Recipe: Peanut Butter Banana Cookies

I think we all consider making banana bread when we've got a banana that's a little too ripe. But I didn't want to make banana bread. I wanted to try something new! So I found this recipe on Gimme Some Oven online.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon cornstarch
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened
• 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
• 1/2 cup creamy natural peanut butter
• 1 egg
• 1/2 cup mashed banana (about 1 medium banana)
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions:

1. Heat oven to 350F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

2. In a medium mixing bowl, whisk the flour, baking powder, cornstarch, salt, baking soda and cinnamon until combined. Set aside.

3. In the large bowl of a stand mixer, cream the butter and brown sugar together on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 1 minute. Add peanut butter, egg, banana, and vanilla, and continue mixing on medium speed until combined, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed. Fold in the dry ingredients and mix until just combined.

4. Measure out a rounded tablespoon-full of dough, roll it into a ball, then place on the baking sheet. Use a fork to press down the top of the ball and make a criss-cross pattern. Repeat with remaining dough.

5. Bake for 8-10 minutes or until slightly golden around the edges. Cool for 10 minutes on baking sheet, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

I baked mine a little longer until they were a little past golden. They are crunchy on the outside but still a little soft in the middle. I'm almost tempted to dip them in peanut butter as I eat them! This is an easy recipe with ingredients you probably always have in your home, so definitely one to keep in your recipe book!