Description

These Healthy Chocolate Cookies are a delicious and nutritious treat made with wholesome ingredients like mashed bananas, natural peanut butter, oat flour, and chocolate protein powder. Naturally sweetened with pure maple syrup and packed with fiber-rich oats and optional chia seeds, these cookies are perfect for a guilt-free snack or dessert. They bake to a soft, chewy texture with a rich chocolate flavor and a delightful sprinkle of flaky sea salt on top.

Ingredients

Scale

Wet Ingredients

1 cup mashed bananas (2 large bananas)
1/3 cup natural creamy peanut butter (can use almond butter)
1/4 cup pure maple syrup (can use honey)
1 large egg (can use a flax egg)
2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Dry Ingredients

3/4 cup oat flour
1/4 cup chocolate protein powder*
3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tablespoon chia seeds (optional)
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1 cup old fashioned oats (plus 3 tablespoons)
1/3 cup chocolate chips

Topping

Flaky sea salt (for sprinkling on top)

Instructions

Preheat the oven: Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking and for easy cleanup.
Mix wet ingredients: In a large bowl, combine the mashed bananas, creamy peanut butter, pure maple syrup, egg, and vanilla extract. Stir well until the mixture is smooth and well blended.
Add dry ingredients: To the wet mixture, add oat flour, chocolate protein powder, unsweetened cocoa powder, optional chia seeds, baking soda, and sea salt. Stir gently until just combined. Then fold in the old fashioned oats and chocolate chips evenly throughout the dough.
Let dough rest: Allow the dough to sit for about 10 minutes. This resting period helps the mixture thicken and the oats absorb moisture, making it easier to scoop and shape the cookies.
Shape cookies: Using a tablespoon or cookie scoop, drop approximately 2 tablespoons of dough per cookie onto the prepared baking sheet. Space them evenly to allow for spreading during baking.
Bake the cookies: Place the baking sheet in the preheated oven and bake for 10 to 14 minutes, or until the cookies have set but remain soft to the touch.
Add finishing touch and cool: Remove the cookies from the oven and immediately sprinkle them with flaky sea salt for a hint of savory contrast. Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a cooling rack to cool completely.

Notes

For a vegan version, substitute the egg with a flax egg (1 tablespoon ground flaxseed mixed with 3 tablespoons water) and ensure your chocolate chips are dairy-free.
You can substitute the chocolate protein powder with your preferred brand or omit it for a less protein-dense cookie.
If you don’t have oat flour, you can make your own by grinding rolled oats in a food processor until fine.
The optional chia seeds add extra fiber and omega-3 fatty acids but can be omitted if desired.
Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or refrigerate for up to a week.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 12 minutes
Category: Dessert
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American

Keywords: healthy chocolate cookies, banana cookies, peanut butter cookies, protein cookies, oat cookies, gluten free cookies, easy baked cookies, nutritious desserts