Banana Bread Cookies 🍌🍪🍞 – A Soft and Chewy Delight
Banana bread cookies are the perfect fusion of rich banana bread flavors and the delightful convenience of cookies. These soft, chewy cookies offer the same warm aroma and comforting taste of traditional banana bread but in a portable, bite-sized treat. They are made with ripe bananas, vanilla, and warm spices, resulting in a deliciously moist and flavorful dessert. Whether you’re looking for a sweet snack with your morning coffee or an after-dinner treat, these banana bread cookies will become a household favorite.
This recipe captures the essence of homemade banana bread in a unique and satisfying way. The balance of sweetness, the slightly crisp edges, and the soft, cake-like center make these cookies irresistible. You can easily customize them by adding chocolate chips, nuts, or a drizzle of caramel for an extra layer of indulgence. Furthermore, they come together effortlessly in under 30 minutes, making them a perfect choice for busy bakers or last-minute dessert cravings.
Quick Recipe Highlights
- Flavor Profile: These banana bread cookies blend the sweet and rich taste of ripe bananas with warm cinnamon and vanilla, creating a comforting yet subtly spiced treat.
- Texture: Soft and chewy on the inside with slightly crisp edges, offering the perfect balance between a cookie and banana bread slice.
- Aroma: The irresistible scent of bananas combined with warm spices fills the kitchen, making it difficult to resist grabbing one fresh out of the oven.
- Visual Appeal: Golden-brown cookies with a slightly cracked top, perfect for dunking into milk or enjoying as they are.
- Skill Level Needed: Beginner-friendly—requires simple mixing and no special baking skills.
- Special Equipment: Just a mixing bowl, baking sheet, and spoon for scooping, making it a hassle-free bake.
Recipe Overview
- Difficulty Level: This recipe is perfect for beginners as it doesn’t require fancy techniques or specialized equipment. Simple measuring and mixing are all you need to create these delectable cookies.
- Category: These banana bread cookies fall under the dessert and snack category, ideal for tea time, post-dinner treats, or an afternoon indulgence.
- Cuisine: A delightful fusion of American-style banana bread and classic homemade cookies.
- Cost: An affordable recipe that primarily relies on pantry staples like flour, butter, sugar, and ripe bananas.
- Season: Best enjoyed year-round, but particularly comforting in fall and winter due to their warm spices and cozy flavor profile.
- Occasion: Ideal for casual get-togethers, lunchbox treats, holiday cookie exchanges, and afternoon snack time.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Banana bread cookies offer the perfect merge of soft, cake-like banana bread inside a compact, easily snackable cookie form. Packed with the natural sweetness of overripe bananas, they spare you from food waste while delivering wholesome, homemade flavor. The gently crisp edges provide a satisfying bite, while their soft center melts in your mouth with each delicious chew.
This recipe requires minimal prep work and comes together quickly, making it a go-to for anyone short on time. There’s no need to chill the dough, and it bakes to perfection in just about 12 minutes. Whether you’re an experienced baker or a novice in the kitchen, you’ll find the process straightforward.
Aside from their outstanding taste, these banana bread cookies are full of vitamins and minerals from bananas, making them a slightly healthier alternative to traditional cookies. Bananas add natural moisture and sweetness, reducing the need for excessive butter or sugar while enriching the texture.
Social gatherings, school snack boxes, or after-dinner cravings—these cookies fit seamlessly into any setting. They can be customized with add-ins like walnuts, chocolate chips, or dried fruit, allowing you to tailor them to any occasion.
This recipe is not only budget-friendly but also pantry-friendly! Since ripe bananas, flour, sugar, and butter are common in most households, you won’t need to make a special trip to the store. Simple and delicious, these cookies embody homemade comfort in every bite.
The Recipe
Banana Bread Cookies 🍌🍪🍞
Serves: 12
Prep Time: 15 mins
Cook Time: 12 mins
Total Time: 27 mins
Kitchen Equipment Needed
- Mixing bowls
- Hand mixer or whisk
- Baking sheet
- Parchment paper
- Cookie scoop or spoon
Ingredients
- 2 ripe bananas, mashed
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
- 3/4 cup brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 egg
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/2 cup chocolate chips or chopped nuts (optional)
Directions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the mashed bananas, melted butter, and brown sugar until well combined.
- Add the egg and vanilla extract, stirring until smooth.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, stirring until just combined.
- Fold in the chocolate chips or nuts if using.
- Drop spoonfuls of dough onto the prepared baking sheet, spacing them at least 2 inches apart.
- Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are golden brown.
- Let cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
Recipe Notes
- For extra moisture, add a tablespoon of Greek yogurt or sour cream.
- Store in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
- Freeze for up to 3 months for long-term storage.
