Banana Peanut Butter Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

I am going to share with you several recipes using bananas, only one of which is banana bread.  I confess that I am not a banana lover.  One might even say that I have an intense dislike for anything banana flavored.  I'll eat a banana (still a little green, if it has a brown spot, I won't eat it) occasionally, but banana suckers, popsicles, ice cream, bread, etc is not for me.  Can't stand the stuff.  So why am I doing a series of banana posts?  Because a certain hungry puppy who shall remain unnamed tenderized the bananas.  So here we are.


These cookies sound complex and perhaps a little weird, but trust me, they totally work.  They are not overwhelmingly banana (which I can appreciate), and the peanut butter is subtle, yet still there.  The oatmeal is a hearty addition to this cookie, and the chocolate chips just tie it up into a nice little package without wiping out the other flavors.  What isn't complete without chocolate?


Banana Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies


1 cup all purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 Tablespoons butter, room temperature
1 egg
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup peanut butter
1 medium banana, mashed (about 1/4 cup)
1 cup quick oats
1/2 cup old fashioned oats
Heaping 1/4  cup chocolate chips


Preheat the oven to 350F.  Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.


In a small bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.  In a separate bowl, cream together the butter and sugars.  Beat in the egg, vanilla, peanut butter, and mashed banana.  Add the flour mixture to the creamed mixture and carefully beat until blended.  Stir in the quick oats, old fashioned oats, and chocolate chips.


Scoop heaping tablespoonfulls of the dough into balls and drop onto the prepared baking sheet.  Place in the oven and bake for about 10 minutes, and the cookies are very lightly browned at the edges.  Do not overbake, or the cookies will dry out.  Cool on a wire rack.  Makes about 20 cookies.


Enjoy!  -Cardamommy