Banana Spice Cookies
Incredible tasting, these Banana Spice Cookies are a great recipe for using up over-ripened bananas. A light, soft cookie with a cake-like texture.
This cookie recipe has a delicious banana flavor with a hint of spice. I enjoy these cookies plain, but if you like, add a simple cream cheese frosting as I make for my Banana Cake.
Tips to help make these cookies
Only use overripe bananas. The banana peel should appear dark brown, almost black, indicating they are overripe. This allows for the natural sweetness of the banana to enhance the flavor of these cookies.
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. The batter for this banana recipe has a sticky consistency; the parchment paper prevents the bottom of the cookie from burning.
These cookies take about 11-13 minutes to bake. The tops should be slightly browned like a muffin top.
Variations and Additions
- Chocolate chips
- Peanut butter chips
- Chopped pecans or walnuts. Exceptionally good if you toast them first.
- Raisins
- Frost cream cheese frosting
Looking for more tasty recipes that use overripe bananas?
Ingredients:
Overripe bananas – overripe bananas allow for the natural sweetness of the banana to come through and blend easily into the batter.
Flour – everyday all-purpose flour, do not sift, just scoop from the flour bin or bag.
Baking Powder – gives the cookies a soft and fluffy texture.
Baking Soda – makes the cookies spread a bit for an evenly baked cookie.
Salt – the main function of salt in baking is to enhance the flavor of the other ingredients.
Spices – Ground cinnamon, nutmeg, ground cloves and ground ginger complement the banana and add an extra layer of flavor to these cookies.
Butter – I always use butter for baking, it adds a richer flavor than margarine. Salted butter can vary from brand to brand with the amount of saltiness, so unsalted butter works best for baking.
Brown Sugar – brown sugar has molasses in it. This gives baked goods an extra punch of flavor and makes cookies softer and moister.
Eggs– eggs create stability in the cookie batter and add moisture to baked goods.
Pure Vanilla Extract – pure vanilla extract adds subtle and delicious flavor to baking.
Instructions
Whisk together dry ingredients. Set aside.
Beat together butter and brown sugar.
Add eggs to sugar and butter.
Mix in the mashed bananas.
Gradually blend in the dry ingredients.
Mix until fully combined. Do not overmix.
Scoop batter onto parchment lined baking sheet.
Place into oven and bake 350 degree Fahrenheit for 11-13 minutes.
Storing cookies
These cookies taste best fresh out of the oven. They can be stored at room temperature for up to 3 days in an airtight container.
As well, these cookies freeze well in an airtight container or freezer bag for up to 3 months.
Banana Spice Cookies
Ingredients
- 2 cups all purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
- 3/4 cup butter room temperature
- 1 1/4 cups packed brown sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 cup overripe bananas
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.
- Whisk together flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger and cloves. Set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, using an electric mixer, beat together the butter and brown sugar until it is creamy.
- Add the eggs and beat until combined.
- Stir in the vanilla and bananas. Blend until fully combined.
- Gradually add in the dry ingredients and mix just until combined.
- Drop a heaping scoop of dough onto the prepared cookie sheet.
- Bake at 350 degrees F for 11-13 minutes until the tops of the cookies are slightly brown.
- Remove and place on wire rack to cool.
Great use for all those overripe bananas!