Irresistibly Soft Banana Bread Cookies Recipe for Sweet Smiles
Soft banana bread cookies merge two beloved treats into one irresistible bite.
A dessert that captures the warmth of homemade banana bread with the delightful crunch of a classic cookie.
Memories of grandma’s kitchen come flooding back with each sweet, tender morsel.
The aroma of ripe bananas and warm spices will fill your home, creating an instant sense of comfort.
Chocolate chips optional, but highly recommended for those who love a touch of decadence.
These cookies promise to be the star of any gathering, disappearing faster than you can say “seconds, please!” Grab a glass of cold milk and get ready to savor pure, nostalgic bliss.
Steps for Making Banana Bread Cookies
Step 1: Warm Up the Oven
Set your oven to 350F (175C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper or give them a light coating of cooking spray to prevent sticking.
Step 2: Create Creamy Base
In a spacious mixing bowl, whip softened butter and sugar together until they transform into a fluffy, light mixture that looks almost cloud-like.
Step 3: Introduce Liquid Companions
Crack an egg into the buttery blend and splash in vanilla extract. Whirl these together until they become best friends and completely combine.
Step 4: Welcome Mashed Bananas
Gently fold in those ripe, squishy bananas. Stir until the mixture looks smooth and tells a delicious story of fruity goodness.
Step 5: Prepare Dry Ingredient Team
In a separate bowl, gather and mix:Whisk these ingredients until they’re perfectly blended.
Step 6: Unite Wet and Dry Worlds
Slowly introduce dry ingredients to wet mixture. Stir gently and carefully – we want friends, not tough cookies!
Step 7: Optional Flavor Boosters
If you’re feeling adventurous, fold in:Step 8: Shape Delightful Morsels
Scoop tablespoon-sized dollops of dough onto prepared baking sheets. Leave about 2 inches between each cookie for breathing room.
Step 9: Bake to Golden Perfection
Slide sheets into the oven. Bake for 10-12 minutes until edges turn a gorgeous golden brown.
Step 10: Cooling Ceremony
Let cookies rest on baking sheet for 5 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack and allow them to cool completely, developing their ultimate texture and flavor.
Banana Bread Cookies Tips You’ll Use
How to Save Banana Bread Cookies for Later
What to Pair With Banana Bread Cookies
Ways to Switch Banana Bread Cookies Up
Banana Bread Cookies FAQs to Know
This can happen if you use very ripe bananas with high moisture content. Try using bananas that are ripe but not overly mushy, and don’t overmix the dough, which can create a cake-like texture.
Yes! Simply substitute the all-purpose flour with a gluten-free flour blend. Just ensure the blend is designed for baking to maintain the right cookie consistency.
Chill the dough for 30 minutes before baking. This helps the butter firm up and prevents excessive spreading. Also, make sure your butter isn’t too soft and you’re using the correct measurements for ingredients.
This might happen if you accidentally add too much flour or overbake them. Always measure ingredients precisely, and check your cookies a minute or two earlier than the recommended baking time to prevent dryness.
Why Banana Bread Cookies Are Worth Baking
What’s in Banana Bread Cookies
Main Ingredients:
Flour and Dry Ingredients: – All-Purpose Flour: Base for the cookie structure, provides texture and stability. – Baking Soda: Helps cookies rise and creates a light texture. – Salt: Enhances overall flavor profile. – Ground Cinnamon, Ground Nutmeg, Ground Cloves: Warm spices that complement banana flavor and add depth.
Wet Ingredients: – Softened Butter: Provides richness and helps bind ingredients. – Granulated Sugar: Adds sweetness and helps with cookie browning. – Egg: Binds ingredients and adds structure. – Vanilla Extract: Adds warm, complex flavor.
Fruit and Add-Ins: – Ripe Bananas: Primary flavor and moisture source, adds natural sweetness. – Chopped Nuts: Optional crunchy texture and nutty flavor. – Chocolate Chips: Optional sweet bursts of chocolate flavor.
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Banana Bread Cookies Recipe
- Total Time: 27 minutes
- Yield: 24 1x
Description
Sweet banana bread meets cookie perfection in this delightful treat. Moist, chewy bites pack nostalgic flavors that melt in your mouth, promising a comforting dessert you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Main Ingredients:
- 1 cup (240g / 8.5 oz) mashed overripe bananas (about 2 large bananas)
- 2 cups (250g / 8.8 oz) all-purpose flour
- 1 cup (200g / 7 oz) granulated sugar
- ½ cup (113g / 4 oz) unsalted butter, softened
Spices and Leavening:
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ½ teaspoon ground cloves
- ½ teaspoon salt
Optional Add-ins and Flavor Enhancers:
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup (120g / 4.2 oz) chopped walnuts or pecans
- 1 cup (175g / 6.2 oz) semisweet chocolate chips
Instructions
- Prepare your culinary workspace by warming the oven to a toasty 350F (175C). Layer baking trays with parchment paper or apply a light coating of grease to prevent sticking.
- In a spacious mixing vessel, whip the softened butter and granulated sugar until they transform into a pillowy, aerated mixture with a pale, creamy texture.
- Introduce the egg and vanilla essence, blending thoroughly until the ingredients meld into a uniform consistency.
- Gently fold the mashed bananas into the creamy base, ensuring a smooth and even integration that captures the fruit’s rich, sweet essence.
- In a separate mixing bowl, sift together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, salt, and warm spices – cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves – creating a fragrant dry mixture.
- Delicately incorporate the dry ingredients into the wet mixture, stirring with a light touch until just combined. Avoid overmixing to maintain the cookies’ tender crumb.
- If desired, gently fold in chopped nuts and chocolate chips, distributing them evenly throughout the dough for bursts of additional flavor and texture.
- Using a tablespoon, dollop generous mounds of cookie dough onto the prepared baking sheets, positioning each scoop approximately two inches apart to allow for spreading.
- Slide the trays into the preheated oven and bake for 10-12 minutes, watching for the edges to develop a golden-brown hue that signals perfect doneness.
- Once removed from the oven, let the cookies rest on the baking sheet for a brief 5-minute interlude before transferring them to a wire cooling rack to reach room temperature.
Notes
- Swap overripe bananas for extra moisture and natural sweetness, ensuring your cookies stay soft and flavorful.
- Experiment with gluten-free flour blends to make these cookies celiac-friendly without compromising texture.
- Toast nuts before adding to enhance their rich, nutty flavor and provide a delightful crunch in every bite.
- Reduce sugar by using ripe bananas and adding a touch of honey or maple syrup for a healthier twist.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Snacks, Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 24
- Calories: 168
- Sugar: 8g
- Sodium: 95mg
- Fat: 7g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 24g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 20mg
Jenna Stewart
Head Chef & Recipe Innovator
Expertise
Farm-to-Table Cooking; Seasonal Menu Development; Visual Plating Techniques; Flavor Layering and Simple Prep Hacks.
Education
The Culinary Institute of America, Hyde Park, NY
Jenna Stewart is the inventive spirit behind many of our standout dishes at Pro of Delicious Creations. A proud graduate of The Culinary Institute of America, she built her skills mastering both classic recipes and fresh, modern twists.
Now, Jenna celebrates the beauty of seasonal, local ingredients, often sourced from her garden and nearby markets, to create recipes that are bursting with flavor yet easy to follow. When she’s not experimenting in the kitchen, Jenna loves exploring nature on hikes and discovering new treasures at local co-ops.