Ya know when you just score? That’s the way we feel about these 3 ingredient oatmeal walnut cookies. As moms and registered dietitians, these cookies seriously couldn’t be better. They are made with three simple, wholesome ingredients and are super fast to make. They feel like a treat, but they’re nourishing enough to work as a snack. And best of all? The kids will gobble them up and feel like they’re having a great treat, but they’re actually loading up on nutrients! Oh, and did we mention that they’re only 55 calories each? Woohoo! 🙂
These cookies are so scrumptious—you’ll never believe there’s no sugar added and nothing artificial either—right up these twin registered dietitians’ sweet tooth alley! And we love that they don’t cause a sugar coma for us—or a sugar high for the kids. We all know those are bad news, especially when they’re followed by tantrums or mood swings afterward!
And for us moms who have our waistlines in mind but still want to indulge, these cookies are great for taming a sweet tooth. It works like a charm for us! The trick? By including natural sugars like those in fruit, which also come with fiber and health-promoting nutrients, you can really prevent your sweet tooth from getting the best of you. It really helps fight cravings!
And if you want to feel even better about eating these cookies and serving them to your family, there are some mega health benefits.
There’s really neat information on walnuts! Research has looked at how walnuts may support gut health, and animal studies have explored how walnuts may affect gut bacteria and colon health. So while we wouldn’t call these cookies a magic bullet, we do love that walnuts add crunch, healthy fats, and extra nutrition to such a simple snack.
Oatmeal is a great source of heart-healthy soluble fiber—and it’s never too young to create a healthy heart. Oats contain beta-glucan, a soluble fiber associated with helping support healthy cholesterol levels as part of an overall heart-healthy diet. Oatmeal also helps fuel muscles and brains with wholesome, whole-grain carbohydrates.
Bananas are a fantastic source of energy-revving carbohydrates, potassium, and fiber. They also bring natural sweetness to these 3 ingredient oatmeal walnut cookies, so you don’t need to add sugar to make them taste like a treat. A medium banana provides carbohydrates, fiber, and potassium, which is one reason bananas work so well in simple snack recipes like this one.
If you’re looking for easy 3 ingredient oatmeal walnut cookies, this recipe is about as simple as it gets. You don’t need flour, eggs, butter, oil, or added sugar. The ripe bananas hold everything together, the oats give the cookies texture and staying power, and the walnuts add crunch and healthy fats.
These 3 ingredient oatmeal walnut cookies are also a great recipe for busy mornings, lunch boxes, after-school snacks, or anytime you want something sweet without making a full dessert. They’re soft, chewy, naturally sweet, and easy enough for kids to help make.
For the best texture, use very ripe bananas—the spotty, soft ones are perfect. Quick rolled oats work especially well because they absorb the banana and help the cookies hold together. If you only have old-fashioned rolled oats, you can pulse them briefly in a food processor or blender to make the texture a little finer.
You can also make these 3 ingredient oatmeal walnut cookies your own. Try adding a sprinkle of cinnamon, a splash of vanilla, or a few mini chocolate chips if you want them to feel more dessert-like. The basic recipe stays the same, but a tiny add-in can change the flavour just enough to keep them fun.
3 Ingredient Oatmeal Walnut Cookies
These truly are the easiest cookies that you’ve ever seen! They only take 10 minutes to cook and they’re a great breakfast or on-the-go snack. If you have ’em for breakfast, have two and team them up with protein like Greek yogurt or an omelet for real staying power.
Ingredients
- 1 cup quick rolled oats
- 2 VERY ripe bananas
- ½ cup crushed California walnuts
Directions
- Preheat oven to 375°
- Mix all three ingredients together.
- Place 1 Tbsp of mixture on a greased baking sheet and bake for 10 minutes.
Makes approximately 14 cookies.
Each cookie has 55 calories, 2 g fat, 1 g protein, 8 g carbohydrate, 1 g fiber, 2 g sugar, 1 mg sodium
Enjoy!
Just found this, had two bananas needing to be binned, now have I 20 yummy cookies!
Does it have to be bananas? Is there some other produce that could be used?
Yes, you can substitute bananas with a few other ingredients to bind the oats and walnuts together. We have not done this personally, so if you try it, let us know!
Here are some alternatives:
Applesauce: Use about ½ cup of unsweetened applesauce in place of the two bananas. This will add a similar moisture and natural sweetness.
Pumpkin Puree: About ½ cup of canned or fresh pumpkin puree can work well as a substitute. It will give the cookies a slightly earthy flavor.
Peanut Butter or Almond Butter: Using ½ cup of nut butter will change the flavor but add richness and good fats.
Mashed Sweet Potatoes: About ½ cup of cooked and mashed sweet potatoes would also work and add a different flavor profile, with a bit of natural sweetness.