Description
Delight in these Caramel Banana Bread Cookies, a perfect blend of soft, chewy banana bread flavor with pockets of gooey caramel and crunchy nuts. These easy-to-make cookies bring the comfort of classic banana bread in a fun, handheld treat ideal for dessert or snack time.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1 ripe banana (mashed)
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter (softened)
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Add-ins
- 1/2 cup caramel bits or soft caramel candies (chopped)
- 1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Baking Sheet: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking and ensure even baking.
- Cream Butter and Sugars: In a large bowl, beat together the softened unsalted butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until the mixture is light, fluffy, and well combined.
- Add Banana, Egg, and Vanilla: Stir in the mashed ripe banana, large egg, and vanilla extract, mixing thoroughly to incorporate all wet ingredients smoothly.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and ground cinnamon to evenly distribute the rising agents and spices.
- Form Cookie Dough: Gradually add the dry mixture into the wet banana mixture, mixing until a consistent dough forms without overmixing.
- Fold in Caramel and Nuts: Gently fold in the caramel bits and chopped walnuts or pecans if using, making sure they are evenly distributed throughout the dough.
- Shape Cookies: Using a tablespoon or cookie scoop, drop rounded balls of dough onto the prepared baking sheet with about 2 inches of space between each cookie for spreading.
- Bake Cookies: Bake in the preheated oven for 10 to 12 minutes, or until the cookie edges turn lightly golden and the centers are set but still soft.
- Cool Cookies: Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely, allowing them to firm up perfectly.
Notes
- Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days to maintain freshness.
- For an extra caramel touch, melt additional soft caramel candies with a splash of milk and drizzle over cooled cookies before serving.
- These cookies capture the classic flavors of banana bread in a soft, chewy cookie form that’s perfect for any occasion.
