This post may contain affiliate links. See my disclosure policy.
Insanely delicious soft and chewy healthy monster cookies made with NO flour! 4 ingredients, one bowl and 12 minutes to make.
If you’ve tried my healthy monster cookie bars, you should try their OG inspiration- my healthy monster cookies!
Monster cookies, if you haven’t heard of them before, are cookies made with peanut butter, oatmeal, chocolate chips, and candy buttons (like M&M’s). They get their ‘monster’ name due to the number of different ingredients that go into the dough- chocolate chips AND candy buttons!
Now, these cookies are typically packed with butter, oil, and tons of sugar but not my version- I’ve given them a healthy makeover.
Table of Contents
Recipe highlights
- 4 main ingredients. Oats, bananas, peanut butter, and candy buttons. There are a couple of optional extras but they are just that- optional.
- Vegan and gluten-free. And by accident, too! There are no eggs or dairy in these, and you can also use gluten-free oats if needed.
- Ready in 12 minutes. I like to make these cookies for my family when they want something sweet, healthy, and delicious tasting.
Ingredients needed
- Rolled Oats- Gives the cookies a chewy texture, while remaining soft and tender on the outside. I tried these cookies using quick oats and found them to be a little too soft.
- Peanut Butter- Smooth and drippy peanut butter, with no added sugar. You can use any smooth peanut butter of choice!
- Banana- Mashed, overripe banana to hold the cookies together, AND give the cookies extra sweetness.
- Chocolate Buttons of choice- M&M’s are preferred, but any kind of candy buttons work.
- Chocolate Chips of Choice- Optional, but perfect for chocolate lovers.
Find the printable recipe with measurements below.
How to make healthy monster cookies
Making these flourless monster cookies follows three EASY steps!
Step 1- Mix your ingredients together. In a large mixing bowl, add your rolled oats, mashed banana, and peanut butter and mix well, until combined. Using a rubber spatula, fold through your candy buttons and chocolate chips, reserving a few to top the cookies with.
Step 2- Form cookies and place on the cookie sheet. Lightly wet your hands and form 12 balls of dough. Place on the lined cookie sheet (or baking tray!) and press into a cookie shape. Top with extra chocolate chips or M&M’s.
Step 3- Bake and enjoy. Bake the cookies in a preheated oven (at 180C/350) for 12-15 minutes, or until just cooked. Cool on the pans completely.
Recipe tips and variations
- Do not overbake the cookies as they will continue to bake as they cool down. I recommend removing the cookies from the oven once the edges are golden brown.
- These cookies will not spread at all, so whichever shape you bake them as, that is how they will bake.
- These cookies aren’t super sweet, relying on the banana for sweetness. If you prefer sweeter cookies (like my kids do!), add some maple syrup or honey.
- Change up the base of the cookies by adding some fun mix-ins. I sometimes like to add chopped nuts, raisins, or candy pieces.
Storage instructions
To Store: Monster cookies can keep at room temperature, but to maintain freshness, you’d be best to keep them refrigerated. Refrigerate leftover cookies once they have cooled completely. Keep them in a sealed container, and they will keep for at least a week.
To Freeze: These cookies are freezer friendly, and will keep frozen for up to 2 months.
Frequently asked questions
Different sizes of bananas would yield different amounts. If you find your monster cookie dough falling apart, add a little extra mashed banana to give it moisture and hold them together. Alternatively, you can add applesauce or even mashed pumpkin.
Unfortunately, you cannot freeze this particular monster cookie dough. It doesn’t contain flour or butter and will dry out and be brittle. You CAN freeze the completed cookies though!
More healthy cookies to try
- Healthy chocolate chip cookies
- Healthy oatmeal chocolate chip cookies
- No bake oatmeal cookies
- Healthy oatmeal raisin cookies
Healthy Flourless Monster Cookies
Ingredients
- 2 cups rolled oats gluten-free, if needed
- 3 large bananas mashed
- 1/2 cup peanut butter can sub for any nut or seed butter of choice
- 1/4-1/2 cup Candy buttons M &M's, vegan M&M's, or sugar free candy buttons
- 1/4 cup chocolate chips Optional
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 175C/350F. Line a large baking tray with parchment paper and set aside.
- In a large bowl, combine all your ingredients, except for your chocolate buttons and chocolate chips, and mix well. Fold in your chocolate buttons, reserving a few to add on top.
- Form 12 large balls of dough and place on the lined tray. Press each ball into a cookie shape and bake for 12-15 minutes, or until slightly golden brown.
- Remove from the oven and allow to cool on the tray for 10 minutes, before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
Notes
Nutrition
Recipe originally published March 2020 but updated to include new information for your benefit.
These turned out great and we’re so easy to make! This was the first time my child had monster cookies. I used Unreal brand vegan chocolate buttons and dark choose chips, bananas and almond butter along with GF oats. Thanks for sharing!
These are so simple and so good! Saving this recipe!! Thank you!!
Just made these and they’re delicious. It gives me chewy, crunchy and sweet all in one. Not a conventional cookie with flour but that is precisely why these are yummy.
Hi, loooove the recipe!!
What can I use as substitute for peanut/ nut butter as I can not have those?
Sunflower seed butter or smooth tahini!
Awesome!!!!thanks so much!
While I’d love to use bananas I don’t have any fresh ones. I would use the substitute of applesauce and add a little sweetener of maybe monk fruit, question is, how much will I need roughly? I have bananas frozen for smoothies but I don’t know how much to use if I thawed those out. Thanks and I love your recipes and always refer people to your site!!
Hi! Try with 1.25 cups of applesauce and if it is too much, add some extra oats to it.
Yes, thanks so much, Arman, for creating and sharing the recipe! ❤
Loved these! Simple to make, tasty, nice chewy texture and I love that they are flour free. This is definitely going to be a go-to recipe for me when I am in a cookie mood!
🙂 That’s what I like to hear!
These were great! My daughter made a goof and we had to double the recipe. Since I didn’t have enough to account for doubling, we also used some substitutions listed in the post.
I was curious about the calorie content? With my double batch making 16 cookies, I keep coming up with about 210 calories per cookie. Every calorie was worth it, by the way. These were great snacks for the family, thank you so much for the treat!
That’s what I like to hear! Yep, the nutritional content has been calculated and is listed there- enjoy!
Failed they are not gluten free as you have made them with oats and can contain wheat
Clearly didn’t read the post, used certified gluten free rolled oats, if you choose not to eat them, no worries but this recipe is gluten free. enjoy!
Your pictures show quite a lot of chocolate, it appears that choco chips have been added, and chocolate on top as well. Why is this not in the recipe?
Hi Roseann, it’s included in the post, the option to mix it with chocolate chips. Enjoy