As promised last week, here's another banana cookie recipe coming your way!...

This one takes me back to a prior blog post two and a half years ago.  

Looking back on my post -  the blurry photos and all - I still remember that exact batch of cookies.  Baked on a late Saturday afternoon at my childhood home for my family.  For me, if I'm home around 4:00 in the afternoon, the late sun and peaceful kitchen make the perfect backdrop for baking.  It's that time right before the kitchen is filled with my family making dinner that I'm able to steal some quality counter time.  

I still make this recipe when I need a guaranteed winner of a banana cookie.  It's oatey, loaded with peanut butter, studded with dark chocolate and has juust the right amount of banana. 

Peanut Butter Banana Cookies  

• 1 cup whole-wheat pastry flour 
• ½ tsp. baking soda
• ½ tsp. salt 
• ½ cup dark brown sugar
• ½ cup white sugar 
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1 large egg
• ½ cup peanut butter (I prefer natural JIF)
• I small/medium banana, mashed (about 1/3 cup)
• 1/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract.
• 1 ½ cups oats (either rolled oats or quick-cooking oats will work)
• 1 heaping cup chopped dark chocolate

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. 
2. In a medium bowl, whisk the flour with the baking soda and salt and set aside.
3. Melt the butter in the microwave until just about melted, about 15 seconds. 
4. In a large mixing bowl with a whisk (or in a mixer), whisk the butter with the sugars until creamy.  Add the egg, peanut butter, mashed banana and vanilla and mix until combined. 
5. Stir the flour mixture into the wet mixture. Add in the oats. Then, fold in the dark chocolate chunks. 
6. With a tablespoon scoop, scoop out dough and place on a parchment-lined cookie sheet.  Flatten the tops slightly. Bake for about 10-12 minutes, rotating the sheets halfway through baking. 
7. Take out and let cool a few minutes on the sheets before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.

- 

These are great bagged up, tied with brown string and given to others.  Three bags went out with a batch I made last week.  

And as I mentioned a few years ago and still mention today... these are pretty perfect for those peanut butter & banana lovers out there!