Do you have a cookie craving but no oven? Problem solved. These cookies happened because I needed cookies one day but didn't have many ingredients or an oven in my dorm room.

The solution? My handy microwave. I’d just learned about browning reactions in my food science class, which states that sugar plus amino acids (which are in protein) equals caramelized brown food. I thought, “Microwaves heat things. Why not try a browning reaction in real life?”

I did, and got sweet cookies out of my experiment.

sweet, oatmeal, oatmeal cookie, chocolate, rice, cereal
Ellie Haun

These cookies only have four ingredients: bananas, oatmeal, peanut butter, and chocolate chips. I chose these ingredients because they were the only sweet things I had in my dorm room. I stole the banana from the dining hall (shhh) and used 100 calorie oatmeal packets that I keep in my dorm room for quick breakfasts. You can also use 1 cup of rolled oats instead of the 100 calorie oatmeal packets.

These cookies are great for busy college students everywhere, because they only contain four ingredients and take like six minutes total to make and bake. They’re healthy enough to make for breakfast, but they’re also a great healthy snack or dessert for those not wanting to gain the freshman 15. Give them a try and show “Cupcake Wars” that you don’t need an oven to make satisfying dessert! 

4-Ingredient Microwave Cookies

  • Prep Time:5 mins
  • Cook Time:1 min
  • Total Time:6 mins
  • Servings:6
  • Easy

    Ingredients

  • 1 ripe banana
  • 1/4 cup nut butter
  • 3 100 calorie oatmeal packets or 1 cup oats
  • 1/4 cup chocolate chips
milk, coffee, tea
Ellie Haun
  • Step 1

    Mash the banana in a small bowl or mug.

    bread, sweet, dairy product, pastry, cake
  • Step 2

    Stir in the nut butter (I used peanut butter).

    vegetable, soup, dairy product, cream, meat
  • Step 3

    Stir in the oats.

    cereal, porridge, corn, milk, oatmeal, wheat
  • Step 4

    Stir in the chocolate chips.

    cereal, milk, muesli, oatmeal, corn, sweet, granola, rice, cornflakes, wheat
  • Step 5

    Form the cookie dough into 2-inch balls. Place on a (microwave safe) plate and heat in the microwave for a minute and 10 seconds.

    sweet, rice, chocolate, candy, oatmeal
    Ellie Haun
  • Step 6

    Take out of the microwave, let cool for a few minutes, and enjoy!

    sweet, oatmeal, cereal, chocolate, oatmeal cookie, wheat, rice, candy
    Ellie Haun