Description
These Southern Banana Pudding Cookies combine the nostalgic flavors of classic banana pudding with a chewy cookie texture. Perfect for banana lovers, these cookies are packed with mashed bananas, vanilla wafers, and optional crunchy walnuts, delivering a deliciously sweet treat that’s easy to make and perfect for sharing.
Ingredients
Scale
Wet Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 2 ripe bananas, mashed
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Dry Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Add-ins
- 1 cup vanilla wafers, crushed
- 1/2 cup chopped walnuts (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) to ensure it reaches the optimal temperature for baking the cookies evenly.
- Cream Butter and Sugars: In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until the mixture is smooth and fluffy. This creates a light base for the cookies and helps incorporate air.
- Add Bananas, Eggs, and Vanilla: Mix in the mashed ripe bananas, eggs, and vanilla extract thoroughly with the creamed mixture, blending all wet ingredients evenly.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt. This ensures the leavening and seasoning are distributed throughout the flour.
- Mix Dry into Wet Ingredients: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet banana mixture, stirring gently until just combined to avoid overmixing and tough cookies.
- Fold in Add-ins: Carefully fold in the crushed vanilla wafers and chopped walnuts (if using), which add texture and enhance the banana pudding flavor profile.
- Prepare Baking Sheet: Drop spoonfuls of the cookie dough onto a parchment paper-lined baking sheet, spacing them about 2 inches apart to allow for spreading.
- Bake Cookies: Bake in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes or until the edges turn golden brown, indicating they are perfectly baked.
- Cool Cookies: Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for several minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely, allowing them to set properly.
Notes
- For firmer cookies, chill the dough for 30 minutes before baking.
- Walnuts are optional but add a wonderful crunch and flavor contrast.
- Use very ripe bananas for the sweetest and most flavorful cookies.
- The crushed vanilla wafers are essential for replicating the banana pudding taste and texture.
- Store the cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
