Banana Pumpkin Cookies
By Hannah Healy
Updated June 18, 2024
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These healthy banana pumpkin cookies make a fun aip dessert. They’re soft and chewy with a sweet spiced flavor.
During the fall when pumpkin is in season these healthy banana pumpkin cookies make a great aip dessert for the holiday table or for parties or to pack up as gifts. They’re also paleo, vegan, gluten free, dairy free and sugar free, so enjoy them without worrying about unhealthy ingredients!
What is AIP (autoimmune paleo protocol)?
The autoimmune paleo protocol is a special diet to help those with autoimmune disease. It removes inflammatory foods that can be triggering such as grains, dairy, eggs, nuts and others. That is why this recipe uses no eggs or nut flour. You can learn more about the autoimmune paleo protocol (AIP) here.
Can you have chocolate on AIP?
Chocolate is not allowed on AIP. Some people use carob as a chocolate substitute on the autoimmune paleo protocol. You may notice that this recipe lists chocolate chips as an option, but that is only if you are not on AIP. If you are on AIP, you’ll want to use chopped dates instead of chocolate chips.
Why I love this recipe:
- If you are on the autoimmune paleo protocol diet (AIP) desserts can sometimes be difficult to make since you have to avoid nuts, eggs, seeds and some spices. So this recipe is a fun egg-free, nut-free treat for those who are on AIP.
- Even if you are not on AIP, this is a tasty, sweet and chewy spiced cookie that is perfect for fall!
- The addition of banana acts both as a natural sweetener as well as an egg-free binder to keep everything together.
Healthy Banana Pumpkin Cookies Recipe Tips:
- If you are on AIP, you’ll want to use chopped dates with this recipe–it really makes the recipe! If you are not on AIP, you can use chocolate chips in place of dates. I have tried both ways. Usually I am chocolate-obsessed, but I actually prefer dates for this recipe…it really pairs well with the other flavors.
- If you are on AIP, don’t use pumpkin pie spice. Substitute equal amounts cinnamon.
- I’ve updated this recipe so you can make it without coconut butter since not everyone has that on hand. However, if you have coconut butter, I would recommend adding 1 tbsp to your cookie dough mixture to further add to the perfect texture.
- The banana is an important part of this recipe and should not be substituted since it adds sweetness and acts as an egg-free binder.
- Tapioca flour can be substituted with arrowroot or cassava flour. The coconut flour cannot be substituted.
- It’s important to use parchment paper or a silpat on the cookie sheet when making these so they don’t stick.
- Store these cookies in the refrigerator or freezer. They will last about a week in the refrigerator.
How to Make these Healthy Banana Pumpkin Cookies:
First, peel a medium sized ripe banana then smash and puree it with a fork (you can also mix it in a food processor). Then add pureed pumpkin.
Add in all of the remaining ingredients except the chopped dates (or chocolate chips).
Mix everything together. Use a food processor or hand blender to combine thoroughly.
Add in the chopped dates or chocolate chips and fold in with a spoon.
Drop 12 mounds of cookie dough evenly on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or a silpat (this is needed to prevent sticking).
Use a spoon to evenly flatten and shape the cookies. They won’t rise very much, so take care to shape them in the way you want them. They will cook better if they are flatter.
Bake at 350° for about 10-15 minutes. Since they are egg-free and AIP, they won’t be quite the same as regular cookies. They will be a chewy floppy texture.
Enjoy with some hot cocoa or hot apple cider for the perfect fall treat!
Banana Pumpkin Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 medium banana pureed
- 3/4 cup pumpkin puree
- 1/2 cup tapioca flour
- 2 tbsp coconut flour
- 1/4 tsp baking soda
- 5-7 chopped pitted dates (for AIP) or 1/3 cup chocolate chips
- 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice or cinnamon (for AIP)
Instructions
- Pre-heat the oven to 350°. Use a blender, food processor or stick blender to mix all ingredients except the dates (or chocolate chips).
- If using the dates, chop the dates. Add the dates to the batter and stir gently with a spoon. If using chocolate chips, add them to the dough and fold into the dough.
- Place parchment paper or a silpat on a cookie sheet (you need parchment paper or else the cookies may stick).
- Place spoonfuls of the cookie dough onto the cookie sheet. The batter will be more moist than regular cookie dough. Use the spoon to shape the batter into a flat circle cookie shape. Repeat until all of the batter is out.
- Bake the cookies at 350° for about 10 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
Video
Notes
- If you are on AIP, you'll want to use chopped dates with this recipe--it really makes the recipe! If you are not on AIP, you can use chocolate chips in place of dates. I have tried both ways. Usually I'm a chocolate fiend, but I actually prefer dates for this recipe...it really pairs well with the other flavors.
- If you are on AIP, do not use pumpkin pie spice. Substitute equal amounts cinnamon.
- I've updated this recipe so you can make it without coconut butter since not everyone has that on hand. However, if you have coconut butter, I would recommend adding 1 tbsp to your cookie dough mixture to further add to the perfect texture.
- The banana is an important part of this recipe and should not be substituted since it adds sweetness and acts as an egg-free binder.
- Tapioca flour can be substituted with arrowroot or cassava flour. The coconut flour cannot be substituted.
- It's important to use parchment paper or a silpat on the cookie sheet when making these so they don't stick.
- Store these cookies in the refrigerator or freezer. They will last about a week in the refrigerator.
Nutrition
More AIP desserts you might enjoy…
This Healthy Banana Pumpkin Cookie recipe was originally posted in September 2017, but has been republished in September 2018 to include new and improved recipe tips and a new video.
I made these and the outside was cooked rubbery but the inside seemed uncooked. Did not look like your picture at all which looks luke a crunchy cookie. Why so different I wonder.
Mary, I state several times in the post that the cookie texture is chewy. It’s never described as crunchy. This is a nut-free and egg-free autoimmune paleo recipe so the texture is different than when you use eggs and nuts.
I would market them as a pancake as that is a little closer in texture.
Any chance very ripe plantain could be used in place of banana?
I’m not sure, I haven’t tried that, but let us know if it works out!
I am pretty sure that these little cookies would not last long on our counter. We both love bananas. And duh. Cookies. This is exactly the recipe I have been looking for.
Yum! I’m looking forward to all the pumpkin recipes right now and these cookies sound amazing!
I can’t wait to try these. Pumpkin cookies sound terrific!
These are calling my name! They look so tasty!
Thanks! They are super fun!
My best friend is on the AIP protocol and she’s always looking for snacky things that satisfy. Sharing this one with her!
Awesome! I think she’ll enjoy them!
I made these. They tasted good but they were robbery. Is that the tech sure it’s supposed to have?
Yes, since they are egg free and AIP friendly the texture will be a bit different than regular cookies.
Is there a substitute for coconut butter? I’m allergic to it 🙁
These sound wonderful. I take it the chocolate chips are optional, since they’re not AIP compliant?
Yes, the chopped dates take the place of the chocolate chips for the AIP version.
can I use corn starch instead of tapioca flour?
These look awesome! We have a banana allergy in our home. What could we substitute for it?
Can any other flour be used if I don’t have coconut flour?
No, there aren’t really any good subs for coconut flour since it’s so unique. It would change the whole recipe.
Pinned!! I can’t wait to give these a try. I usually follow a paleo diet and with fall finally here, I’m all about anything pumpkin!
I am in love with this recipe.It’s delicious.I made it and it turned out great.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Thank you so much! I don’t have a great pumpkin cookie recipe and I love this one. Can’t wait to make it!
What a delicious fall cookie! I have coconut flower and tapioca flour in my pantry and really don’t use it very much. Glad to have something to make with it…and my kids will surely love these too!
These cookies are making my mouth water 🙂 I just love pumpkin and have not tried baking pumpkin cookies. So yummy!
Love pumpkin cookies! These look thin and crispy – just perfect for dunking in coffee, now I’m ready for fall! Delicious cookies and a wonderful recipe!
My kids love this time of year when the pumpkin muffins and cookies are on the counter after school. Bonus that these are healthy. Love it…no guilt eating these cookies.