These Chunky Monkey Cookies are loaded with banana chunks, peanut butter, dark chocolate chips, and walnuts. They’re the best thing to happen to those overripe bananas. Because let’s be honest, if you’ve ever stood in your kitchen staring at a couple of overripe bananas, banana bread is what always comes to mind, but it’s time to switch things up. And this recipe is about to change that routine.
These cookies stay soft and are incredibly easy to make. Plus, they’re completely gluten-free and dairy-free, and they don’t rely on any complicated or hard-to-find substitutions. Grab your favorite gluten-free flour, those brown bananas, and get ready to turn them into everyone’s new favorite dessert.
Table of Contents
If you love chunky monkey ice cream, you will love these cookies. They take all those same indulgent flavors and turn them into a warm, chewy cookie that tastes heavenly fresh out of the oven! The edges are lightly crisp, the centers stay soft and tender, and every bite is loaded with melty chocolate chips and pockets of peanut butter richness. And from start to finish, these cookies come together in under 30 minutes.
Once you make them, you’ll realize pretty quickly that this is one of those go-to recipes that’s perfect for all occasions, whether it’s a quick weeknight treat or a new way to use up those spotted bananas. So before you default to making yet another loaf of banana bread, give these chunky monkey cookies a try.
Why You’ll Love These Cookies
What’s not to love about these chunky monkey cookies? They’re soft and packed with rich peanut butter, melty chocolate, and naturally sweet banana. Plus, they’re sneakily gluten-free and dairy-free! But if you need a few more reasons to convince you, here they are:
- Soft & Chewy: These chunky monkey cookies are soft, chewy, and one that you will reach for over and over again!
- Healthier: Lower in sugar than your average cookie, but will still satisfy your sweet tooth!
- Flavorful: Sweet mashed bananas, creamy peanut butter, crunchy walnuts, and dark chocolate chips add flavor and texture to these chunky monkey banana cookies!
- Easy to make: Ready in less than 30 minutes.
- No waste: A perfect way to use up those spotty bananas!
What Are Chunky Monkey Cookies
Chunky monkey cookies are inspired by the iconic flavor combination made famous in the ice cream aisle: banana, chocolate, and nuts. But instead of a frozen dessert, these cookies transform that flavor trio into a warm, soft treat that’s rich and satisfying.
At their core, chunky monkey cookies combine three things: ripe bananas for natural sweetness and moisture, chocolate chips for richness, and peanut butter and/or nuts for texture and another layer of flavor. Texture-wise, they land somewhere between a classic chocolate chip cookie and soft banana bread. The edges can be slightly crisp, while the centers stay thick, soft, and almost cake-like.
And what makes these cookies especially appealing is their versatility. Depending on how you tweak the ingredients, they can easily be gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan, and lower in refined sugar. These cookies are your smarter upgrade to classic banana desserts.
Ingredients You’ll Need
With just a handful of ingredients, you’ll have indulgent, warm cookies on the table in under 30 minutes. Plus, these ingredients have some easy swaps so you can keep them traditional or follow the recipe to keep them dairy and gluten-free.
- Gluten-free flour: An all-purpose gluten-free flour is perfect for these cookies. I like this King Arthur flour, which is an easy 1:1 substitute for wheat flour.
- Baking soda: This leavening agent adds lift and rise to the chunky monkey cookies.
- Salt: Balances out the taste.
- Cinnamon: Adds warmth and complements the peanut butter and banana flavors.
- Butter: I use Earth Balance vegan butter sticks. You can use regular butter, too, if you don’t need this recipe to be dairy-free.
- Creamy peanut butter: I love to use Jif or Skippy natural creamy peanut butter. Avoid the natural oily kinds that you need to stir, as they do not combine properly.
- Brown sugar: Coconut sugar can be used as well.
- Ripe bananas: You will need two medium-sized ripe bananas. The more brown, the sweeter and better!
- Dark chocolate chips: I used Enjoy Life brand. Semi-sweet chocolate chips could be used instead of regular chocolate chips for a regular dairy recipe.
- Walnuts: Chopped pecans could be used instead.
Measurements for each ingredient, along with instructions for making Chunky Monkey Cookies, are in the printable recipe card below.
Printable Chunky Monkey Cookies Recipe Card
Ingredients
- 2¼ cups all-purpose gluten-free flour
- 1 tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp cinnamon
- ½ cup butter, softened
- ½ cup creamy peanut butter
- ½ cup brown sugar
- 2 medium ripe bananas
- 1 cup dark chocolate chips
- ½ cup walnuts, chopped
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F. Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine dry ingredients (flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon). Mix to combine well. Set aside.
- In a medium bowl, combine softened butter, peanut butter, and sugar and mix on medium-high speed until light and fluffy. Set aside.
- Add ripe bananas to a bowl, and using a fork, mash them into small bits. Add smashed bananas to the peanut butter mixture and mix until well combined.
- Pour the peanut butter/banana mixture into the flour mixture and combine well. Fold in chocolate chips and walnuts until completely combined.
- Using a cookie scoop, drop rounded spoonfuls onto prepared baking sheets.
- Bake for 9-10 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on baking sheets for 2 minutes and enjoy.
Nutrition
Why Bananas Replace Eggs
One of the most powerful and underrated aspects of this recipe is how bananas step in to replace eggs in ways beyond just as a substitute.
Just as with banana bread, you will want to use ripe bananas in this recipe (the riper, the better!). They are not only more flavorful and naturally sweeter, but they’re also much easier to mash.
In baking, eggs typically serve three main roles: binding ingredients, adding moisture, and giving structure to the baked good. Ripe bananas help with all three of these things and add lots of flavor and sweetness.
Bananas contain pectin, which acts as a natural binder to help hold cookie dough together much as eggs would. Because of the high water content in bananas, they give plenty of moisture and softness to cookies and other baked goods. This is why most banana-based cookies and breads often stay soft longer than traditional cookies.
Tip: The riper the banana, the better. Look for bananas with brown spots or even fully browned skin. These provide maximum sweetness and the best texture!
How to Make Chunky Monkey Cookies
Here, I’ve taken this incredibly simple recipe and broken it down into step-by-step instructions, along with helpful images to guide you along your baking journey.
Step 1
Preheat the oven to 375ºF. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside.
Step 2
In a large mixing bowl, combine dry ingredients: 2 1/4 cups gluten-free flour, 1 tsp baking soda, 1/2 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp cinnamon. Whisk the ingredients together, then set the bowl aside.
Step 3
In a medium bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer, combine 1/2 cup of softened butter, 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter, and 1/2 cup brown sugar. Using a hand mixer or stand mixer, beat on medium-high speed until light and fluffy. Scrape down the sides of the bowl.
Step 4
Mash the bananas in a small bowl and add them to the peanut butter mixture. Mix well to combine.
Step 5
Add the peanut butter mixture to the dry ingredients and mix just until combined. Fold in 1 cup of dark chocolate chips and 1/2 cup of chopped walnuts.
Step 6
Drop rounded spoonfuls of the cookie dough onto the baking sheets and bake for 9-10 minutes, or until the edges of the cookies just start to turn golden brown. Cool on the baking sheets for a few minutes and enjoy!
Expert Tips
Even though this is a simple and forgiving recipe, a few tweaks can take these cookies to the next level.
Use Extra Ripe Bananas
This is a non-negotiable. Underripe bananas will have less moisture and less sweetness, producing a firmer cookie with far less flavor. Overripe, soft, spotty bananas will create the best cookies.
Extra Tip: Increase the banana flavor by adding up to 1/2 teaspoon of banana extract.
Don’t Overmix the Dough
Once you combine the wet and dry ingredients, mix the dough just until everything is incorporated. Overmixing can make cookies dense and less appealing in texture. With many gluten-free doughs, you don’t have to worry about overmixing as much as with traditional wheat flour (which can create too much gluten), but it is still a good habit to get into.
Choose the Right Peanut Butter
Avoid natural peanut butter that is very oily and separated. This can make the dough too oily, affecting the cookies’ consistency. Instead, use a creamy, stabilized peanut butter like Jif or Skippy for the best results in this recipe.
Slightly Underbake
Take these cookies out of the oven just as the edges start to turn brown. The centers may still look slightly soft, but they’ll continue cooking on the baking sheet as they cool. This keeps them from overbaking and becoming dry and crumbly, so they stay perfectly soft and chewy.
Variations & Substitutions
This is an extremely adaptable recipe, whether you’re working around dietary needs or just experimenting. That’s one of the things I love so much about these chunky monkey cookies: there are plenty of ways to customize.
- Nut-Free Version: Swap the peanut butter for sunflower seed butter or this super creamy Wowbutter. You can even try tahini for a more earthy flavor!
- Vegan: Good news, this recipe is already vegan as written! By using vegan butter and dairy-free chocolate chips, I’ve kept this recipe vegan-friendly.
- Gluten-Free: This recipe is written as a gluten-free cookie that uses an all-purpose gluten-free substitute, but if you do not need a gluten-free cookie, you can use regular all-purpose flour.
- Lower Sugar: This recipe relies heavily on banana for natural sweetness, but to swap the added brown sugar for something more natural, try out coconut sugar or maple syrup.
- Extra Indulgent: Add chocolate chunks instead of chocolate chips and sprinkle flaky sea salt right when they come out of the oven for an elegant touch.
How to Store & Freeze
Store these chunky monkey cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for 2-3 days. For longer storage up to 4 or 6 days, place them in the refrigerator. Let them come to room temperature before eating, or warm them in the microwave for 10-15 seconds for that warm, comforting taste.
The baked cookies can also be frozen in a freezer-safe bag or container. Let the cookies cool completely before storing. They will last up to 3 months in the freezer. Warm them up in the oven or microwave before enjoying.
Tip: Keep a slice of bread in an airtight container with the cookies to keep them soft and tender!
Chunky Monkey Cookies FAQs
For all your questions, answers, and more, refer to the FAQs below or leave your comments down below.
Why Are There No Eggs In This Recipe?
This recipe was developed without needing any eggs. Ripe bananas serve as a replacement for eggs, helping to bind ingredients, giving structure, and adding moisture to the cookies. While the most common egg replacements you may see are flax or chia egg, bananas are a great replacement that adds lots of natural sweetness, too!
Why Are My Cookies Crunchy?
If you bake your cookies for too long, they will be crunchy. Bake for 9-10 minutes, or just until the edges of the cookies start to turn golden brown. The cookies will continue to bake for a few more minutes on the hot baking tray when they come out of the oven. This is called ‘carryover cooking’. So, it’s always best to take them out just as they start to turn brown so they stay soft and tender.
Can I Freeze Unbaked Cookies to Make Later?
This is a great option, so you can always have cookie dough ready to go in the freezer! After scooping the dough onto the baking sheets, freeze the dough balls for an hour or two until they are solid. Transfer them to a freezer-safe bag and store them for 2-3 months. When you are ready to bake them, proceed with the baking instructions as written in the recipe card above, adding a minute or two to the baking time.
Can I Use Frozen Banana?
Freezing overripe bananas is a great way to store them for later use, so you can use them on your own time. Just be sure to fully thaw the frozen bananas and drain off any excess liquid before mixing them into the dough to avoid an overly wet dough. Two medium bananas should weigh around 7-8 oz or measure about 1 cup in a measuring cup.
Are These Cookies Healthy?
While these cookies are still just a treat, they are a more balanced one. They’re slightly healthier than traditional cookies thanks to the natural sweetness of bananas, which reduces the need for lots of added sugar. Plus, they offer dietary flexibility for dairy-free, gluten-free, or vegan lifestyles. But keep in mind, desserts like these are best enjoyed in moderation.
Final Thoughts
By now, I’m sure you can see why these Chunky Monkey Cookies are the kind of recipe that quickly becomes a fan favorite.
They’re simple enough to make on a busy weeknight, come together in under 30 minutes, and are flexible enough to adapt to what you have on hand or your lifestyle diets. Even better, they are just indulgent enough to feel like a real treat without all the heaviness of a traditional cookie. It’s the perfect balance of comfort and convenience that keeps you coming back to them again and again.
They are the best way to solve the problem of what to do with those overripe bananas without resorting to banana bread (again). Whether you follow the recipe exactly or put your own spin on it with different mix-ins, sweeter variations, or dietary swaps, you’ll find this recipe easy to adapt to your style and make it exactly how you like it.
Be sure to save this recipe, so the next time you see those ripe bananas on your counter, you’ll know exactly what to do!
More Delicious Banana Recipes
Whether you love the taste of bananas or you’re looking for more recipes that use bananas in place of eggs, these recipes have got you covered!
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Save this recipe or print the recipe card above so you can return to it again and again. And don’t forget to leave a comment with your thoughts on these chunky monkey cookies to connect with other readers and home cooks!
