Are you looking for a gluten-free recipe for oatmeal cookies? Look no further! These oatmeal banana almond cookies are easy to make but are also packed with flavors and beautiful textures.
This recipe features almond flour instead of regular flour, unsweetened coconut flakes, vegetable oil instead of butter, and mashed bananas instead of sugar, for a healthier version of the classic oatmeal cookies.
Oatmeal Gluten-free cookies- low in sugar and filled with nutrients
Oatmeal cookies are always a delight to make, and everyone likes them. They have beautiful textures, are versatile, and once you get a basic recipe under control, you can play with it in many ways by adding or replacing ingredients based on your preferences.
This recipe is slightly different because it doesn’t have the regular items you might find in a standard oatmeal cookie.
Bananas replace the sugar, giving the cookies a subtle sweetness. Instead of regular flour, we will use almond flour and transform these beauties into gluten-free cookies.
We will also use oil instead of butter to make these cookies soft and delicious. And finally, chocolate, because this is an ingredient that works in a lot of cookies.
Why do I love these cookies?
They are chewy, nutritious, easy to make, and healthy. Quite a few reasons to make them, right?
A few notes about the ingredients we need for these oatmeal banana cookies with almond flour
- Old Fashion Rolled Oats
The recipe requires old-fashioned oats because they will give you that chewy texture. You can also use quick oats, but they are ground up, and the cookies will have less texture.
- Bananas
Ripe bananas are perfect for the recipe. The benefit is that you can utilize those humble bananas abandoned on the kitchen counter and make cookies with them. Or you could make banana bread, doughnuts, or even a coffee cake. The main idea is not to throw them away as there are so many things you can do with them.
Related:
Easy Banana Buttermilk Pancakes
- Almond flour
We are using blanched almond flour here.
Note: What is blanched or unblanched almond flour?
Blanched almonds are almonds with the skin removed. If you look at a raw almond, you will notice that it is covered in dark red-brown skin. The blanched flour is made after the skin is removed from the almonds. The unblanched almond flour is made from almonds that the skin was not removed.
You will find both types of flour in the stores. However, the unblanched almond flour has a different texture and will change the color of the final product, making it darker. If you don’t mind, both types of flour can be used interchangeably.
I highly prefer the blanched flour as I notice that the unblanched one can make the final product bitter.
Related:
Tarta De Santiago- Spanish Almond Cake Recipe
- Unsweetened shredded coconut
Shredded coconut comes in many forms and shapes. In this recipe, I prefer to use unsweetened shredded coconut. I do not recommend the use of sweetened coconut in this recipe. This product is moist and very sweet, which will change the texture of the cookies. These cookies are by definition soft and moist cookies, so adding more moisture to them will make them fall apart.
- Chocolate
I like dark chocolate in these cookies. As I said before, we try to make the recipe as healthy as possible, and dark chocolate is good for you. If you prefer semi-sweet chocolate, use it, there is no harm. Just keep in mind that semi-sweet chocolate is sweeter.
Also, you can use either a bar of chocolate that you chop (this is what I did) or chocolate chips.
- Oil
There is no butter here, just oil. Use a neutral oil that has a mild taste. I like to use sunflower oil, but canola or even a milder olive oil works. If you prefer coconut oil, you can use it.
- Vanilla extract
Use the best vanilla you can afford.
- Salt, baking powder
Salt is a magical ingredient that combines all the flavors and enhances them. Please don’t skip it. Baking powder helps the cookies rise a little bit in the oven.
- Cinnamon
Spices are important in recipes. Cinnamon, in particular, is versatile and can be used in savory dishes (like stews or soups) and sweet recipes, like cookies, bars, pies, cakes, or breakfast granolas and pancakes.
How to make these Oatmeal Almond Flour Cookies
Step 1.
Preheat the oven to 350F. Line the baking sheets with parchment paper or baking silicone mats and set them aside.
Also, chop the chocolate if you are not using chocolate chips.
Step 2.
Combine dry ingredients: oats, almond flour, coconut, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt.
Step 3.
In a large bowl or a stand-up mixer, mash the bananas, and add vanilla and oil. Add the dry ingredients to the bananas and stir until well combined. Fold in the chocolate chips.
Step 4.
The dough should be pretty wet and look like this:
Use a small cookie scoop or drop the dough by tablespoonful unto cookie sheets, spacing them 1 inch apart.
Press the tops gently to flatten them.
Step 5.
Bake the cookies for 12-14 minutes, until golden brown around the edges.
Allow these almond flour oatmeal cookies to cool on the baking sheet, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.
These healthy oat cookies are filled with nutrients that are an important energy source. Are you going to make them?
Recipe Faqs
I keep them in the refrigerator in an airtight container. They are very soft and a little bit moist therefore I prefer to refrigerate them. You can keep them for up to 4 days.
Yes, you can. Keep the cookies on the tray and freeze them individually in a single layer, so they don’t stick together. Remove them from the tray and place them in Ziploc bags, back in the freezer for up to three months. Thaw them overnight in the fridge.
Yes, you can add 1/4 cup of any nuts you like. My choice would be slivered or shaved almonds, just to keep the same almond profile.
Oatmeal cookies have a higher amount of fiber than regular cookies but also have a high amount of sugar and saturated fats. In small amounts, these cookies are OK to eat.
My oatmeal cookies recipe has no added sugar, the sweetness coming from the banana and the chocolate. There is also no butter or regular flour, making this recipe a gluten-free one.
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Oatmeal Banana Almond Cookies
Ingredients
- 3 large ripe bananas
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ cup vegetable oil like sunflower oil canola, olive oil
- 2 cups old fashioned rolled oats
- ⅔ cup gluten-free almond flour
- ⅓ cup unsweetened shredded coconut
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 cup dark chocolate chips , 8 ounces
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F. Line two baking sheets with baking mats or parchment paper and set them aside.
- In a large bowl, mash the bananas and add vanilla and oil to them.
- Separately, combine the oats, coconut, almond flour, cinnamon, baking powder and salt. Add the mixture to the bananas and stir until well combined. Fold in the chocolate chips.
- Use a small cookie scoop or drop the dough by tablespoonful unto cookie sheets , spacing them 1 inch apart. Press the tops gently to flatten them.
- Bake the cookies for 12-14 minutes, until golden brown around edges. Allow them to cool on the baking sheet, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.