Healthy Oatmeal Raisin Cookies {4-Ingredients}

My healthy oatmeal raisin cookies make a wholesome and delicious dessert or snack. They are soft and chewy and require four main ingredients. Just mix everything together and bake.

As much as I love a delicious chocolate chip cookie, sometimes my family wants something without chocolate (yes, sacrilegious). That’s when I make these healthy oatmeal cookies. They’ve been a go-to wholesome dessert for years, and I make them when everyone is feeling a little something sweet and tasty, but without all the added sugar and white flour.

Why I love this recipe

• Quick and easy. I’m not kidding when I say these cookies take just ten minutes. The dough also does not need to be chilled.

• Pantry staple ingredients. What makes these cookies wholesome is that I omit any need for butter, eggs, or oil. They are also naturally vegan and gluten-free!
• Just like classic oatmeal cookies. These cookies taste sweet and have an almost buttery flavor (thanks to the almond butter!). They have a chewy texture and are loaded with raisins.

If you do want some chocolate chips while being wholesome, try my healthy oatmeal chocolate chip cookies. If you prefer these a little more breakfast-driven, try my oatmeal breakfast cookies.

Key Ingredients

• Rolled Oats (old-fashioned oats). I prefer these oats over quick oats because they give the cookies a heartier and chewier texture. If you use the latter, the cookies will be a little softer.
• Banana. Mashed bananas replace the need for oil or butter while also providing sweetness. The riper the bananas, the sweeter the cookies will be. 
• Almond Butter. I prefer almond butter, but nut butter works, including peanut butter and cashew butter.
• Raisins. I recommend using a good-quality brand of plump and juicy raisins. To plump them up, add the raisins to a bowl and cover with boiling water, and let them sit for 30 minutes. The raisins will naturally plump up and become extra juicy.

How to make healthy oatmeal raisin cookies

This is an overview with step-by-step photos. Full ingredients & instructions are in the recipe card below.

Step 1- Add the bananas to a large bowl and mash them.

Step 2- Add the remaining ingredients. Mix until a thick dough remains.

Step 3- Form 12 small balls of dough. Transfer them to the lined baking sheet, pressing down on each cookie. Top with extra raisins.

Step 4- Bake the cookies for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges just brown. Remove from the oven and let cool or enjoy warm.

My top tips for perfect oatmeal cookies

• Do not overbake the cookies; they will continue to cook as they cool down. We want these cookies to be soft and chewy, so remove them from the oven when they are ‘just’ done. Also, they don’t contain any eggs, so you can underbake them. 
• If your dough is too thick, add more banana or liquid sweetener, like maple syrup or agave. If the dough is smooth and drippy, add more oats!
• These cookies don’t spread much, so make sure they are the size and thickness you prefer. I like to press them down in the exact shape I want them to be.
• If you prefer sweeter cookies, add brown sugar, coconut sugar, maple syrup, or honey. These cookies rely on the banana for sweetness.

Storage instructions

To store: Store leftover cookies in the fridge, as they will spoil quickly if left at room temperature. Keep them in a sealable container or covered on a plate. They will keep fresh for up to 7 days. 

To freeze: Place leftover cookies in a ziplock bag and store them in the freezer for up to 6 months.