Chunky Monkey Cookies

Chunky monkey cookies combine bananas, peanut butter, and chocolate chips into one fabulous cookie. If you’re a fan of chunky monkey ice cream, you’re going to lose your mind over these cookies! They’re easy to whip up with just a few ingredients and totally delicious.

Two chunky monkey cookies are stacked with a bite taken out of the top cookie. There are more cookies in the background.

I’m a total sucker for anything with peanut butter, chocolate, and banana – that classic flavor combo is simply irresistible! These cookies combine all my favorite things, and the fact that they’re vegan and made with whole wheat flour is a major bonus.

The flavors of chocolate, peanut butter, and banana combine in these chunky monkey cookies, with lots of deliciousness in every bite!

Reader Reviews

★★★★★
I’ve just made these … really yummy!! Thanks for a yummy recipe to use up bananas that wasn’t banana bread!

Lucy

Ingredients & Substitutions

You can find the full printable recipe, including ingredient quantities, below. But first, here are some explanations of ingredients and steps to help you make this recipe perfect every time.

Here are the ingredients you’ll need for this recipe, including substitution ideas:

  • Whole wheat pastry flour: Provides a lovely nutty flavor and a softer texture than regular whole wheat flour. Find this in the baking aisle. Learn more about baking with whole wheat pastry flour.
  • Vegan butter: Look for brands like Earth Balance or Miyoko’s Kitchen, available in most grocery stores.
  • Peanut butter: Creamy peanut butter is ideal, but chunky would add even more texture. Go with natural varieties for the best flavor.
  • Granulated sugar: White sugar works best. For extra depth, try using half granulated and half brown sugar.
  • Bananas: Use very ripe bananas for maximum sweetness and easy mashing.
  • Dairy-free chocolate chips: Semi-sweet chocolate chips are the classic choice,but dark chocolate chips are also delicious. Look for brands like Enjoy Life in the baking aisle.
  • Walnuts: You can substitute pecans, almonds, or omit nuts entirely for an allergy-friendly version.
A bunch of 3 very ripe bananas sit on a white counter.

What Bananas are Best for Cookies?

This recipe is perfect for using ripe bananas. You’ll want to select yellow bananas with brown spots because they’re the most flavorful.

If you don’t have ripe bananas, you can cook them first! Simply place peeled bananas on a plate and cook them in the microwave for a minute until they’re soft and tender. Then mash them and let this cool completely before adding to the butter mixture.

How to Make Chunky Monkey Cookies

  1. Stir together dry ingredients (flours, baking soda, and salt) in a mixing bowl.
  2. Cream together vegan butter and peanut butter. Then add sugar and cream until fluffy.
  3. Mash bananas on a plate with a fork. Then add bananas to the peanut butter mixture and mix until combined.
  4. Make the batter by pouring peanut butter/banana mixture into the flour mixture and add chocolate chips and walnuts. Stir until combined.
  5. Use a cookie scoop to drop dough by rounded spoonfuls onto a prepared baking sheet. Add chocolate chips and walnuts to the top of cookie dough balls.
  6. Bake for 9 to 10 minutes until golden brown. Cool on baking sheets for 2 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool completely.
Looking down on a white try filled with chunky monkey cookies. One in the middle has a bite taken out.

Storage Tips

Countertop: Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. Freezing: Freeze baked cookies in a freezer-safe bag for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature before enjoying.

Can You Make Cookies Without Eggs?

It’s easy to make cookies without eggs by using egg substitutes like flax eggs or chia eggs. These chunky monkey cookies don’t need eggs because bananas make a great egg substitute. Bananas change the flavor of a recipe, so you don’t want to add them to every recipe. Check out my Vegan Baking Guide for more egg replacement tips.

Marly’s Tips

  • Spice it up: Try adding a teaspoon of cinnamon for a different twist
  • Make the gorgeous: Add more chocolate chips and nuts to the top of cookie dough balls before you bake them.
  • Don’t overmix the dough: Once you add the flour, stop mixing as soon as it’s combined. This prevents tough cookies.
  • Customize your cookies: Get creative! Add a sprinkle of sea salt, a dash of cinnamon, or stir in other mix-ins like shredded coconut.
Several banana cookies are on a white counter. There are more cookies in the background on a wire rack.

What Makes This Recipe Shine?

  • Soft and Chewy: Removing cookies from the oven while they are still soft makes for chewier cookies with lots of melty chocolate chips
  • Crowd Favorite: Everyone will adore these cookies! They’re a guaranteed hit with both kids and adults.
  • Healthy: Packed with whole wheat flour and bananas, these treats offer a touch of sweetness without the guilt.

Chunky Monkey Recipes

If you love these vegan chunky monkey cookies, here are some more chunky monkey recipes you’ll want to try too:

A stack of banana cookies with chocolate chips is in the foreground. There are more cookies in the background.

That’s it for these chunky monkey cookies!

Two chunky monkey cookies are stacked with a bite taken out of the top cookie. There are more cookies in the background.

Chunky Monkey Cookies

These chunky monkey cookies are bursting with peanut butter, banana, and chocolate chip goodness. With a satisfying chewy texture and wholesome ingredients, they're the perfect guilt-free treat.
4.67 from 6 votes
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes
Servings: 28 cookies
Calories: 153kcal

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 375°F/190°C. Place a sheet of parchment paper on a cookie pan.
  • In a mixing bowl, combine dry ingredients (flours, baking soda and salt). Stir to combine. 
  • Cream together vegan butter and peanut butter. Add sugar and continuing mixing until fluffy. 
  • Add bananas to a plate and use a fork to mash into small bits. Add to the peanut butter mixture and mix until combined.
    Mashed bananas are a perfect beginning for this Chunky Monkey Vegan Cake
  • Pour peanut butter/banana mixture into the flour mixture and add chocolate chips and walnuts. Stir until combined. Use a cookie scoop to drop by rounded spoonful onto prepared baking sheets.
  • Bake for 9 to 10 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on baking sheets for 2 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool completely.

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Notes

*To make cookies look extra beautiful, add chocolate chips and walnuts to the top of the cookie dough balls before baking
Calories: 153kcal | Carbohydrates: 17g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 0.02g | Cholesterol: 0.1mg | Sodium: 134mg | Potassium: 142mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 161IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 28mg | Iron: 1mg

The nutrition information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator and should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

This post was originally published in 2010 and was updated to include new photos, new text, and an updated recipe in 2024.

17 Responses to Chunky Monkey Cookies

  1. Avatar thumbnail image for MarlyFOODESSA Reply

    These Chunky monkies sounded so yummy…I just had to come pick up your recipe.
    I’ll probably make them very soon ;o)
    Ciao for now, Claudia

    • Avatar thumbnail image for MarlyMarly

      I hope you like it! Our family had them gone in no time at all. Bananas, peanut butter and walnuts are too hard to pass up.

  2. Avatar thumbnail image for MarlyRebecca Reply

    Oh my! Have to try these…:)

  3. Avatar thumbnail image for MarlyDoggy Dessert Chef Reply

    My Boys LOVED the cookies and no wasted bananas .. win, win!

  4. Avatar thumbnail image for MarlyMary Reply

    5 stars
    Oh wow, yum! Love all these ingredients – totally a must make!

    xxMK
    Delightful Bitefuls

    • Avatar thumbnail image for MarlyMarly

      Malin – first of all, great name! Thanks for commenting. I agree this recipe is a great use of bananas.

      Mary – These are a must make because they have enough healthy ingredients in them that if you squint your eyes while eating them, you can convince yourself that they’re healthy. I think they are definitely less unhealthy than most cookies. Hope you enjoy!

  5. Avatar thumbnail image for MarlyMalin Reply

    I do believe you – they look and sound equally delicious!
    Nice way to use up those those bananas!

  6. Avatar thumbnail image for MarlyLucy Reply

    5 stars
    I’ve just made these … I replaced 1/2 the flour with 2 cups of oats to them to make them chunkier … added some spices (ginger and cinnamon) … really yummy!! Since mine were chunkier they took longer to cook. I think next time I will replace the walnuts with peanuts to make it peanut-nuttier! (also used regular buttermilk and butter). Thanks for a yummy recipe to use up bananas that wasn’t banana bread!

    • Avatar thumbnail image for MarlyMarly

      What a great idea to add oatmeal. I’m going to have to try that next time too. I think we have a similar trait – I love to adapt recipes. It’s so much fun! You never know what you’re going to come up with. The funny thing is, I’m exactly the opposite when we go out to eat. I find something I like and I order it almost every time!

  7. Avatar thumbnail image for MarlyAnna Reply

    Oh Dear, this cookie would be a huge success with my hubby, he luuuuuuvs peanut butter.It looks yummy I’m bookmarking it now, and surprise him. 🙂

    • Avatar thumbnail image for MarlyMarly

      We buy our peanut butter in bulk from Costco because we use it so much here. I hope he likes the surprise!

  8. Avatar thumbnail image for MarlyMonet Reply

    I am with everyone…I love the combo of these flavors. Your picture is so pretty too! After a long day of traveling, I would love to dip one of these into a warm glass of chocolate almond milk. Yum!

    • Avatar thumbnail image for MarlyMarly

      These cookies would be especially good dipped in chocolate almond milk. Next step? Make some chocolate almond milk!

  9. Avatar thumbnail image for MarlyReeni Reply

    5 stars
    You’re a genius! I love this combo of flavors in a cookie! And they are so thick and…chunky! Such a fitting name.

    • Avatar thumbnail image for MarlyMarly

      Well, I’m glad you think so. Could you tell my husband? I think he still has some doubts!

  10. Avatar thumbnail image for MarlySMITH BITES Reply

    Oh my heavens – my heart LITERALLY skipped a beat when I came to this post. Why? Because Chunky Monkey is my all-time FAVORITE ice cream!! And now you’ve made it into cookie form – I love you Marly!!

    • Avatar thumbnail image for MarlyMarly

      I love this combination of flavors too! But I realized as I was out and about today that I forgot the peanut butter in this recipe. The second I got home I reposted the recipe. I’ll send it to you by email to make sure you have the right one.

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