**. Ripe bananas are key for natural sweetness and moisture in these healthy breakfast and snack cookies.
03 -
To the mashed bananas, add **1/4 cup pure maple syrup**, **1/4 cup unsweetened almond butter**, **1 large egg**, and **1 tsp vanilla extract**. Whisk everything together until well combined and creamy.
04 -
Incorporate **2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats**, **1 tsp ground cinnamon**, **1/4 tsp sea salt**, **1 tbsp chia seeds**, and **1 tbsp ground flaxseed** into the wet mixture. Stir until just combined, being careful not to overmix the batter for your Easy Banana Oatmeal Cookies | Healthy Breakfast & Snack.
05 -
Gently fold in **1/2 cup dark chocolate chips** (70% cacao or higher) and **1/4 cup chopped walnuts**. Distribute them evenly throughout the cookie dough for delicious pockets of flavor and texture.
06 -
Drop rounded tablespoons of dough onto the prepared baking sheet, leaving about 2 inches between each cookie. Flatten them slightly with the back of a spoon. Bake for 12-15 minutes, or until the edges are golden brown.
07 -
Let the Easy Banana Oatmeal Cookies | Healthy Breakfast & Snack cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. This helps them firm up and prevents crumbling.