3 Ingredient Banana Oat Cookies that can be eaten for breakfast or dessert? Um, yes, please! This super simple whole foods recipe features two classic staples you probably always have on hand: bananas and oats. The fun part is the third ingredient has literally hundreds (possibly thousands?) of options!

I know I speak for all whole foods recipe lovers out there that this recipe begs to be baked. Not only is it delicious and literally fool-proof, but it's also the perfect morning energy boost for both picky toddlers and adults! It has the classic staples — bananas and oats for complex carbs — and there are hundreds of different pantry options you can add as the third ingredient!

Maybe it's just me and my kids, but there's something about eating a cookie for breakfast that makes you feel like you're breaking a rule — and I like it! What's funny is that this cookie recipe is as nourishing as it gets but my kids will never know the difference.

I love to bake a big batch of these over the weekend and store them in the fridge for easy breakfasts all week!

Here’s what you need:

• Bananas. Some people say to use super ripe bananas but it doesn't make a difference in baking these cookies, it's just a taste preference. The riper the banana, the sweeter your cookie will be. I prefer them “just ripe enough” for them to come out exactly the way I like them — not too sweet! The bananas in the picture are a touch riper than I normally bake them!
• Old fashioned rolled oats. We prefer the sprouted gluten-free version from One Degree (they're organic and the company tests every batch for glyphosate residue!). You could also use quick oats.
• A third ingredient of choice! Want to make cinnamon cookies? Add a teaspoon of cinnamon. You could also add a half cup of shredded coconut. Or a half cup of refined sugar free chocolate chips (like these). The possibilities are endless! Click here to see my favorite options with measurements.

How to make these cookies

1. Preheat oven to 350˚
2. In a small bowl, mash the bananas with a fork until it forms a thick paste (it's okay to leave some chunks if you want some banana chunks in your cookie!)

3. Add the oats and mix until it is all incorporated.
4. Add your third ingredient of choice to the bowl and mix until it forms a dough. You can also choose to add more than one extra ingredient! Just keep in mind if you adding three or more extra ingredients you may need to add more banana and oats to hold it all together.
5. Using a spoon or one-inch cookie scoop, place 12 dough balls onto a lined cookie sheet. This is our go-to parchment paper for everything we bake. They cookies won't spread at all so if you like them rounder like I do, you can leave them as is. If you prefer a flatter, crispier cookie, you can flatten lightly with a fork.

6. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until cookies are firm and bottoms are just slightly brown. Allow to cool on the tray for 5 minutes before transfering to a cooling rack.
7. You can store these in a sealed container at room temperature for up to 3 days, in the fridge for up to 1 week or in the freezer for up to 3 months.

Get Creative!

You could go with a classic banana, oat, and chocolate chip cookie, or even a banana, oat, and hemp seed cookie. These cookies are amazingly easy (and amazingly convenient to make ahead for toddler-friendly breakfasts and snacks all week). Here are some of my favorite options as the third ingredient:

• 1/2 cup refined sugar free chocolate chips
• 1/2 cup chopped dates (I especially love these)
• 1/2 cup chopped pistachios, walnuts, or almonds
• 1/2 cup pumpkin seeds
• 1.5 tsp cinnamon
• 1 tbsp vanilla
• 1-2 tbsp maple syrup or coconut sugar

Notes

Please note, these cookies are not super decadent, they are a truly clean option suitable for breakfast! If you want a more “dessert” type of treat, you should try these clean Homemade Twix Bars!

You can make these with only pantry staples — this cookie recipe only has THREE ingredients! These three-ingredient banana cookies are insanely easy to make and have hundreds of different topping possibilities.