Crazy-easy, chewy and delicious, these 3 Ingredient Oatmeal Cookies are so simple to make and are just the BEST cookies! These moist, tender, chewy oatmeal cookies are the perfect
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3 ingredient oatmeal cookies
Instant Oatmeal Cookies - How crazy is that? And these cookies are GOOD! Like seriously good. Like "Deb the anti-sweet girl ate three" cookies (embarrassing yes!) but true, good!!!
They make a great after-school snack or breakfast cookie for busy mornings. If you can make a bowl of oatmeal, you can make these cookies. They are the easiest cookies to make!
Ingredients
For the exact simple ingredients for these chewy cookies, please refer to the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.
- Maple Pecan Instant Oatmeal - individual serving packets. Or maple instant oatmeal packets.
- Soft Banana - they add a nice sweetness to the recipe and serve as a binder.
- Pecans - additional nuts are optional. I add them because it really drives the pecan flavor home. You could also use walnuts or crunchy hazelnuts!
Are you shaking your head at Instant Oatmeal? Don't be! Those little packets have a ton of flavor!
3 Ingredient Oatmeal Cookie Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 large over-ripe banana
- 2 packets maple pecan instant oatmeal
- ¼ cup pecans chopped
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Spray baking sheet with non-stick cooking spray set aside.
- Using a fork, mash the banana, chop the pecans.
- In a large mixing bowl, mix dry ingredients, the 2 packets of instant oatmeal in with the banana, stir in the pecans.
- Drop dough by spoonfuls onto a baking sheet - I use a small ice cream scoop so the cookies are uniform in size and bake evenly.
- Bake for 12 minutes until golden brown, allow to cool for 5 minutes before removing from the baking sheet onto a wire rack.
Notes
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Nutrition
FAQ's
Place the overripe bananas in a Ziploc freezer bag and pop it in the freezer. Skin on/skin off - either way, works. Personally, I think leaving the skin on preserves the banana better.
Yes, when these are cooled, be sure to refrigerate the oatmeal banana cookies. They also freeze great!
Yes, using a silpat or parchment paper is best when baking these cookies.
Tips to ripen bananas
What makes these cookies extra delicious is a good over-ripe banana.
- Place the bananas in a paper bag and leave them on the counter
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and bake the bananas (peel-on) for 15 to 20 minutes until the skins are completely black.
- Remove the skin, place the bananas in a bowl and microwave at 15-second intervals until soft. Depending on your microwave it will take 2-3 times until it can be easily mashed.
Variations
There are several varieties of individual serving oatmeal packets. The apples and cinnamon would be terrific with a handful of dried cranberries and walnuts.
Substitute a handful of raisins for the nuts when you use the Cinnamon and Spice packet. That is super yummy! These are so simple and perfect for a grab 'n go breakfast for busy mornings!
Add a small handful of dark chocolate chips is terrific with the maple and brown sugar packets.
Related recipes
It's been so fun sharing tried and true family cookie recipes on the blog! Here are more of my favorite easy cookie recipes!
- Grandma Cochrane's Pecan Sandies so crispy and rich.
- Grandma Bertha's Butter Cookies are perfect with a cup of coffee!
- These super delicious Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies are amazing, all you need is a big glass of milk!
- How about Peanut Butter Banana Oatmeal Cookies - SO yummy!
- Homemade Buckeyes - sweet, chocolatey peanut butter bites of deliciousness!!
💭 Recipe backstory
I've had the privilege of hosting KSEE24 before here at the house, but I've never been to the station, so this was exciting stuff! I got up bright and early (3 am!) to get ready, pack everything up and head to the station!
These cookies made their debut last week on TV! If you live here in the Valley I was on our local NBC affiliate station KSEE24 News morning show!
They are the perfect cookies to make for the show. So simple, it takes longer to preheat the oven than mix the cookie dough!
We had four segments on air. We baked Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies, 4 Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies and these tasty 3 Ingredient Oatmeal Cookies! We wrapped everything up in the end by packaging them into cute little boxes (pictured above) for a cookie exchange!
These 3-ingredient oatmeal cookies are proof that simple can still be seriously delicious. Whether you're baking up a quick snack, a lunchbox treat, or just need something sweet without the fuss—this recipe’s a keeper. If you give it a try, I’d love to hear how they turned out!
Leave a comment below, snap a photo, and tag me on social—I always love seeing your creations! 🍪💛
Marye Audet-White says
3 ingredient oatmeal cookies? Sign me up! We don't usually have instant oatmeal around - but I'm thinking that the blueberry cream one would be perfect for me!
Brandi says
The maple pecan flavor makes these 3 ingredient oatmeal cookies a whole family favorite! We've tried them with peach instant oatmeal too and they were super tasty!
Melissa says
These were really good. I used bananas and cream flavored oatmeal and walnuts instead of pecans. I baked them for 10 minutes. They were like little banana bread cookies. This recipe is a keeper! Thank you!
Bowl Me Over says
Wonderful! Glad it was a hit Melissa. They are the perfect after school snack!!
Erica says
If you don’t have oatmeal packets but do have instant oatmeal, how much equals two packets? I’m going to try this making my own 🙂 thanks!
Bowl Me Over says
Each packet is one ounce which would be about 1/4 cup instant oats. What you'll be missing though is the seasoning/flavoring that are in the packet. If what you're using is flavored, you should be good!
Terri says
if I don't have an over ripe banana can I use applesauce to keep it vegan?
Bowl Me Over says
I've never used that, but I believe that would work Terri. Let me know how it turns out for you!
Brittany says
These instant oatmeal cookies are so easy!
ChrisC says
Wow these sound really good but can't make them today no bananas (BTW how many cups does a large ripe banana make?) and the store only has green ones but can't wait to try them soon!
Bowl Me Over says
Great question Chris, I'm going to update the recipe card. A large ripe banana will be about 1/2 cup mashed. Enjoy the cookies, these are dynamite!
Terry says
I got here via a link from Marye at Restless Chipotle. Originally came to check out the recipe for the Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies, but got led astray 🤗 as soon as I saw the link for these..I love me a good oatmeal cookie. And one that has so few ingredients? Sold! Just so happens I have the ingredients for both. And there's quite a few more links I want to check out here! Greetings from Alberta, Canada 🇨🇦 where our nighttime temp is hovering in the high 30s to low 40°F. Brrr!
Bowl Me Over says
Hey Terry, nice to emeet you! Thanks for stopping by the blog, I appreciate it! Marye is one of my besties and I agree, she is fabulous! Enjoy those cookies (and the pumpkin chocolate chip as well!) and stay warm in the great white north!!
freda small says
375 degrees what? - people outside the USA do not have degrees F on ovens
Bowl Me Over says
I googled it Freda and it says 190 degrees Celsius - is your oven celsius?
Tamara says
Well, we are in the beginning of COVID-19 and the stores have been out of brown sugar since it was announced. (What on earth are all these people doing with brown sugar??) Anyhoo, I am trying to get creative from the pantry to feed my family and stumbled upon your cookies. I am so glad I did! I have seen others with oatmeal packet cookies, but they always add sugar to it. No way will I even try their cookies after making yours! My college kids came home with a ton of uneaten oatmeal. My first batch was made with brown sugar and a few hours later they are already gone. Yummy! Tomorrow I will make an apple-cinnamon version! I can't wait! Thank you for keeping this recipe so simple, it has alleviated a lot of the guilt of making cookies!
Bowl Me Over says
Hey Tamara - you made my day!!! And I totally agree, what are people doing with brown sugar? I haven't seen any at the market for a week! Glad these kids fed your sweet tooth! Love the simplicity of this recipe and it's always fun to cook with kids. The Pumpkin Chocolate chip cookie recipe is super yummy (and simple!) too if you haven't tried it yet! Thank you again for coming back and letting me know - Deb
Michaela Kenkel says
Only 3 ingredients? I need a recipe like this for church, when I need to make something quickly!
Bowl Me Over says
It's a perfect sweet treat in the evening and especially delicious with some salty bacon!
Jennifer A Stewart says
Oatmeal cookies bring me back to cooking with my grandma in the summer! She always added a banana to hers and not too many people do that anymore!
Bowl Me Over says
Your Grandma was so smart, the banana makes them so sweet and tasty!
Lisa@Lisa's Dinnertime Dish says
I love how easy these cookies are! They'd be so easy to whip up at the last minute!
Bowl Me Over says
Most definitely Lisa! Everyone loves homemade cookies!
Madi says
3 ingredient cookies? Count me in! These sound so tasty!
Bowl Me Over says
One order coming up Madi!!!
Sandra Shaffer says
You're a natural on camera! Dang, I would have loved to watch the segment. Did you tape it? I love adding new cookies to my dessert tray every year, especially easy and delicious ones like these!
Bowl Me Over says
It was super fun Sandra! It was at the studio and I wasn't able to tape it, dang it! If you ever get the chance, be sure and jump in, you'd have so much fun!
Julie says
I have John's mother and grandmother's recipe boxes and his mother is 93! They are definitely a treasure to me and a hoot to read ingredients and instructions. Those cookies sound delicious and are so easy!
Bowl Me Over says
Isn't that cool, I agree - those are just treasures and I know you really appreciate them too, that's awesome!
Kylee from Kylee Cooks says
3 ingredients? That's incredible! I'm also super impressed you were on tv. I know a celebrity, now! 😉
Bowl Me Over says
Hahaha! A celebrity? I think that's a stretch! 😀 But the cookies? They are definitely a star!
michele says
This is so awesome that you were on TV! LOVE it! And love how few ingredients there are in these yummy cookies!
Bowl Me Over says
It was a blast being on TV Michelle, if you ever get the chance, definitely do it!
debi at Life Currents says
I love me a good and easy to make cookie! This is a great recipe. Thanks so much for sharing it!
Bowl Me Over says
Your welcome, enjoy these cookies!
Ang says
Love anything with just a few ingredients and these look scrumptious!!! Pinning for later 🙂
Bowl Me Over says
Wonderful, they are so easy to make - the kids will love helping you bake these cookies!
Nicole says
Just made these with my two year old grandson and we had the best time ever!!! I put the ingredients on his table he can reach and let him go to town. Then, let him put the dough on the cookie sheet and he stood in front of the oven sooooo excited to watch them bake. I promptly picked up more oatmeal packets and bananas. We will be making these often. My grandson has an egg allergy so this is beyond perfect. Thank you!!! Delicious and nutritious...and egg free!
Bowl Me Over says
Wonderful, I'm so glad you and your Grandson enjoyed this recipe! Good to get the kids in the kitchen, that's awesome!
Liza says
Wow! These are SO easy! And they must be SO-SO good! I must make them asap! 🙂
Bowl Me Over says
I know you loved these cookies Liza - they are so good!
Jenn says
Love these and so versatile!
I added chia seeds and flax seeds for an easy granola bar like treat.
Debra Clark says
Oooh Jenn, that's brilliant! Thanks for sharing. Great job!!