Banana cookies

Friday, June 17, 2011

I usually tend to stay away from chocolate recipes (except for brownies) because I prefer lighter or fruitier treats (I know... I must be crazy). For that reason, this recipe has always been one of my favorites. All I can say is that we never had to throw any of these away because they sat out too long or because no one would eat them. And really, who wouldn't eat them? They're soft, airy and packed full of that sweet banana flavor you'd get from banana bread, plus they're topped with a light vanilla frosting. Delicious, right?! Now you'll never have to wonder what to do with browning bananas or how you'll keep these cookies from going bad, because they're even better right out of the freezer!

Banana Cookies
Ingredients
2 large or 3 small overly ripe bananas
2 eggs
3 c. flour
1 c. granulated sugar
1/2 c. crisco shortening (I used butter flavored)
1/2 c. butter
1/2 c. buttermilk
1/2 tsp. lemon juice
1 tsp. vanilla
1 1/2. tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt

DIRECTIONS:
1. Mash bananas with fork until creamy and pour into large mixing bowl.
2. Add eggs, butter, shortening and sugar and mix until smooth. Then add buttermilk.
3. Add salt, baking soda and vanilla and lemon juice.
4. While stirring batter, add flour one cup at a time until completely incorporated. It is a very "wet" dough, so don't think you need to add more flour, it's ok the way it is.
5. Bake at 350 degrees on an ungreased cookie sheet for 10-12 minutes or until slightly golden brown. Let cool for 30 minutes before frosting.

Vanilla Frosting
Ingredients
1/4 stick of butter
1 tsp. vanilla
pinch of salt
3 tsp. milk
2-3 cups of confectioners sugar

DIRECTIONS:
1. Cream butter, vanilla and salt in medium size mixing bowl.
2. Add 2-3 cups of confectioners sugar and mix.
3. Slowly add mix one teaspoon at a time until you get the desired consistency (it should not be runny or thick, somewhere in between so it will hold on the cookies).
4. Frost cookies with knife and sprinkle with chopped walnuts or nuts of choice.

19 Comments:

  1. Finally got around to making these--they were delish! Thanks for the recipe! I was just surprised how spongey the cookies were. Without the frosting my husband thought they tasted like/had a very similar consistency to banana bread. Did your cookies have this same texture? Thanks again for the recipe, though!

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  2. Yeah, they do have a bready/cake-like texture to them... kind of different in the way of cookies, but good :) Glad you tried them!

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  3. These are so unusual... I love the idea of a banana cookie. Thanks for sharing them on foodie friday. See you next week.

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  4. Unusual indeed :) I'm not exactly sure where my mother got the recipe from, but it is another great way to use overripe bananas. Thanks again Diane for checking this recipe out, I hope you'll give it a try!

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  5. Those are gorgeous! Oh, how I love a banana cookie. :)

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  6. Can't wait to give these a try! Saw you on Creative Me link party. Pinning for future baking. :)

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  7. These look SO GOOD!!! I've been wanting to make some banana cookies, I've never made them before! They sound delicious!!!

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  8. OMG! I HAVE to make these! I love bananas and never thought to make something other than banana bread!

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  9. Yumm, yumm, yumm! I just happen to have bananas. I'd love it if you stopped by my link party to share. http://acraftycook.blogspot.com/2012/05/1-month-of-fun-may-link-party.html

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  10. Hi,

    I’ve started My Sweet Party, where I every month host a party with a theme (MAY theme is CHOCOLATE). The party is ongoing the entire duration of the month and then I will choose my top three favourites and feture those blogs. I would LOVE you to join My Sweet Party!

    The last day to link up for May is the 31st of May.

    http://meandmysweets.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/my-sweet-party-chocolate-cake-love.html

    XXX
    Johanna

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  11. I've never even heard of these kind of cookies. Thanks for sharing at my par-tay!

    Warmly, Michelle

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  12. Mysteries never cease. These cookies have been out families favorite for 35+years. We call them "Banana Jumbos". Only Ingredient in yours that I don't have in mind is lemon juice and I chill batter in refrigerator for 1/2 hour prior to baking and in between baking, otherwise all the same. I got my recipe from a dear friend. I've shared it with friends since, as they love it. And to those reading, it is a cake like cookie and taste very similar to banana cake and delicious!

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  13. I love banana everything! They look amazing :)

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  14. How many cookies does this recipe make? Can't wait to bake them tonight!

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  15. These look amazing! I have 3 overripe bananas (and a new neighbor) that would be perfect! Would it be possible to omit the crisco? Just use more butter, maybe?

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    Replies
    1. Butter would be just fine, the cookies might be more flat and less puffy... I'm not sure how the texture will be... but let me know if you do end up using butter! I'd love to hear about the results :)

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    2. They turned out great! Mine are kinda lumpy looking, not as beautiful and yours :) But I ended up just leaving out the crisco and not adding extra butter. I did add a tsp of baking powder so they would be more puffy. These cookies are so yummy! Thanks so much for sharing, I will be making these again soon!

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