These Peanut Butter Banana Oatmeal Cookies are soft, chewy, and packed with chocolate chips and Reese's peanut butter candies. If you have ripe bananas on the counter and a peanut butter lover in the house, this recipe was made for you!
This post was first published in April 2010. The photos and post were updated and republished in May 2019.
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If you buy bananas as often as I do, you know exactly where this story is headed. You buy a big bunch with the best intentions. But somehow, by the end of the week, a few spotty ones are staring at you from the counter. Sound familiar?
I had already made banana s'mores muffins and frozen some bananas for smoothies and peanut butter banana ice cream. But I still had a few left to use up. So I did what I always do when I need inspiration and started flipping through old church cookbooks.
I found a peanut butter and oat cookie recipe that looked promising. However, my tendency to modify recipes got the better of me! I added the extra bananas, chocolate chips, and Reese's candies. Then I tweaked the flour-to-oat ratio, and just like that, we had chewy peanut butter banana oatmeal cookies.
Why You'll Love These Peanut Butter and Banana Cookies
- A perfect way to use up ripe bananas. The riper the bananas, the better. They add natural sweetness and that classic banana flavor that makes these cookies so good.
- No chill time required! Mix the dough, spoon it onto the pan, and bake. You will have cookies on your counter in no time.
- Reese's candies and chocolate chips in every bite. The combination of peanut butter cups, Reese's pieces, and chocolate chips makes these cookies absolutely delicious.
- Soft, chewy texture with a crisp. The cookies bake up thin and chewy with a slight crisp on the outside edges. It's honestly the best of both worlds!
Ingredients Needed
These easy banana peanut butter cookies come together with a few basic ingredients and your favorite mix-ins. Scroll down to the printable recipe card for the exact amounts.
- Unsalted Butter: Softened butter gives the batter a rich texture. Use real butter instead of margarine, as margarine contains more water, which makes your cookies crumblier.
- Creamy Peanut Butter: Adds a delicious, nutty flavor.
- Granulated and Brown Sugar: Using both sugars creates the perfect balance of sweet and chewy.
- Eggs: Help bind all the ingredients together.
- Vanilla Extract: Adds a warm, sweet flavor that enhances all the other flavors in the dough.
- Overripe Bananas: For a stronger banana flavor in your cookies, use 1 cup of mashed bananas. That's about 2 to 3 bananas, depending on how big they are.
- Baking Powder and Baking Soda: Together, they help these chewy cookies puff and spread in the oven.
- All-purpose Flour: Fluff the container, then spoon the flour into your measuring cup to avoid adding too much flour. Using a kitchen scale to weigh it out is the best option.
- Oats: Gives these cookies their classic chewy oatmeal texture. I like quick oats in this recipe, but old-fashioned rolled oats can be used. They will just be slightly chewier and heartier.
- Chocolate Chips: Milk, semi-sweet, or dark chocolate all work great here. Use whatever you have or love the most.
- Reese's Baking Cups and Pieces: This mix-in takes these cookies over the top! I usually buy a bag that contains the mini cups and mini Reese's. If you cannot find that baking bag, grab a bag of each separately and use half a cup each.
Recipe Variations
- Use a different nut butter. Crunchy peanut butter adds extra texture and nuttiness. You can also substitute almond butter, cashew butter, Biscoff, or even Nutella for a completely different flavor.
- Change up the chocolate chips. Any variety or flavor of chips will work. Mix and match your favorites for a fun twist.
- Swap out the Reese's. Any candy that tastes good with peanut butter and banana will work. M&M's, chopped Snickers, Twix bars, and Butterfingers are a few fun options.
How To Make Peanut Butter Banana Oatmeal Cookies
One of the best things about this peanut butter cookie recipe is that you can bake it as soon as the dough is mixed. Just scoop it out and start baking right away!
- Mix the wet ingredients. Beat the softened butter, peanut butter, and both sugars in a large bowl until creamy. Add the eggs, vanilla, and mashed bananas, then mix again.
- Add the dry ingredients. Stir together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and oats. Slowly add the mixture to the wet ingredients until just combined.
- Fold in the mix-ins. Gently stir in the chocolate chips and the Reese's baking mix. Reserve some to press onto the tops of the dough balls before baking.
- Scoop and bake. Drop the dough by spoonfuls onto cookie sheets. Press the reserved candies onto the top of the dough. Bake until the edges are just lightly golden.
BruCrew Tips
- Use very ripe bananas. Riper bananas are much sweeter and will give your cookies a more intense and delicious banana flavor.
- Mash the bananas really well. Use a fork or potato masher to smash the fruit until it is mostly smooth. A few small lumps are fine, but you want them mostly smooth, so they mix in evenly.
- Stick to regular peanut butter. Natural peanut butter has a higher oil content, which can cause the cookies to spread too much and bake up thinner than you want.
- Do not overbake! Pull the baking sheet out of the oven when the edges are starting to turn golden brown. The centers will still look slightly underdone, but they will continue to bake on the hot pan.
Storing and Freezing
On the Counter: Store the cookies in a tightly sealed container at room temperature for up to 5 days. They stay soft and chewy for days if kept this way.
In the Freezer: Wrap individual cookies in plastic wrap, then place them into a freezer bag. Freeze for 2-3 months. Thaw at room temperature before enjoying.
Freeze the Dough: Scoop the dough onto a parchment-lined tray and freeze for one hour. Transfer to a freezer bag, then freeze for 2 months. Bake straight from frozen, adding a few extra minutes to the baking time.
Other Peanut Butter Cookie Recipes
- Reese's Peanut Butter Cookies
- Peanut Butter Cup Cookies
- Fluffernutter Cookies
- Peanut Butter and Jelly Cookies
- Reese's Pieces Cookies
- Peanut Butter Pudding Cookies
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Recipe
Peanut Butter Banana Oatmeal Cookies
These Peanut Butter Banana Oatmeal Cookies are soft, chewy, and packed with chocolate chips and Reese's peanut butter candies. If you have ripe bananas on the counter and a peanut butter lover in the house, this recipe was made for you!
Ingredients
- ¾ cup unsalted butter, softened
- ½ cup creamy peanut butter
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup packed brown sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup mashed bananas (about 2-3 large)
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon table salt
- 1 ¼ cups all purpose flour (150g)
- 2 cups quick oats
- 1 cup chocolate chips
- 1 - 8.5 ounce bag Reese's Baking Cups and Pieces (cut the pb cups in half)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F. Line a cookie pan with a Silpat or use an un-greased air-bake cookie sheet.
- In a mixing bowl, beat butter, peanut butter, and sugars until creamy. Add the eggs, vanilla, and mashed banana, and beat again.
- Stir the baking powder, baking soda, salt, flour, and oats. Slowly mix this into the butter mixture.
- Gently stir in the chocolate chips and the Reese's mix. (I like to keep some of this out and press it into the tops of the dough before baking.)
- Drop by spoonful onto the baking sheet. Bake for 10 min or until edges are light brown.
- Remove from the oven and let cool on the pan for 2-3 minutes, then gently transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. Store in a tightly sealed container.
Notes
- The bag of Reese's Baking Cups and Pieces is in the baking aisle and contains mini peanut butter cups and mini Reese's Pieces. If you can't find this particular item, buy the two things individually and use ½ cup of each.
- Use very ripe bananas. Riper bananas are much sweeter and will give your cookies a more intense and delicious banana flavor.
- Mash the bananas really well. Use a fork or potato masher to smash the fruit until it is mostly smooth. A few small lumps are fine, but you want them mostly smooth, so they mix in evenly.
- Stick to regular peanut butter. Natural peanut butter has a higher oil content, which can cause the cookies to spread too much and bake up thinner than you want.
- Do not overbake! Pull the baking sheet out of the oven when the edges are starting to turn golden brown. The centers will still look slightly underdone, but they will continue to bake on the hot pan.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 36 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 191Total Fat: 9gSaturated Fat: 4gUnsaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 22mgSodium: 106mgCarbohydrates: 27gFiber: 1gSugar: 16gProtein: 3g
Nutrition facts are an estimate and are not guaranteed to be accurate. If you need special diet advice, please see a registered dietician.
Holly says
I think I am making these right now! Yum. Oats, banana, chocolate chips...heaven!
Holly
504 Main
Q, La, and Gooner says
Oh THAT's right, now I remember why I took a break from your blog. Yup, it's because you post yummy things like this and I can't EAT THEM. begah.
Jenilee says
what a great idea! I might have to try that next time I have some bananas to use!
ReJOYce! says
Mmmm, DELISH!!! Have a Great Day!
Julianne Hendrickson says
I love PB&B! Apple thrown in there is also good 🙂 Those look delish.
Rebekah Williams says
Darn that Lilly for being allergic to peanuts! 🙂
Kristin says
FYI: these look like "Kristin's Special Cookies from Heaven"! Everything I love in a cookie: oatmeal, peanut butter, bananas, choc. chips, and NO nuts 🙂 Looks like I'll be copying this down to give them a go!
Stacy says
Elvis cookies sounds perfect! I love a good peanut butter and banana sandwich myself...but I'm not a fan of banana bread. The over ripe bananas make me want to puke. Is that weird??
Mindy says
I am one who truly believes in a good airtight container, especially when cookies were placed in it the day before! 🙂 This recipe sounds so fun!
Brandi says
Yummy! Oh my gosh you should sell your cookies on etsy! Ha Ha!
Brandi
Ms. Sarah says
please email me. You won the monday moments sarahcaiafaatgmail.com
Mrs. C says
sounds good! can't wait to try them!
Lacie @ Creative Attempts says
oh my word i have to make these they look and sound amazing thanks a bunch
Just me says
Looks so Yummy!!!! I can't wait to try this recipe. Thanks for sharing.