Soft Banana, Peanut Butter, Chocolate Chip Cookies

Whew!  That’s a mouth full.  With such a long name these cookies have to deliver on taste.  And I guarantee they do!  They are light, fluffy, thick and chewy.  The texture is almost cake-like.  If you like cake-y cookies, these are for you.  They are packed full of flavor witht he mixture of bananas, peanut butter and chocolate chips.  I mean, with these flavor combinations you honestly can’t go wrong.  These cookies are actually almost healthy.  At least, that’s what I’m telling myself!  Why is it healthy, you ask?  Well, silly, because it includes bananas.  Bananas are good for you.  Bananas are in this cookie, therefore making this cookie good for you!  Right?  Sounds like a good theory, doesn’t it?  (It’s kind of like that mindset of ordering a double cheeseburger, extra large fries and a large Diet Coke…because the Diet Coke cancels out all of the bad stuff)  

These cookies are a cinch to throw together, coming together in no time at all.  I, personally love the combination of chocolate and peanut butter.  Chocolate and bananas. Bananas and peanut butter.  So combining those three loves together to make one super flavorful cookie seemed like a no-brainer.  They are also the perfect way to use up some of those bananas that are on the verge of having to be thrown out.  You know, those bananas that you buy intending to eat with your morning cereal that you just didn’t get around to eating because you woke up late and were too busy running around like a mad person trying to get to work on time just to let them get incredibly ripe so you can make a delicious banana dessert with their mushy gooeyness!  Yes, use those bananas to make these cookies.  You will have a soft, delicious cookie in no time. 

Be sure to try one or two…maybe three of these straight from the oven.  They are delicious…and you have to test them before you share them, right?  It’s only the right thing to do!  They were a hit with everyone I shared them with.  Even my own, little cookie monster loved them! 

Soft Banana, Peanut Butter, Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ingredients:

2 3/4 Cups flour
1/2 Tsp baking soda
1 Tsp baking powder
1 Tsp salt
1 Cup brown sugar
1/2 Cup granulated sugar
6 Tbsp unsalted butter, room temperature
8 Tbsp (1/2 cup) creamy peanut butter
2 Eggs
2 Bananas
1 1/2 Cups chocolate chips

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350.  Line a baking sheet with a silicone baking mat and set aside.

In a medium bowl sift together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt and set aside. 

Place bananas in a bowl and mash to with a fork. Set aside.

Place the butter, peanut butter, brown sugar and granulated sugar in a mixing bowl and cream on medium until fluffy, about 2-3 minutes.  Add the eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition.  Reduce mixing speed to low and slowly add the flour to the peanut butter mixture and mix to incorporate.  Add the mashed bananas and mix to combine.  Remove bowl from mixer and fold the chocolate chips into the mixture, using hands if you need to.

Using a 1/4 cup scoop the cookie dough and roll into balls.  Pull the in half.  Place rough side (inside of the ball) face down on the cookie sheet, then stack the other half on top, with the rough side facing up.  Repeat process with remaining dough.  Place in oven and bake until golden brown, about 13-15 minutes.  Remove from oven and allow to cool on cookie sheet for 5 minutes, then remove to a cooling rack to allow to cool completely.