Easy Banana Baby Cookies (Ready in 15 Minutes!)

Banana Baby Cookies are easy to make, and a great grab-and-go snack for toddlers and babies! They are also a perfect last-minute baby snack as they only take 15 minutes from start to finish.

How to Serve Banana Baby Cookies

My kids love these banana baby cookies (not just for babies!). They’re naturally sweet and chewy, and pair great with a glass of milk or bowl of homemade yogurt. 

Navigating snacks in the grocery store can be tricky with ridiculous prices and a random array of unwanted ingredients. Homemade baby snacks give you the freedom to choose wholesome ingredients for a healthy snack. These Banana Baby Cookies only take 15 minutes from start to finish, making them a great option for the kids on busy mornings. They also taste great when chilled for up to two weeks, so make extra and keep them around in the fridge for the next time you need a quick snack. Plus, these baby cookies are made with real, simple ingredients and no added sugar, so you can feel good about what your kids are eating. 

My kids have grown up eating Banana Baby Cookies, so they are used to the simple banana flavor and chewy texture. And they devour them! When we join up with toddler friends that are used to cookies packed with sugar, I find it helpful to call them “banana bites” rather than cookies, so they are not thrown off by the simple banana flavor. Also, topping the cookies with peanut butter or dipping them in yogurt helps kids become accustomed to the new snack. 

Add Variety with Add-ins 

My family loves the added crunch that walnuts give the banana cookies, but my 20-month old, who still has only four teeth, enjoys added raisins.  

Here are a few add-in ideas by age. Keep in mind that your child’s ability to chew may be a bit ahead or behind these suggestions. He or she should be about 6 months of age before starting finger foods, and meet other recommended milestones for introducing solid foods. 

6+ months:

Keep it simple with bananas and oats for the first few times. You can try using quick oats, or pulsing the regular oats in the food processor before adding the banana to make it easier for the young child to eat. 

9+ months:

Begin introducing add-ins that are small and easy to chew, such as sprinkling 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon and adding 1 tablespoon of chia seeds. 

12+ months:

If your child does well with chewing, 1/4 cup of shredded carrots or coconut and 1/4 cup of raisins provide a fun addition to the snack. If your child struggles with chewing, cut the raisins in half before adding them to the cookie batter. 

2+ years:

At this point, your older kids can likely handle any add-ins, including chopped nuts. A 1/2 cup of walnuts or dark chocolate chips make an excellent pair with these banana oat cookies. 

For convenience, I rarely do more than one or two add-ins. If you have multiple add-ins you would like to try, split the cookie batter in half and add separate add-ins to each. 

Ingredients for Easy Banana Baby Cookies

3/4 cup old-fashioned oats OR quick oats (see note*)

2 ripe bananas, medium

Add-ins (choose 1 or 2; they should not equal more than ½ cup combined)

• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 tablespoon chia seeds
• 1/4 cup raisins, chopped
• 1/4 cup shredded coconut, unsweetened
• 1/4 cup shredded carrots
• 1/4 cup dark chocolate chips
• 1/2 cup walnuts, chopped

How to Make Easy Banana Baby Cookies

Preheat the oven to 350℉ (180℃).

Peel and mash the bananas with a fork or potato masher in a large mixing bowl. If you don’t have ripe bananas, squeeze the banana before peeling it to help soften the inside. 

Add the oats and desired add-ins to the mashed banana, and mix until just combined. Scoop the cookie batter onto the baking sheet with about 2-3 tablespoons of batter per banana cookie. You may line the baking sheet with parchment paper for easy clean-up, but I often do mine directly on the baking tray and scrape them off with a spatula. 

Bake in the preheated oven for 10-15 minutes. Nothing in the cookies needs to be baked, so 10 minutes will give you a very soft banana cookie, while closer to 15 minutes will create a chewy texture within the golden brown cookie. 

Allow the banana cookies to cool slightly on the baking sheet before moving them to the cooling rack. This helps the cookies maintain their shape better and crumble less. Enjoy this tasty, easy recipe!

*Note: For babies under 1 year, I recommend using quick oats. If using old-fashioned oats, it is a good idea to pulse the oats a couple times in the food processor. Be sure not to over-pulse, as you want it to resemble coarse oats, not oat flour.

Storing Banana Baby Cookies

If you will not be eating the banana baby cookies right away, place them in an airtight container and store at room temperature for 24 hours, or in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. I always opt for the refrigerator as it helps the banana oat cookies stay fresh, plus they are delicious when cooled. You may also freeze them for up to 2 months in a freezer-safe container. 

Let me know in the comments below which combination your kids enjoyed!