Easy Vegan Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies (5 Ingredients)

Name: Easy Vegan Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies (5 Ingredients)
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 20 min
Ingredients: 2 cups mashed ripe bananas ((6 to 7 medium bananas)); 4 cups rolled oats; 1 cup peanut butter (or almond butter, sunflower seed butter, or tahini); 3/4 cup chocolate chips; 1/2 teaspoon baking soda

👩🏼‍🌾 Ingredients

Three ripe bananas, peanut butter, rolled oats, chocolate chips, and baking soda on a white board.

Ripe bananas
Rolled oats
Vegan chocolate chips
Peanut Butter or tahini
Baking soda

See the recipe card for quantities.

🍫 Substitutions

Peanut butter - use almond or walnut butter, or sunflower seed butter or tahini for nut-free

Rolled oats- Use gluten-free oats for gluten-free cookies. For softer cookies, use quick-cooking oats or instant oats instead of old-fashioned rolled oats.

Chocolate chips - Use carob chips instead as desired, or omit them entirely for plain oatmeal cookies. For naturally sweetened cookies, use Pasha brand 100% Cacao Organic Vegan Unsweetened Dark Chocolate Chips.

Baking soda is optional but make these vegan oatmeal cookies rise and caramelize in the oven.

📖 How to Make Vegan Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

Preheat the oven to 350ºF. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper or use a nonstick sheet.

Mashed banana in a blue mixing bowl with a metal masher next to peanut butter and rolled oats.

Step 1. Mash 6 to 7 ripe bananas in a large bowl. Measure 2 cups.

Rolled oats and peanut butter in a blue mixing bowl.

Step 2. Add the 4 cups of rolled oats and 1 cup of peanut butter to the mashed bananas. Mix until fully incorporated.

Mashed banana, rolled oats, chocolate chips, and peanut butter mixed together in a blue mixing bowl with a white spatula.

Step 3. Add the ¾ cup chocolate chips and ½ teaspoon baking soda. Mix well to combine.

Six vegan oatmeal chocolate chip cookies on a parchment-lined baking white sheet.

Step 4. For large breakfast cookies, use about ⅔ cup for each cookie. Using your hands, form balls with the cookie dough. Transfer the balls onto the lined baking sheet, placing them around 2 inches apart. Press down on each ball to form a cookie shape.

One vegan oatmeal chocolate chip cookie on white parchment paper.

Step 5. Bake for about 15 minutes, or until golden brown and warmed through.

💡 Expert Tips

To make smaller cookies: These large cookies are a satisfying size for breakfast. For smaller cookies, use one-half the measurement and bake them for about 12 minutes, or until golden brown and warmed through.

For nut-free: Use tahini or sunflower seed butter instead of peanut butter.

Vegan: Use vegan chocolate chips or carob chips for vegan.

Storage: Refrigerate any remaining cookies in an airtight container for up to one week. Or freeze them in a freezer-safe container in layers, separated by parchment paper so they do not stick, for up to 6 months.

To reheat: Warm them in the microwave on high for 30-second intervals, or bake them at 350ºF in the oven, until warmed through.

🙋🏽‍♀️ Recipe FAQs

Which type of oats is best for making oatmeal cookies?

If you want smoother, softer cookies, quick-cooking oats or instant oats are a better option. Old-fashioned rolled oats take longer to absorb the moisture, resulting in a chewier texture.

Are vegan oatmeal cookies healthier?

Vegan oatmeal cookies are made with plant-based ingredients, which can make them lower in saturated fat and cholesterol compared with traditional oatmeal cookies. They are also suitable for those with dairy or egg allergies.

What are vegan chocolate chips made of?

Vegan chocolate chips are made without dairy-based ingredients such as milk powder or butterfat. They are made of cocoa mass from cocoa beans, a sweetener (cane sugar or coconut sugar), cocoa butter (the fat from cocoa beans), emulsifiers (soy lecithin, or sunflower lecithin), flavorings, and some contain soy or rice milk for a creamier texture.
There are also unsweetened dark vegan chocolate chips, such as Pasha brand, which are sugar-free.

📖 Recipe