Old-Fashioned Banana Cookies

Banana Cookies Recipe

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 cup mashed banana (2 to 3 medium)
• 1/2 to 1 cup chopped nuts, optional

1. Preheat your oven to 375F degrees. For best results line cookies with silicone liners, or parchment paper. Alternatively, lightly spray cookie sheets with nonstick cooking spray.
2. In a medium size bowl whisk the flour, baking powder, spices, baking soda, and salt until well blended and set aside.
3. In a large bowl, beat the butter and sugar with an electric mixer on medium speed until well blended.
4. Beat in the egg and mashed bananas, stopping to scrape down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula if necessary to make sure everything is well blended.
5. Stir in the flour mixture with the mixer on low speed or with a wooden spoon just until combined.
6. Stir in the the nuts, if using.
7. Drop cookie dough by rounded teaspoonfuls onto prepared cookie sheets about 2 inches apart. Bake until no indentation remains when touched, about 8 to 10 minutes.
8. Remove from the oven and immediately transfer cookies to a wire rack with a spatula and allow to cool completely before storing.

This recipe yields about 4 dozen Old-Fashioned Banana Drop Cookies.

Iced Banana Nut Cookies Recipe

Cookie ingredients:

• 1 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup shortening
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 2 cups sifted all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon allspice
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup peeled and mashed ripe bananas
• 1 cup walnuts, toasted and coarsely chopped

Vanilla Icing ingredients:

• 1 1/2 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 1 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
• 3/4 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 1/2 tablespoons hot water

1. Preheat oven to 375F degrees. Lightly coat cookie sheets with nonstick cooking spray.
2. Cream sugar and shortening in a mixing bowl until light. Add vanilla.
3. Sift together flour, baking powder, cinnamon, allspice and salt and add to the bowl with shortening and mix well.
4. Beat in bananas.
5. Stir in walnuts.
6. Using cookie scoop or teaspoon, drop dough onto prepared cookie sheets about 1 inch apart.
7. Bake about 15 minutes, or until bottoms are brown and the tops are lightly browned.
8. Remove from the oven and transfer cookies to a wire rack with spatula and allow to cool completely.
9. Meanwhile, make the vanilla icing:
   Cream butter and sugar. Add vanilla and hot water, beating until a fine, drizzling consistency is achieved.
10. If icing becomes too thick, add a little more hot water, 1/4 teaspoon at a time.
11. Spread 1/2 to 3/4 teaspoon of icing over top of each cookie and let it drip down sides.
12. Allow cookies to sit until icing sets.

This recipe yields about 2 1/2 to 3 dozen Iced Banana Nut Cookies.

Chocolate Banana Cookies Recipe

Cookie ingredients:

• 1 cup sugar
• 3/4 cup shortening or butter
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon almond extract
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 cups sifted all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup cocoa powder
• 1 cup peeled and mashed ripe bananas (about 3 medium bananas)
• 1 cup raisins
• 1 1/2 cups chopped walnuts

Vanilla Frosting ingredients:

• 3 cups powdered sugar
• 1/3 cup butter, softened
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 to 3 tablespoons milk

1. Preheat oven to 375F degrees.
2. Line cookie sheets with parchment paper or silicone liners, or lightly grease with nonstick cooking spray.
3. In a mixing bowl, cream together sugar and shortening (or butter).
4. Beat in egg, almond extract and vanilla extract.
5. In another bowl, sift together flour, cinnamon, baking soda, salt and cocoa.
6. Gradually add the dry mixture, alternating adding banana, to the bowl with creamed mixture and mix well.
7. Stir in raisins and chopped walnuts.
8. Drop dough by rounded teaspoonfuls onto prepared cookie sheets about 2 inches apart.
9. Bake about 8 to 10 minutes, or until cookies are set.
10. Remove from the oven and transfer to wire rack and allow cookies to cool completely before frosting.
11. Meanwhile, make the vanilla frosting:
    Mix together powdered sugar, butter, vanilla extract and milk. Start with 2 teaspoons milk and add more if needed to make frosting spreading consistency.
12. Spread vanilla frosting over top of each cookie and let it drip down sides.
13. Allow cookies to sit until icing sets.

This recipe yields about 4 1/2 dozen Chocolate Banana Cookies.