If you love the cozy, comforting flavors of banana bread but want a fun, portable twist, you are going to adore this Banana Bread Cookies Recipe. These cookies bring all the warm, tender goodness of banana bread into a soft, cake-like cookie that’s perfect for snacking anytime. With the rich sweetness of ripe bananas, a hint of cinnamon, and optional bursts of walnuts or chocolate chips, these treats are incredibly satisfying and surprisingly simple to whip up. Whether you’re baking for a crowd or craving a homemade pick-me-up, this recipe will quickly become your new favorite go-to dessert.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Every ingredient in this Banana Bread Cookies Recipe plays a key role in bringing together that perfect balance of flavor and texture. From the creamy butter that ensures richness, to the cinnamon adding warmth, each item is essential for achieving that classic banana bread cookie taste.
- Ripe banana: Provides natural sweetness and moisture, making the cookies soft and tender.
- Unsalted butter: Adds richness and a creamy texture when creamed with sugars.
- Brown sugar: Gives a deep caramel flavor and helps keep the cookies chewy.
- Granulated sugar: Balances sweetness and aids in light crisp edges.
- Large egg: Acts as a binder and adds structure to the dough.
- Vanilla extract: Enhances the overall flavor with its sweet, aromatic notes.
- All-purpose flour: The base that gives these cookies their shape and tender crumb.
- Baking soda: Helps the cookies rise just enough for a soft, fluffy texture.
- Cinnamon: Infuses warmth and that unmistakable cozy spice signature of banana bread.
- Salt: Balances sweetness and brings out the deeper flavors.
- Chopped walnuts (optional): Adds crunch and a lovely nutty complement.
- Mini chocolate chips (optional): For those who love a little melty chocolate surprise in every bite.
How to Make Banana Bread Cookies Recipe
Step 1: Prepare Your Oven and Baking Sheet
Start by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking and make cleanup a breeze. This simple preparation step ensures your cookies bake evenly and come off the sheet easily without any stress.
Step 2: Cream Butter and Sugars
In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened unsalted butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar together until the mixture is light and fluffy. This process is key to incorporating air into your batter, which translates to a tender, slightly cakey cookie texture. Take your time here—it really makes a difference in the final result.
Step 3: Add Banana, Egg, and Vanilla
Mix in the mashed ripe banana, egg, and vanilla extract until everything is well combined. The banana introduces moisture and sweetness naturally, while the egg helps to bind all the ingredients together, ensuring your cookies hold their shape.
Step 4: Combine Dry Ingredients
In a separate bowl, whisk together all-purpose flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt. This evenly distributes the rising agent and spices throughout the flour, which prevents clumps in your batter and gives each cookie a uniform flavor and texture.
Step 5: Mix Dry Ingredients with Wet
Gradually add the dry ingredient mixture into the wet banana batter, stirring gently until everything is just combined. Overmixing can toughen your cookies, so stop as soon as no dry flour remains. At this stage, fold in the chopped walnuts and/or mini chocolate chips if you’re using them for that delicious extra crunch or melt-in-your-mouth bursts of chocolate.
Step 6: Scoop and Bake
Drop spoonfuls of cookie dough—about rounded tablespoons—onto your prepared baking sheet, spacing them roughly 2 inches apart to allow room for spreading. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes or until the edges are lightly golden and the centers are just set. This short baking time ensures a soft, cake-like cookie that melts in your mouth.
Step 7: Cool and Enjoy
Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for five minutes before moving them onto a wire rack to cool completely. This resting time helps them firm up just enough without losing their tender texture, so you get the perfect bite every time.
How to Serve Banana Bread Cookies Recipe
Garnishes
While these Banana Bread Cookies are delicious on their own, you can dress them up a bit with a light dusting of powdered sugar or a drizzle of melted white chocolate to add a touch of elegance. For a warm comfort treat, serve with a sprinkle of chopped walnuts or a dab of cream cheese frosting for a dreamy spread.
Side Dishes
These cookies pair wonderfully with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a cup of your favorite coffee or tea. Because they’re soft and flavorful, they complement creamy or hot beverages perfectly, especially when you’re craving something to enjoy during a relaxed afternoon break or brunch gathering.
Creative Ways to Present
For parties or gift-giving, stack the cookies in a decorative jar with layers of parchment paper, wrapped with a pretty ribbon. You can also sandwich some peanut butter or Nutella between two cookies for a decadent little dessert treat. These creative presentations will surely impress anyone lucky enough to taste them!
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Because these Banana Bread Cookies have a moist, tender texture, store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to three days. Keeping them sealed prevents them from drying out while maintaining their soft, chewy consistency.
Freezing
If you want to keep them longer, freeze the cooled cookies in a single layer on a baking sheet first, then transfer to a freezer-safe bag or container. They freeze beautifully and last up to three months. Thaw them at room temperature or warm slightly before enjoying for that fresh-baked feeling.
Reheating
To revive the softness and warmth, reheat cookies in the microwave for about 10 to 15 seconds, or pop them in a 300°F (150°C) oven for five minutes. This quick reheating feels like pulling them straight from the oven and makes every bite just as delightful as when freshly baked.
FAQs
Can I substitute the all-purpose flour with whole wheat?
Absolutely! Using whole wheat flour will give your cookies a heartier texture and nuttier flavor. Just note that they might be a bit denser and less tender compared to using all-purpose flour, but still delicious.
Are these cookies suitable for freezing before baking?
Yes! You can scoop and freeze the raw cookie dough balls on a baking sheet. Once frozen, transfer them to a container and bake straight from frozen, adding a couple of extra minutes to the baking time.
How ripe should the bananas be for the best flavor?
The riper, the better! Look for bananas with plenty of brown spots or even a mostly brown peel. This indicates they are sweet and soft, which makes your cookies incredibly flavorful and moist.
Can I make these cookies nut-free?
Definitely. The walnuts are optional, so simply omit them if you have allergies or prefer nut-free treats. The cookies will still be tasty and soft without the nuts.
What if I don’t have mini chocolate chips?
No worries! You can use regular chocolate chips, chocolate chunks, or skip the chocolate entirely for a purely classic banana bread cookie flavor. Each version tastes amazing in its own way.
Final Thoughts
There is something truly special about this Banana Bread Cookies Recipe that brings together convenience, taste, and that familiar homemade comfort all in one bite. Whether you’re baking for family, friends, or just treating yourself, these cookies offer the sweetest way to enjoy the classic banana bread experience with a twist. Give them a try soon—you might just find your new favorite cookie to bake again and again!
Print
Banana Bread Cookies Recipe
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Total Time: 22 minutes
- Yield: 24 cookies
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
These Banana Bread Cookies offer a delightful twist on traditional banana bread, combining the soft, cake-like texture of banana bread with the convenience of a cookie. Perfectly moist and packed with the natural sweetness of ripe bananas, these cookies can be enhanced with walnuts for crunch or mini chocolate chips for an extra indulgence. Easy to prepare and bake, they make a wonderful snack or dessert for any occasion.
Ingredients
Wet Ingredients
- 1 ripe banana, mashed (about ½ cup)
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
- ½ cup brown sugar
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Dry Ingredients
- 1½ cups all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Optional Add-ins
- ½ cup chopped walnuts
- ½ cup mini chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven: Begin by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C). Prepare a baking sheet by lining it with parchment paper to prevent sticking and ensure easy cleanup.
- Cream Butter and Sugars: In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened unsalted butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy. This step helps create a tender texture in the cookies.
- Add Banana and Wet Ingredients: Incorporate the mashed ripe banana, one large egg, and vanilla extract into the butter and sugar mixture. Mix until all ingredients are fully combined, creating a smooth batter.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt. This ensures the leavening agents and spices are evenly distributed.
- Mix Dry and Wet Ingredients: Gradually add the dry ingredient mixture to the wet ingredients, stirring gently until just combined to avoid overmixing, which can make cookies tough.
- Fold in Optional Add-ins: If using, fold in the chopped walnuts and/or mini chocolate chips carefully to evenly distribute them throughout the dough.
- Form Cookies: Using a tablespoon, drop rounded spoonfuls of the cookie dough onto the prepared baking sheet, spacing them about 2 inches apart to allow for spreading while baking.
- Bake: Place the baking sheet in the preheated oven and bake for 10 to 12 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden, and the cookie centers are set but still soft.
- Cool: Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for about 5 minutes, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely before serving or storing.
Notes
- These cookies have a soft, cake-like texture much like traditional banana bread.
- Store the cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.
- For longer storage, freeze the cookies in an airtight container for several weeks.
