These healthy Cherry Oatmeal Cookies with chocolate chips are a healthier version of a classic oatmeal cookie. They are flourless, made with no butter and can easily be made vegan. The addition of tart dried cherries gives them a wonderful unexpected flavor.
Dark Chocolate Cherry Oatmeal Cookies
One of the best oatmeal cookies I’ve ever had is Giada DeLorentis’ recipe that combines dark chocolate chunks and cranberries. Years ago a colleague of mine made these cookies and brought them to work. They were giant, chewy and delightful!
I decided to recreate Giada’s recipe by swapping the traditional butter, sugar and flour with more wholesome ingredients. Instead of a stick of butter, I used a mashed banana and coconut oil. Instead of regular flour, I opted for almond flour.
Finally, I swapped refined sugar with coconut sugar and replaced cranberries with dried tart cherries because: a) I love cherries, b) cherries + chocolate is always a fabulous combination.
It took me 3 batches to get this recipe right but the final effect is truly spectacular. These cookies are chewy, chocolate-y, studded with wonderful tart cherries and most importantly, better for you than "regular" oatmeal cookie recipes.
Looking for more healthy baking recipes using bananas? Try these Muffins Made With 2 Bananas, Sweet Potato Banana Bread or this Healthy Banana Mug Cake. Or, check out this epic list of 45 Best Healthy Banana Breakfast Recipes.
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Ingredient notes
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Oats: I use Old Fashioned rolled oats in this recipe although depending on preferences, you can use quick oats, too. Generally, I prefer rolled oats in oatmeal cookies because of a more substantial texture they provide while quick oats will give these cookies less of a “bite” and a slightly creamier texture.
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Almond flour: both blanched almond flour and almond meal will work for this recipe.
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Banana: much like with banana bread, the banana you are using for this recipe needs to be quite ripe. If it has brown spots or is just all brown and your kids won’t touch it, that’s even better. I don’t ever throw out overripe bananas - I either use them for baking or stick them in the freezer for future use (in baking or smoothies)
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Dried tart cherries: I absolutely love cherries, fresh and dried. They work very well in this recipe because chocolate + cherries = heaven, but if you don’t have any, you can swap them for dried cranberries or raisins.
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Chocolate: I use a good quality dark chocolate bar with 50-70% cacao content. These are usually 4oz so I break half of a bar into small pieces. If you’d rather use chocolate chips or chunks, those will also work.
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Egg: I use one large egg for this recipe but if you prefer a vegan version, use a flax egg instead. To make a flax egg, mix one tablespoon ground flaxseed meal with three tablespoons of water. Mix together, and put in the fridge for 15 minutes to thicken.
How to make oatmeal cherry cookies
- In a large mixing bowl mash banana with a fork until smooth.
- Add melted (cooled) coconut oil and one egg. Stir to combine.
- Add almond flour, oats, baking powder, baking soda, salt and ground cinnamon. Stir with a spoon until sticky dough forms.
- Now fold in chocolate chunks and dried cherries to the cookie dough using a spoon or a silicone spatula.
- Drop 12 cookie dough balls onto a baking tray lined with parchment paper. Flatten with a back of a fork, making sure the cookies are about 2 inches apart.
- Bake for 13-15 minutes.
Expert tip
Make sure you don’t overbake these cookies or they will become less chewy. They should be golden brown on the edges but still pretty soft when hot out of the oven. The dough is not particularly firm because I wanted these cookies to have the melt-in-your-mouth chewy texture so I recommend waiting until the cookies completely cooled on a wire rack before eating. If you try to eat them warm, they will fall apart easily.
Storage suggestions
Since these cookies are wonderfully soft and chewy, I recommend storing them on the counter for up to 24 hours and in an airtight container with parchment or wax paper in-between layers of cookies in a cool place for up to 3 days. Make sure that the cookies are completely cooled before putting them in a container.
Recipe tips, tricks and substitutions
- If you don’t have coconut oil, you can use unsalted butter and it will also work.
- I recommend using refined coconut oil as opposed to virgin coconut oil to avoid the coconut taste. However, if that’s all you got, the coconut flavor is delicious in general and won’t be noticable.
- Chocolate chunks can be replaced with dark chocolate chips. White chocolate chips will also work, if that's your preference.
- If you want to, add some chopped walnuts or pecans to the dough.
- Coconut sugar can be swapped for light-brown sugar or sugar in the raw.
- If you like the idea of healthy oatmeal cookies, try my Peanut Butter Banana Oatmeal Cookies, too!
Recipe FAQs
You absolutely can! In this recipe I use mashed bananas and a bit of coconut oil in place of butter. Oatmeal cookies made with no butter have a different texture and flavor than the more traditional oatmeal cookies - they come out softer and "fluffier" but also much healthier!
Yes. Since these cookies use no butter at all, bananas and a bit of coconut oil serve as the "wet" base. I have tested them with and without coconut oil and I do think that tiny bit of oil makes them deliciously moist but if you're after an ultra healthy cookie, skip the oil and the recipe will still work.
Yes! These healthy oatmeal cookies are a great option to send as a school snack in your kids’ lunch boxes. My kids need 2 snacks DAILY and it can truly be quite a challenge to come up with somewhat healthy options for snacks. I usually try to send a fruit and some sort of granola bar or crackers but recently I’ve been trying really hard to provide some better homemade options and my kiddos absolutely love these cookies.
Yes. If you prefer softer texture of oatmeal cookies, quick oats will be a good choice. Old fashioned oats will give you a more chewy, substantial cookie texture.
More healthy baking
- Banana Nutella Oatmeal Cookies
- Healthy Peanut Butter Banana Cookies
- Healthy Banana Strawberry Oat Flour Muffins
- Banana Carrot Oat Muffins
- Healthy Banana Oat Bread
- Protein Oatmeal Cookies
Recipe
Healthy Cherry Oatmeal Cookies {GF, No Butter}
Ingredients
- 1 ¼ cup rolled oats
- 1 ¼ cup almond flour or almond meal
- 1 ripe banana small to medium
- 1 egg use flax egg for a vegan version – *see note below
- 1 oz coconut oil
- ½ teaspoon vanilla
- ⅓ cup coconut sugar
- ⅓ cup dried tart cherries
- 2 oz dark chocolate broken into small pieces (or chocolate chips)
- ¼ teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon sea or kosher salt
Instructions
- Heat the oven to 350 degrees. Line a large baking tray with parchment paper.
- In a medium bowl mash the banana with a fork until no longer lumpy. Stir in melted coconut oil. Finally, add the egg and vanilla and stir together with a fork until combined.
- Add dry ingredients to the same bowl: almond flour, oats, baking powder, baking soda, salt and cinnamon. Stir with a spoon until dough forms. The dough will be somewhat sticky. Do not overmix.
- Stir in chocolate chunks and cherries until evenly distributed.
- Using a ¼ cup cookie scoop, form balls and place them on the prepared baking tray, about 2in apart. You should have 12-13 cookies. If the dough is too sticky, chill in the fridge for 10 minutes.
- With a back of a fork flatten the balls to form thick cookies.
- Bake for about 13-15 minutes, or until cookies become light brown at the edges.
- Let cool completely before serving.
Notes
Nutrition
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Meet the Author
Hi, I'm Agnieszka. I'm a mom of three and recipe developer, writer and photographer behind Wholly Tasteful. I love creating comforting, delicious, family-friendly recipes that you can feel good about.
Allie says
This is the first time I used cherries instead of raisins-- what a difference! This will be my go-to cookie sweetener from now on. Thanks for the idea!
Agnieszka says
So glad you liked them, Allie! Chocolate + cherries is always a win for me.!
Jeannie says
these banana oatmeal cookies are so great I love them for breakfast and the addition of dried cherries added a great taste too.
Anaiah says
Yum, this was such a perfect breakfast cookie! I loved the combination of banana, cherry, chocolate, and oatmeal. These cookies tasted amazing!
Natalie says
I love oatmeal cookies. They are so healthy and yet so delicious. I love that you used dried cherries here. I can't wait to make these cookies and try them. Yum!
amanda says
These cookies are so good and the perfect on the go breakfast. I love the flavor combo and they are great snacks too!
Andrea White says
It turned out perfect with the flax egg. So so good!
Kayla DiMaggio says
Yum! I have never thought of putting bananas and cherries together but this was delicious!
Jeri says
These cookies were delicious; I loved the cherries in them!
Oscar says
I love banana and oatmeal, these cookies turned out so good. I am making a second batch today.
Brianna says
These cookies were delicious and easy to make. My kids loved them!
Sharon says
Has anyone tried these with maraschino cherries?
Agnieszka says
I haven't Sharon, only with dried cherries.