Banana Oatmeal Cookies

Ingredients

• 2 1/4 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
• 1 cup whole wheat flour (or oat flour*)
• 1/2 cup ground flaxseed
• 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup mashed ripe banana (about 3 medium bananas)
• 1/3 cup honey
• 4 tablespoons unsalted butter (melted and cooled slightly)
• 1 large egg
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup chocolate chips (mini or regular size)
• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

Instructions

1. 1

   Preheat oven to 350° F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper.

2. 2

   In a large bowl, stir together oats, flour, flaxseed, cinnamon, nutmeg, baking soda, and salt.

3. 3

   In a medium bowl, whisk together mashed banana, honey, melted butter, egg, and vanilla. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry and stir until combined.

4. 4

   Gently stir in the chocolate chips and walnuts, if using. The dough will be moist.

5. 5

   Drop dough by rounded tablespoonful onto the prepared baking sheets. Use your fingers to gently flatten each cookie a little, since they won't flatten on their own during baking.

6. 6

   Bake 10-12 minutes, until set and barely golden. (If baking more than one pan at a time, be sure to rotate the pans halfway through the baking time.) Let cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.