Chocolate Banana Walnut

If you think this flavour combination sounds familiar, you must thank Ben & Jerry's. Chunky Monkey (trademarked, too bad) best describes this flavour.

I recently discovered freeze dried bananas. They work really well with My Perfect Cookie recipes. I did try using a fresh ripe banana (1) in this recipe. It was great but the cookie was more cake-like and not crisp. Finding freeze dried bananas may not be easy but when you do find them, you can keep them for 25 years in an air-tight container. Yes, it is camping food.

I have listed banana extract in this recipe only. There are a lot of flavours and textures in this cookie and the banana flavour needs to rise a little more. It is optional.

 

 

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 stick (3/4 cup) unsalted butter, room temperature
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1 cup flour
  • 2 cups rolled oats
  • 3/4 tsp baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 1/2 cup crushed freeze dried banana
  • 1 cup walnut pieces
  • 1 cup milk chocolate chips
  • 1/2 tsp banana extract (optional)

Preparation

  1. In your mixer (with paddle attachment), combine the butter and sugars on low speed until smooth (approximately 2 minutes).
  2. Add the egg and vanilla to the mixer. Mix well.
  3. In a separate bowl, combine the flour, rolled oats, baking soda, and salt, and mix thoroughly.
  4. Gradually, mix the dry ingredients with the creamed ingredients, in the mixer on low speed.
  5. Once the ingredients are combined, gradually add the crushed freeze dried banana, walnut pieces and milk chocolate chips.  Mix on low until combined throughout.
  6. Follow instructions for My Perfect Cookie.
  7. After the dough logs have chilled for a minimum of 3 hours, take out of the tubes.
  8. Slice the log into 1/2” thick cookies. Remember to roll the log about 1/8 of a turn after each slice to prevent the log from flattening from the weight of the knife. Keeps the cookies round at each slice.
  9. Place the cookies on parchment or silpat-lined baking sheet. Leave about 1 1/2” between cookies.  The cookies do spread.
  10. Bake in a 350 degree Fahrenheit oven for 13 minutes. Cookies should be slightly brown.  
  11. Take the cookies out of the oven.  At this point, you can decorate with banana chips.  Press into the soft cookies. 
  12. Let cookies cool on baking sheet for a few minutes and then transfer to wire racks.