Chewy Healthy Peanut Butter Banana Cookies are a twist on your peanut butter cookie recipe. Made with no butter and less sugar, they make a great snack!
I’m sort of obsessed with peanut butter whenever I have a snack craving it is my to-go-to. I have worked in peanut butter into some of my favorite foods including caramel with my Peanut Butter Caramel Sauce and snickerdoodles cookies with my Peanut Butter Snickerdoodles. But these Healthy Peanut Butter Banana Cookies always come in for the win over summer month and the start of the school year.
These Healthy Peanut Butter Banana cookies are inspired by my obsession with my Best Ever Soft Peanut Butter Cookies. Not only do we love that recipe for peanut butter cookies, but as well as many of you. One of my top-performing pins right now – those Peanut Butter Cookies are becoming a household favorite for many of you.
It was actually a reader’s comment that made me switch up the recipe for my peanut butter cookies to make these Healthy Peanut Butter Banana Cookies. They mentioned in their comments that they reduced the brown and granulated sugars, increased the peanut butter, and added a banana. I meant to follow their directions and my recipe to a T so that I could recreate and try it.
Sadly, I didn’t follow my own recipe directions and unknowingly omitted the butter. Now upon first bite, I was like holy cow I can really taste the banana. I felt like I had missed an ingredient, but they raised more like a muffin than a cookie. But they were oh, so soft and the banana & peanut butter really shined. So I just didn’t think more about it.
Then when I came to write the recipe was when I realized I left out the butter. EEK!
BUT when I added the nutritional content to these cookies, they came out to only 112 calories per cookie! So I was like heck yes, they were just right then. Making a snack that is one of my kids’ favorite without overloading them with granulated sugar in the afternoon before dinner.
Jersey and her friends ate these right before yoga and Zumba, to which they stretched and danced their hearts out for over an hour and 45 minutes. They usually instantly complain about being starving, but there was none of that this time. These cookies held them over – double win!
My hubby tried them and liked them but he said that they would even be better with dark chocolate, I agree. It would add the perfect touch of sweetness.
I honestly can’t wait to try these cookies again, maybe next time with the butter and for sure with chocolate chips.
I love cookies and they are a weakness of mine so anyway or tip I can do to make them a little bit, even a smidge better for I am all game. With that said they still have to taste like a cookie, no cardboard here.
Some people struggle to make peanut butter cookies. Weird, well I thought so until I got a few comments on one of my recipes. So I thought I would share a few tips with you.
- Whip together the peanut butter, brown sugar, and sugar (butter as well if you have that ingredient in your recipe) for 3-5 minutes, this will make your cookie turn out less grainy.
- Keep oven temperature between 325-350 degrees. For this recipe I bake the cookies at 350 degrees, this makes your cookie chewy on the inside with a crisp outer edge. Cookie perfection.
- Measuring peanut butter can be a sticky mess, spray your measuring cup with cooking oil to make this process a little less messy. Also, using a rubber spatula is really helpful when removing the peanut butter from its jar.
Now while these cookies are labeled “healthy” my kids still ate them. They are perfect served with a glass a milk to dip into a drink after.
My daughter Jersey who claims to hate peanut butter tried these after her friends gave a thumbs up and she liked them too. All the kids the day I made them wanted to eat the leftover cookies for an after-dinner snack. I didn’t let them because well, these are an afterschool treat that this mama is proud to serve.
And while the entire recipe only takes a little over 30 minutes from start to finish, I just would rather only bake up a batch once a week, rather than once a day.
So are you looking for a snack or treat, that doesn’t all the “extras” like butter and sugar? Then try these Healthy Peanut Butter Banana Cookies. They are McCollum kids approved and that in itself is a reason you should try them.
Enjoy friends and come back and let me know what you think. XOXO San
Don’t forget to pin this recipe for Healthy Peanut Butter Banana Cookies to your favorite Pinterest board for later.
Healthy Peanut Butter Banana Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 1/3 cup peanut butter use up to 1 1/2 cups
- 1/2 cup ripened bananas 1 - 1 1/2 bananas
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup white sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 tablespoon vanilla
- 1 1/2 cups flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 F. Line 2 baking pans with parchment paper.
- In a small bowl, using a fork smash the banana(s) so that the mixture becomes creamy and smooth.*
- In a large mixing bowl, cream together the peanut butter, bananas, sugar and brown sugar. Beat together until smooth & creamy best if using a stand mixer or hand mixer.
- Add the egg and vanilla extract and continue to mix until well combined.
- In a small mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda and salt. Stir in the flour mixture to the butter and sugar mixture and mix until well combined.
- Using a cookie dough scooper or making the dough into 1 inch balls. Roll in white granulated sugar if you desire and place onto baking sheet. Using a fork, press down on each ball of dough to slightly flatten, creating a criss-cross pattern.
- Bake for 8-9 minutes. Let cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes and then transfer to a wire rack.
- These keep well for a couple of days in an airtight container.
Notes
Nutrition
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I’m confused – It says “healthy… made with no butter” but the second ingredient is butter.
It’s been corrected, thank you!
Hi, how are these considered healthy? The main ingredients are flour, sugar, butter. The title is misleading.
Hi Samantha, These cookies actually do not have any butter and have half the amount of added sugar vs regular peanut butter cookies! There is flour but you can definitely switch it with whole wheat flour if you want. They only have 107 calories per cookie and only 5 grams of sugar. Each cookie has 4 grams of protein, and with the bananas they make a much healthier treat than regular cookies!
You took two of my favorite ingredients and managed to make not only a healthy, but delicious cookie! I would definitely make these for the childcare franchise I work for. Kids would love these! If it fits the McCollum standard, than I know these are a winner.
Thank you, I’m glad you enjoy them!
These look so good! Such a great way to use up the ripened bananas that are on my counter right now!
Definitely! Thank you, enjoy!
I am confused! The recipe says no butter, yet it is included in the recipe! Am I seeing this correctly ?
There is no butter in the recipe, you may have misread peanut butter possibly? I hope you enjoy!
Peanut butter and banana go so well together. I bet these are wonderful cookies!
These cookies look so amazing!
Thanks!
These sound delicious, I love the banana-peanut butter combo!
I am loving the combination of flavors in these cookies!
Thanks!
I love a healthy cookie. I would eat these ALL DAY LONG!
All the bananas please! These cookies look great.
Thanks, enjoy!
These would bring me pure happiness!
Just made these. Wow. I think I used a bit too much peanut butter and so they were sticky and didn’t form balls, but it didn’t matter, they were delicious. May add chocolate chips next time…
Chocolate chips would be so delicious with this! Thank you!
I just made these cookies and i LOVE them! I don’t do butter, and I watch my sugar intake, and these are perfect! My new “sweet” snack! Thank you!
These definitely make a great light snack! So glad you enjoyed them.
I loved this recipe. I’m definitely going to try it since I love bananas, but being honest I will replace some ingredients to suit my health, like the sugar. I’m always making recipes using fruit and looking for many other ways to use them too. I just published a post sharing 16 Inventive Ways To Use Bananas https://magicallifeoffruit.com/uses-for-bananas/ and I’d love it if you checked it out.
I made these cookies today. The taste is pretty good, but they are kind of dry.
Sometimes that seems to happen with these! Be sure to use regular creamy peanut butter, people haven’t had a great time using natural kinds. Also make sure to bake for exactly the time stated, as they do dry out quickly. I’m glad you liked the taste!
I love when you get to be surprised by a wonderful “mistake”. They sound so delicious!
Thank you, they really are yummy!
love the flavour combo + how relatively guilt free these cookies are. awesome recipe!
Thank you, enjoy!
It totally makes sense to add a banana and now I have to see how this tastes! Craving a couple now with my coffee for breakfast!!
Let us know how they turn out! Hope you enjoy, thanks.
Yum, What a great cookie idea. Must try!
What a great idea for breakfast!
I did these cookies but added 1 teaspoon of baking powder with the soda and 2 over ripe banana’s, 10 oz of peanut butter baked for 9 mins, the rest was the same, they were nice and soft, did butter on aluminum foil, as l didn’t have parchment paper, since l have 2 artistic grandson’s this was great, as a project you can make a frosting with sprinkles as their own creation as a special treat, other wise they do not get the extra sugar. 5 stars
We’re going to a friends house for lunch tomorrow, so I decided to make some cookies for dessert. I’m on a low carb diet, and I don’t like peanut butter, so I thought these would be nice (most people DO like peanut butter and I won’t be tempted). I added some smarties to half the batch (I made them big, so I got 24 cookies). My husband was the taste tester, and came back for a second one. My grandson will be the second tester tomorrow – I’m sure he’ll give them a pass, too! Thanks. Oh, I added a bit less than 1/2 cup of homemade applesauce to the batter (apple/pear sauce, with a bit of cinnamon, no sugar). For some reason, I can’t click on the stars to rate this recipe. I’m giving it a 4, but only because I added something.
Thanks, I’m so glad you like the cookies! That sounds like a yummy addition.
Is this soft or cake like? I’m really searching for a banana cookie recipe that isn’t cake like..
These are not cake like, more like peanut butter cookie texture, sorry.
Will frozen bananas work?
Yes, if defrosted you definitely can! I’ve used them before and they come out great.
These turned out very bad for me. I probably did something wrong. Tjey are almost raw but hard like hockey pucks.
I am so sorry they did not come out for you! This seems to happen occasionally with this recipe, but usually they come out great. Some tips would be to use creamy regular peanut butter, a brand like Jif or Skippy seems to work best. Using a kind that separates would not come out well as it could separate when cooking and turn out dry. Be sure to cook for only exactly the time and temperature in the recipe, then let them cool completely on the tray out of the oven. This helps them set but overbaking will dry them out as well. I hope you give them another try and enjoy!
Nothing better than the combo of bananas and peanut butter! These cookies will make the best afternoon treat tomorrow! Yum!
I totally agree! Enjoy!
Wow! What little bites of heaven! This is exactly what I was looking for to cure my sweet tooth! Yum!
Thank you, I hope you enjoy them!
Talk about the BEST combo! Love the sugar coating too!
It really is the best! Enjoy!
It sounds like these cookies were a VERY happy accident. I need to make these for my son, I’m really trying to limit his sugar intake!
They definitely were! I’m sure he’ll love them 🙂
Looks scrumptious! Need to make a batch of these, love how healthy this recipe is!
Thanks! I hope you enjoy them!
These are yummy! For the nutritional information, what’s the serving size?
Thank you! The nutrition facts are for 1 cookie.
These look absolutely delicious! I will also be trying your hot cocoa recipe! Thanks so much!
Thank you! The hot cocoa recipes are to die for. Which one are you making, the triple chocolate, or sea salt caramel? Enjoy and let us know what you think!
Love the flavour combo + how relatively guilt free these cookies are. Awesome recipe!
Thanks!
HEALTHY PEANUT BUTTER BANANA COOKIES is awesome! They look very attractive. Thanks for your guide recipe. You make the work of making them easier, that’s great. will try it soon. Thanks again!
Thank you! Let us know how they turn out!
I love Banana Cookies! It’s great to be able to do it at home, thank you for your video and detailed instructions formulas, just follow and everything is easy.
Thank you, I hope you enjoy them!
Very good, I added cocoa and they turned out great. My husband liked them too, and he usually rejects healthy.
Cocoa is a great addition! We also love adding chocolate chips for extra yumminess. I’m glad you both enjoyed them!
Bringing these amazing cookies to work tomorrow to share with my colleagues. Thanks! I love the banana flavor coming through. I followed the recipe to a T, including rolling in sugar.
I hope they all enjoy! Thank you for sharing!
Thanks for providing quality content. this helps me a lot. keep doing this great work.
I like adding 1 teaspoon cinnamon & 1/2cup mini dark chocolate chips.
Those sound like perfect additions! I definitely will keep them in mind next time we make these.
I really like this recipe, right from the beginning of the article, because bananas are my daily favorite food
Aren’t bananas great? I’m glad you enjoy!
Amazing, healthy, delicious, easy recipe. Kid and husband approved! I froze my batch and they are as incredible and fresh out of the freezer as they are the oven.
Yay! I’m so glad you and your family love them!
These are SO SO SO good! I made them today for my family and my son could not stop eating them. They are almost gone. And I gave a few to my friends and they asked for the recipe. I didn’t change anything and followed it exactly. I will be making these again and again and again! THANK YOU!
I’m so happy you and your friends loved them! Thanks for sharing how they turned out!
I really like this recipe, right from the beginning of the article, because bananas are my daily favorite food
I will make this for my friends.
It was delicious
Thank you, glad you enjoyed it!
I will definitely make my little daughter this for her birthday.
It looks awesome. my daughter will love it for sure.
thank you
What a great birthday treat! Enjoy!
I love these cookies! So do my kids and all my hobbies coworkers. Lol. Can I substitute flour for oats? Have you tried that? I am not experimental for fear of burning my house down. Lol. Thanks for a great recipe.
We have not tried these exact cookies without flour, but I have made similar recipes with just oats. It is worth a try, don’t worry, it won’t burn your house down! The texture will be different of course, and they may be a little flatter than the cookies pictured as oats don’t contain gluten as wheat flour does. Let us know if you do give it a try and how they turn out!
This is such a smart recipe! Peanut butter and banana go so well together. The lower amounts of sugar are great!
Thank you!
These Healthy Peanut Butter Banana Cookies are mouth watering!
Enjoy!
I can’t say No to this! Delicious!
Enjoy!
I just love that these are healthier! 🙂 They look perfect.
Thank you, Carrie!
Nothing like the combination of banana and peanut butter! Looking forward to baking these over the weekend!
I hope you enjoy the cookies!
Can I use whole wheat flour???
Hi Lisa! Whole wheat is denser than the all-purpose flour used in the recipe. This means the cookies will end up heavier and a bit more crumbly than usual. It may also add a grainy texture. That being said, it will work, but the texture overall will be different and not preferred. If you have some to use up, you can do a mixture of all-purpose flour and wheat flour and may have better results than just whole wheat flour alone. I hope this helps! Be sure to let us know what you try.
I do love that you put banana in these! Great idea!
It’s such a delicious addition for sure! Enjoy!
I just baked these today. They came out delicious! Soft and chewy! I also added 1/2 cup chocolate chips to them. Will definitely bake again!
Chocolate chips sound like an amazing addition! So glad you enjoyed them. Thank you!
Hi, I have yet to bake these but I was wondering what you would think about possibly a honey sub for some of the sugar? would that maybe help keep some more moisture, since I’ve seen a few comments about it being rather dry…? And also! what do you think about maybe a tsp of vanilla as well? Too sweet perhaps? or the taste might not be so well? would love to hear back from you soon!
You can definitely try honey as a substitute for the sugar! Vanilla definitely wouldn’t hurt either! Sugar actually adds moisture as well, which is why in baking it’s usually included in “wet ingredients”. A lot of the dryness is caused by overbaking in peanut butter based cookie recipes. When you bake these be sure not to bake longer than 8-9 minutes. They will not look quite “done” but will set up and be perfectly soft and chewy! I hope this helps. Enjoy!
they are good but they are not what i call cookies. they are mini cakes. unless i have done something wrong. it’s not the first recipe i try which turns out like a mini cake. Another i tried had no flour but it just became a flat mess. not sure what i am doing wrong
Hi Sandy! These are softer, thicker cookies than you may be thinking of. They are not supposed to be too crunchy or flat like a gingersnap. What kind of flour are you using?
I just made these and shared them with my family for dessert. AND WOW. We loved them! I added a little bit of apple sauce and it brought out the moisture even further.
Thank you for sharing and for including tips ! <3
I’m so glad you enjoyed them! Adding apple sauce sounds like a great idea as well!
OMG! I just made these today and I added some chocolate chips and oh my gosh they are so amazing. I could imagine they be good with some rice krispies thrown in and I might try that next time awesome. We’ll definitely be keeping this a recipe!
Chocolate chips sound like such a delicious addition! I’m so glad you enjoyed them!
These cookies are awesome! I used all natural chunky peanut butter in mine. They have a slight banana taste, but not overpowering. And they are soft and yummy! Very easy to make and quick to bake! Definitely bookmarking this one! Thank you!
Thank you! I’m so glad you enjoyed them!
Just made these for my family! Super easy! Thank you!
So glad to hear that!
These are great. I made one change. I used 3 tablespoons each of white & brown sugar. If I’m correct, that’s 72 grams of added sugar. I got 24 cookies which is 3 grams per cookie. I like that, however, I just had 6 of them. Very good, I’ll be making these again. Thanks for the recipe.
So happy to read this! And I appreciate your suggestions. xo
Hi!! Oh wow this is a new go to for cookies! My finicky Boyfriend loves peanut butter cookies and banana bread .. SO i do believe that bringing these two yummies together will settle his debate on what to eat first LOL .. my question is … How long will they last in a seal tight container outside of the fridge or in cookie jar? Is 1 week a good guess? I plan on making lots.. also would these freeze well? thank you so much in advance 😀
These freeze very well! And we keep it at room temperature for a couple of days and then stick it in the freezer, the fridge would be fine too for a couple of days following but they won’t last that long. I’d recommend the freezer if you make a large batch or want to take them on a trip or camping.
Gave these a try- subbed white sugar for coconut sugar and added some cinnamon. I used standard JIF creamy peanut butter and white flour. I wonder if I over mixed the dough or my flour is old because the rounded dough balls did not spread as they cooked. My first tray I took out after 8 minutes and smooshed them down with a fork and cooked 2 additional minutes, and the second tray I did the standard peanut butter cookie fork marks smooshing them down and it worked a little better. Overall, the flavor was good and the cinnamon added a little something extra.
I’m glad the sugar substitute worked! It definitely does work better if you press them with the fork first. I’m glad you enjoyed them!
I was curious about this recipe. “No butter” and useing banana in cookies. I never heard anything quite like this. So I gave it a try. Unfortunately I was short on the peanut butter but you said your husband thought dark chocolate would be good, so I continued with nutella.
They turned out amazing. Thank you for sharing.
Adding Nutella to these cookies definitely does sound delicious! I’m glad you enjoyed them!
Hard to stop eating them! I only had natural peanut butter so I added about 1/3 cup of butter. Key is to thoroughly blend the butters and sugars together first, then I added the banana and egg and vanilla. Added a bit of cinnamon to the flour and added chocolate chips at the end. I found the batter very soft so put it in the fridge in between batches. My husband declared them the best cookies I have ever made! After 35 years of marriage and cookie making, that’s saying a lot! Thanks for a great recipe to use up my old bananas.
So glad to hear you enjoyed them! Chocolate chips are never a bad addition.
Tried this today to use up some overripe bananas, and it turned out well, just the right amount of sweetness!
Recipe aside, I do wish that people posting items on the internet would follow some basics of English grammar: “Also, using a rubber spatula is really helpful when removing the peanut butter from it’s jar.”…the word “it’s” is actually a contraction of the words “it is”; you should be using “its” without the apostrophe.
I made this recipe as written. I used natural peanut butter. The cookies tasted ok but were under baked at 9 minutes. I ended up at 11 minutes-which is not a big deal as everyone’s oven is different. The texture was dry-ish, not crumbly, but not pleasant. I read (after the fact) that one reviewer used natural peanut butter and added butter which by I’m sure would have improved the texture. Perhaps on the ingredient list you should specify the type of peanut butter you used. The second sheet, I added chocolate chips to the dough. It added an additional flavor to the cookies , but of course it was still overly dry. I am sure the problem was the type of peanut butter used.
I used Jif peanut butter, I will test this to see if this does impact the cookies and texture at all, thank you for the feedback. San