Method & Instructions:
1. Preheat the Oven:
Begin by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or lightly grease it to prevent sticking.
2. Mash the Bananas:
In a bowl, mash the two ripe bananas with a fork until smooth. You should have about 1 cup of mashed banana. The riper the bananas, the sweeter and more flavorful your cookies will be!
3. Cream the Butter and Sugar:
In a separate large mixing bowl, use a hand mixer or stand mixer to cream together the softened butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy. This should take about 2-3 minutes.
4. Add the Wet Ingredients:
Add the mashed bananas and the egg to the butter and sugar mixture. Beat until well combined. The banana should blend seamlessly with the butter and sugar, creating a moist, slightly runny mixture.
5. Mix the Dry Ingredients:
In another bowl, whisk together the flour, cinnamon, baking soda, and salt. Slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients in batches, mixing gently after each addition to avoid overmixing. Stir until just combined.
6. Optional Add-ins:
If you’re using chopped walnuts, chocolate chips, or any other add-ins, fold them into the dough at this point.
7. Scoop the Dough:
Use a tablespoon or cookie scoop to drop rounded spoonfuls of dough onto your prepared baking sheet, leaving about 2 inches of space between each cookie. The dough will be slightly sticky, so don’t worry if it’s not perfectly shaped.
8. Bake:
Place the baking sheet in the preheated oven and bake for 12-15 minutes or until the cookies are golden brown around the edges and set in the center. Keep an eye on them to prevent overbaking, as they’ll continue to firm up as they cool.
9. Cool and Serve:
Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. Enjoy warm or at room temperature.
