From the Little Kitchen: Banana Oat Cookies

From the Little Kitchen
Written By Yolande Swanepoel

Simple, naturally sweet and perfect for little hands to help make, these Banana Oat Cookies are an easy treat for busy afternoons, lunchboxes or a little something to enjoy together at home.

With ripe banana providing plenty of natural sweetness, they require no added sugar and use just a handful of everyday ingredients. Better still, children can get involved with almost every step — from mashing and mixing to spooning out their very own cookies.

What You’ll Need

  • 2 ripe bananas

  • 1½ cups rolled oats

  • ½ teaspoon cinnamon

  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

  • A small handful of blueberries

Optional: A tablespoon of smooth peanut butter can also be added where appropriate, taking individual allergies and dietary requirements into consideration.

How to Make Your Banana Oat Cookies

Preheat the oven to 180°C and line a baking tray with baking paper.

Begin by letting little hands help mash the bananas in a bowl until soft and smooth.

Add the rolled oats, cinnamon and vanilla, then mix everything together until well combined. Gently fold through a small handful of blueberries.

Spoon small portions of the mixture onto your prepared baking tray and gently flatten each one into a cookie shape.

Bake for approximately 12–15 minutes, or until the cookies are lightly golden and set.

Allow them to cool before serving — although waiting may be the hardest part!

Little Hands Can Help

One of the loveliest things about a simple recipe like this is how easily children can become part of the process.

Mashing bananas, measuring oats, stirring ingredients and shaping the cookies are all opportunities to practise coordination, follow simple instructions and explore different tastes and textures.

Cooking together can also introduce children to where their food comes from and encourage a positive, curious relationship with different ingredients.

And, of course, there is something rather special about eating a treat you helped make yourself.

From the Little Kitchen is a Burlington Nannies series sharing simple, wholesome recipes for children, nannies and families to make and enjoy together.

Yolande Swanepoel