Tired of Banana Bread? Make Banana Cookies! (2024)

Easy Cookies
Baking
Banana

These soft, cake-like cookies are a cherished family recipe and a great way to use up overripe bananas.

Garrett McCord

Garrett has been writing about food and sharing recipes for 15 years. He is the author of Melt: The Art of Macaroni and Cheese.

Learn about Simply Recipes'Editorial Process

Updated March 28, 2024

146 ratings

What Can Overripe Bananas Be Used for? These Cookies!

These banana cookies are soft, not crispy. They're almost cake-like or like muffin tops. They're seasoned with cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves, and peppered with pecans.

They're perfect for using up overripe bananas. (Who hasn't had plenty of instances where some bananas have gotten a bit overripe?)

Tired of Banana Bread? Make Banana Cookies! (4)

The Best Bananas for Baking

You want speckled yellow and black bananas for this recipe. They are sweeter and mash more easily.

You can easily freeze bananas that become overripe to use later for banana cookies or other recipes.

How to Freeze BananasREAD MORE:

So Many Different Ways to Make Banana Cookies!

Stir in 1/2 cup of chocolate chips or butterscotch chips.
Eliminate the spices if you don’t care for them (or don’t have them on hand).
Add raisins for more sweetness, or dried cranberries for tartness.
Use half whole wheat flour and half all-purpose flour.
Add a cup or two of rolled oats for added texture.
Use half white sugar and half brown sugar.
Reduce the sugar to 1/2 cup.

5 Tips for Baking Perfect Cookies Every TimeREAD MORE:

How to Store Banana Cookies

You can freeze the baked cookies. Be sure they are completely cooled. Then, place them in a freezer-safe zip top bag. Leave them out to thaw overnight before enjoying.

Baked banana cookies will keep at room temperature for up to 3 days, as long as they are covered with plastic wrap or stored in an airtight container.

More Banana Recipes to Use up Overripe Bananas!

Banana Bread
Crunchy Banana Nut Granola
Banana Nut Muffins
Chocolate Banana Bread
Banana Sheet Cake

From the Editors Of Simply Recipes

Banana Cookies

Prep Time15 mins

Cook Time30 mins

Total Time45 mins

Servings30 servings (1 cookies/serving)

Yield2 1/2 dozen cookies

These cookies are soft and cake-like.

Ingredients

1/2 cup unsalted butter (1 stick), at room temperature
1 cup sugar
1 large egg, at room temperature
1 cup mashed bananas (about 2 1/2 large bananas)
See Also
Hungarian Kiffles
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 cups all-purpose flour
Pinch salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg or mace
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1 cup chopped pecans (walnuts or chocolate chips are fine alternatives)

Method

Preheat the oven:
Preheat oven to 350°F.
Cream the butter and sugar:
Beat butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. Add the egg, and continue to beat until the mixture is light and fluffy.
Mix the banana and baking soda:
In a separate bowl, mix the mashed bananas and baking soda. Let sit for 2 minutes. The baking soda will react with the acid in the bananas, which in turn will give the cookies their lift and rise.
Combine the banana and butter mixtures:
Pour the banana mixture into the butter mixture.
Simple Tip!
Sometimes the banana/butter mixture curdles because the bananas are high in moisture, which will make the creamed butter "break." Carry on; once you add the flour mixture, the batter will be cohesive and bake up just right.
Whisk the dry ingredients, then add the the banana mixture:
Whisk together the flour, salt, and spices. Add to the butter and banana mixture, and mix until just combined.
Add the mix-ins:
Fold pecans or chocolate chips (if using) into the batter.
Drop the dough and bake the cookies:
Drop in dollops onto a parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Bake for 11 to 13 minutes or until nicely golden brown. Let cool on wire racks before serving.
Store:
Baked banana cookies will keep at room temperature for up to 3 days, as long as they are covered with plastic wrap or stored in an airtight container.
Did you enjoy this recipe? Let us know with a rating and review!

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
118	Calories
6g	Fat
15g	Carbs
2g	Protein

Show Full Nutrition Label

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 30
Amount per serving
Calories	118
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 6g	8%
Saturated Fat 2g	11%
Cholesterol 14mg	5%
Sodium 50mg	2%
Total Carbohydrate 15g	6%
Dietary Fiber 1g	3%
Total Sugars 8g
Protein 2g
Vitamin C 1mg	3%
Calcium 7mg	1%
Iron 1mg	3%
Potassium 55mg	1%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. In cases where multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.