These Sugar Free Oatmeal Cookies are loaded with oats, flaxseed, nuts, fruits and do not have any added sugar.
Other oatmeal cookies we love are these breakfast cookies, healthy oatmeal cookies and healthy banana oatmeal cookies.
Reader’s Review
I make these for my grandchildren and husband, I can not make enough. The way you explain everything is wonderful and the recipes always turn out so well.
Mary Richardson
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
I started making these sugar free oatmeal cookies back in 2018 when we hiked with small kids and I was extremely passionate about the healthy eating. Not that I am not anymore, but as kids grew I became more understanding with “balance and moderation”.
- No added sugar: No maple syrup, honey, coconut sugar or low glycemic sugar substitutes in this sugar-free oatmeal cookie recipe. Fruit is the only sweetener!
- Easy recipe: With simple ingredients and mostly pantry staples, these healthy cookies are made in one bowl and no dough chilling is required.
- Diet friendly: No eggs, dairy or wheat. Vegan and gluten-free when using certified gluten-free oats.
- Nutritious: Each giant cookie contains 5 gr of fiber and 5 gr protein. And they taste amazing!
- Freezer friendly: Make a big batch of sugar free oat cookies and store in the freezer when you need a healthy snack or breakfast.
Ingredients for Sugar Free Oatmeal Cookies
- Bananas: Make sure you use very ripe bananas with many black spots to ensure sweet cookies. They add natural sweetness and moisture.
- Flaxseed and warm water: Flax eggs keep this recipe vegan and add extra healthy fats.
- Oats: I prefer to use rolled oats or also known as old-fashioned oats. You can use quick oats but cookies will have less chewy texture. I don’t recommend to use instant oats as they will not produce a nice texture.
- Oat flour: You can use store-bought oat flour or here is a quick tutorial on DIY oat flour. Don’t use just ground up oats, they have to be sifted.
- Coconut oil: I tried this recipe with both coconut oil and Nutiva buttery flavored coconut oil. Both worked great! I think vegan butter like Earth Balance will be fine too but I am not sure how recipe will work with oil that you can’t melt. One reader used grapeseed oil and they turned out well.
- Nuts: Use whichever nuts you love. I use peanuts, almonds and cashews. I think sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, walnuts, pecans, pistachios, Brazilian nuts and hazelnuts will go well.
- Dates: You can use regular dates or Medjool dates. Chop them into bite sized pieces. Also raisins or dried cranberries will work.
- Baking essentials: Vanilla extract, cinnamon, baking soda and salt.
How to Make Sugar Free Oatmeal Cookies
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F, line large baking sheet with parchment paper and spray with cooking spray.
- Make flax “eggs”: In a small bowl, whisk together flaxseed and warm water, and let the mixture sit for 10 minutes.
- Combine wet ingredients: In a large bowl, mash bananas with a fork and add melted coconut oil, vanilla, cinnamon, baking soda and salt. Add in the flaxseed mixture and whisk well.
- Make the dough: Add oats and oat flour and mix well. Don’t be surprised that cookie dough will come out pretty thick. Throw in chopped nuts and dried fruit, stir.
- Bake and cool: Scoop cookie batter onto baking tray with large cookie scoop or a heaping tablespoon, then flatten with the back. Bake in preheated oven for 20 minutes, then remove from the oven and let cookies cool for a minute before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
Tips for Best Results
- Follow the recipe: For best results, I recommend to follow this recipe exactly as written. Baking is truly a science!
- Use warm water with flax: To make flax eggs use warm water and let mixture sit, so it thickens.
- Shape them: Sugar-free oatmeal cookies do not spread because there is no sugar or butter. So you have to form them into a desired size round cookie shape.
- Cool the cookies: So they have a chance to set, otherwise cookies might fall apart.
Add-ins and Variations
- Chocolate: Add up to 1/2 cup of mini chocolate chips, dark chocolate chips or chopped chocolate bar.
- Shredded coconut: Add up to 1/3 cup of unsweetened dried coconut flakes.
- Spices: Swap cinnamon for pumpkin pie spice or a combination of cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, ginger or all spice.
- Lower in sugar: Dried fruit makes cookies sweeter. If you are OK with not sweet cookies, you can omit dates.
How to Store
Store: It is best to place the sugar free oatmeal cookies in a cool, dry ventilated or partially closed container. I don’t recommend storing in an airtight container or the cookies will get soggy.
Freeze: Place in a freezer in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Thaw on the counter for a few hours.
Shipping: I would ship cookies only to a short destination where a receiver can pick up parcel immediately. For 5 days in transit maximum.
I recommend to place in a ventilated container big enough to fit all cookies but so they don’t tumble in it and break.
FAQs
I have not tried this swap, so can’t vouch for results. You will need to skip flaxseed and water and try to add 2 large eggs. That’s what seems to work out for some readers.
I don’t recommend it. Bananas are quite unique, binding and make the base of this recipe.
Sugar free cookies will not be chewy or crispy because it’s a result of baking cookies with sugar and butter. These cookies will be soft.
More Oatmeal Cookies Recipes to Try
- Healthy oatmeal cranberry cookies
- Oatmeal pistachio cookies
- Blueberry oatmeal cookies
- Healthy no bake cookies
- Oat flour cookies
- Oat flour monster cookies
Sugar Free Oatmeal Cookies
Equipment
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons flaxseed, ground
- 9 tablespoons warm water
- 2 large over ripen bananas
- 1/2 cup coconut oil, melted
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 3/4 cups rolled oats
- 1/2 cup oat flour
- 1 cup mixed nuts & seeds, chopped, if too large
- 10 Medjool dates, pitted & chopped, or 1 cup raisins
- Cooking spray, I use Misto
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F, line large baking sheet with unbleached parchment paper and spray with cooking spray.
- In a small bowl, whisk flaxseed and water. Let sit for about 10 minutes while you are getting other ingredients ready.
- In a large bowl, mash bananas. Add coconut oil, vanilla extract, cinnamon, baking soda and salt. Add flaxseed mixture and whisk really well.
- Add oats and oat flour; stir to combine. Add nuts and dried fruit; mix well. Dough will be very thick.
- Using large ice cream scoop, place batter on previously prepared sheet and flatten with the back of a scoop into large size cookies. Cookies do not spread. I had about 6 cookies per sheet. Bake in batches for 20 minutes or until nuts start to brown a bit.
- Remove from the oven and let cookies cool for a minute, then transfer onto a cooling rack to cool off completely. Enjoy for breakfast, snack or a healthy dessert!
Notes
- Store: Store in a cool dry place open. Do not wrap or place cookies in a jar. The more air, the better. That way cookies do not get soggy. Remember there is no sugar.
- Freeze: In an airtight container for up to 3 months. Thaw on the counter for a few hours.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Hi. Thank you for this recipe. I love it and so does my family. I have a question. Can I use citric acid to preserve it for like a month? If so, how much do I use for this recipe?
Fantastic! Glad you enjoyed the recipe, Maria. I have never used citric acid to preserve anything, so can’t tell. You can freeze cookies and thaw within hours.
Thanks, Olena! I’ll look forward to more of your plant based dessert recipes. Stay safe.
The first thing I ever baked in life and it turned out great ! I am glad you posted this recipe. Thankyou!!
Fantastic! Glad you enjoyed the recipe.
Is there anyway to make the cookies more crispy. similar to packaged ones. Thankyou again for a great recipe.
Mmmm, no because packaged ones are crispy due to sugar melting into butter during baking.
I see, thankyou for the reply 🙂
This one was an instant hit with my family. So healthy and tasty and moreover guilt free. Actually I have made it three -four times by now
Thanks and waiting for many more
Yay! So happy this is a hit with your family Meenakshi!
Thanks for the gr8 recipe and detailed walk through.
I soak my oats & almonds & flax seeds for 12 hours before I start the process… the result tasted good but the texture was softer than needed. Any advice?
Yes, to follow the recipe and not to soak them.
Thank you for your positive feedback Kimberely. Sounds like you are doing a really good job at eating healthy. That’s awesome!
Can I use vegetable oil and regular flour for these? I don’t have the other ingredients on hand.
Hi Veda. This recipe is for oatmeal (no flour) cookies. Baking is a science and it is best to follow recipes as written.
I was able to make the substitutions without any issues. I also added two tablespoons of peanut butter for flavor and binding. When I have access to coconut oil and oat flour, I look forward to trying out the recipe closely.
So far, this is my favorite healthy oatmeal cookie recipe. I’m making my fourth batch now.
Thank you!
You are welcome Veda!
My husband loves them!
I have made these many times, my husband and son are actually asking for them regularly. They are so full of flavor, soft and chewy at the same time. Relatively guilt free 🙂 And I would make them just for the way my house smells of melted coconut when I have them in the oven.
Thanks for another great recipe!
You’re welcome Cristina!
Very good cookies! Thanks for explaining about the texture and how to store them. Very helpful! I can’t stop eating them! The first batch I did, I put in pumpkins seeds with dates. Now cooking another batch with dates, cashews and walnuts.
Fantastic additions to the cookies! Sounds so yummy! Happy baking Anna!
Oh my goodness. I’ve tried so many no sugar added cookie recipes and this is the best. I’ve made it about twelve times with different variations. People love these, and not just “I love them for being no-sugar-added cookies.” They love them just as cookies.
I like to add apples, ginger and cacao nibs. But even without any variations, it’s dang good! Good enough to make me take the time to finally write a review. 🙂
Thanks for sharing your positive feedback Amanda!
I was lucky to have all the ingredients. I guess everyone has those at home. Super easy. My chef kid 🙂 (3 yrs old) was skeptic at first about “non-cookie “ ingredients but loved the taste when they were done! Thank you very much!
Woohoo! So happy to hear these cookies were well received by your kiddo!