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Who doesn't want cookies for breakfast?! These No Bake Breakfast Cookies are made with banana, peanut butter and rolled oats and are a quick, healthy, grab-and-go breakfast option!
Cookies for breakfast? Yep, we're doing it! I mean, why not? Breakfast cookies are both adult and kid-friendly, plus they're easy to meal prep (win!).
I love when breakfast is already ready to go in the mornings, which is why I'm such a huge fan of overnight oats and frittatas. These cookies are incredibly quick to make, and I promise your kids will love them. Plus, they're easy to customize to your liking!
Recipe features
- They're no bake, so you can whip them up in just a few minutes!
- They're loaded with good-for-you ingredients like banana, rolled oats and peanut butter
- These cookies are not only a great breakfast, but a delicious snack too!
Ingredients
Banana - Using a ripe banana is key for a couple reasons. First, it'll be easier to mash up if it's ripe, and secondly, it'll bring out more of the banana flavor (which is also why all banana bread recipes recommend using ripe bananas).
Peanut butter - Some peanut butters are more oily than others, and that's ok. But, if you use an oily peanut butter, you may need to add an extra tablespoon of oats. Alternatively, if you use a drier peanut butter, you might have to use 1 more tablespoon of honey. Feel free to sub your favorite nut butter (like almond butter) instead.
Honey - Honey makes these cookies a little bit sweeter, plus it pairs perfectly with the banana and nut butter and acts as a glue to hold everything together. You can use maple syrup, but the cookies won't hold together as well.
Oats - After testing these a few times, I realized that the best option is to use a combination of rolled oats and quick oats. The rolled oats provide a nice texture, and the quick oats act similar to flour and really help to hold the cookies together. If you only want to use one type, opt for quick oats.
Add-ins - I used chia seeds and hemp seeds for extra fiber and protein. See the Tips section below for other options.
Step-by-step instructions
As with most "no bake" recipes, this one is pretty simple, but let's walk through how to make these cookies.
Step 1: Start by using a fork or potato masher to mash the banana into the bottom of a large bowl.
Step 2: Stir in the peanut butter and honey until everything is well combined and there are minimal lumps.
Step 3: Add the dry ingredients--oats, chia seeds, and hemp seeds--to the bowl and use a spoon to stir everything together. The dough should be fairly dry in texture so that you're able to roll it into balls.
Step 4: The final step is to use your hands to roll the dough into balls. Then, using either your hands or the back of a spoon, smash the balls down into a flat disc, forming a cookie.
Tip
The cookie "dough" will be a bit sticky; I recommend slightly wetting your hands to prevent it from sticking to your hands while you form the cookies.
Can I substitute other ingredients?
Sure can! Here are some common substitutions for these breakfast cookies:
- ANY kind of nut butter in place of peanut butter
- Maple syrup instead of honey
- These cookies are refined sugar-free, but you can add a tablespoon of sugar (cane sugar, coconut sugar, monk fruit) to make these sweeter if you prefer
- Add-ins: If you don't want to use chia and/or hemp seeds, try mini chocolate chips, dried cranberries, raisins, sunflower seeds, chopped almonds/walnuts, ground flaxseed, pumpkin seeds, or a scoop of protein powder
How should I store these?
Refrigerator: These breakfast cookies hold up best when stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container, and taste best when consumed within 4 days.
Freezer: If you prefer to make these ahead of time and freeze them for later, simply place them in a large plastic bag and freeze for up to 3 months.
More quick breakfast recipes
- Vegan Banana Bread
- Chocolate Chip Zucchini Bread
- Whole Wheat Morning Glory Muffins
- Savory Zucchini Bread
- Cinnamon Blueberry Rice Pudding
If you made this recipe, be sure to leave a comment and star rating below. Thanks!
No Bake Breakfast Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 banana mashed (about ⅓ cup)
- ⅔ cup peanut butter
- ¼ cup honey
- 2 tablespoon chia seeds
- 2 tablespoon hemp seeds
- 1 ½ cups quick oats
Instructions
- Mash the banana in a medium bowl, then add the peanut butter and honey. Mix together until combined.
- Next, add in the chia seeds, hemp seeds and oats and stir until combined.
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Lightly wet your hands, then grab about 2 tablespoons of the mixture, roll it into a large ball, then flatten it into a cookie. Place the cookies onto the parchment-lined baking sheet. You should end up with 12 total cookies.
- Transfer cookies to the fridge to harden up, at least 1 hour. Keep in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. Enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
UPDATE NOTE: This post was originally published in January 2020. It was updated with new text in March 2024.
Chocolaty says
Its so healthy! Erin you are too good at such quick and healthy recipes.
Jane says
Wow! easy to make healthy and tasty cookies 😋 I will try it for at-home tomorrow morning and I hope everyone will like it.
Order Cake Online Hyderabad says
Wow, I loved these cookies.
Thank you for sharing this one.
Kelley says
Haven't tried these yet, but I find your instructions a bit confusing. You list flour but don't say when it goes in (is it with the dry ingredients)? Will give them a go anyway as I do like these kinds of things for ease - particularly when travelling early in the morning.
Erin says
Yes sorry! It goes in with the dry ingredients. The flour simply acts as a binder. Let me know how they turn out!
Lea says
These look great! I don't want to add any type of sugar (even maple syrup) since I think it would be too sweet for me as well as for health reasons, do you think it would work? Thanks!
Erin says
Hi Lea--yes, they should still work out. Let me know if you try them!
Arman @ thebigmansworld says
You know im a fan of no baking AND cookies and especially for breakfast!
Margarida says
This looks so easy and yummm!!!must give it a try soon 🙂 xx
Megan says
Oh my goodness lady these look amazing! I'm with you on the whole eating cookies at every meal thing.. well superfood cookies at least! I've tried the whole banana-oat cookie combo before but nothing that looks as good as this!
Felicia@Ingredient1 says
Protein packed breakfast cookies were really popular at the recent Fancy Food Show in New York (where we conveniently also picked up some great samples of hemp seeds)! There is definitely something exciting about the idea of eating cookies for breakfast, and so easy to justify when they are made with good-for-you ingredients. I think we will make a batch of these for the office to try this week!
Jo @ Living Mint Green says
I need to make these for my upcoming backcountry camping trips! YEEESS
I feel like I can't keep track of what's hip & happening in the Superfood world. I'm going to say goji berries because that's what I've been mixing into my yogurt bowls & oatmeal lately.
Amanda @ .running with spoons. says
Yes to cookies for breakfast! Especially when they have chocolate as a superfood 😉 And thank you for the no-baking-ness. Turning on the oven at this time of the year has just been torture. Oi.
Sarah @ Making Thyme for Health says
I love of all the superfoods in these! They are more than acceptable for breakfast in my book. 🙂
And that's awesome that you are so ahead with your recipes! I think you might have to make an exception and squeeze in that peach one for us though. I want to see what it is!! 🙂
Cailee says
Oh my word!! These look amazing!! What a fun healthy recipe!! Love it! Thanks for sharing 🙂
Dani @ DaniCaliforniaCooks says
I've never had a goji berry! I'm not even sure what they taste like.
Erin says
I don't usually eat them by themselves, but they have a slight berry taste (shock)--they're pretty good and really good for you!
Liz @ I Heart Vegetables says
These look soooo good! And I love that I don't have to heat up the oven!
Kelly @ Kelly Runs For Food says
I've been known to have cookies for breakfast before. Not necessarily the healthy kind, but what can you do? My favorite superfood would have to be avocados. So addicting!
Megan @ Skinny Fitalicious says
These look delicious! Love that's they're no bake too.
Erin says
Thanks Megan! No bake all the way 🙂
Kate says
In the first picture I thought- wow these look just like the girl scout Caramel DeLites I love, but so much better!
Erin says
Haha! Not quite like those (those are soooo good) but probably a bit better for you if that counts for something? 😀
Ashley @ Fit Mitten Kitchen says
These sound great! I was just in Homegoods on Friday and ALMOST bought goji berries but decided to put them back... Now I am sad I did! They will definitely be on my list of items to get next time 😉
Erin says
You definitely should! They don't have a strong taste (in my opinion) but they're so good for you!
Tina muir says
Erin, this sounds like my kinda breakfast. Just like the peanut butter granola I am eating....I am all about sneaky ways to enjoy breakfast, this sounds delicious. I am going to pin right now, so I do not forget them 😀
Erin says
Thanks Tina! 😀 Peanut butter granola doesn't sound too bad either..!