I recently felt like making cookies and wanted to try something different. At the same time I did have some requirements of what I desired from the cookie I was about to make. I wanted it to be simple, soft, and chocolate. With that in mind I stumbled on a few potentials but everything seemed too involved for my taste since I had family in town and wanted something that could be made up quick. Just as I was about to give up and not make anything this week I stumbled on something that peaked my interest…Peanut Butter & Banana Chocolate Chip Cookies. I knew peanut butter and chocolate go together perfectly but the banana intrigued me enough to force me to try it, even though it was a bit more involved of a recipe than I had planned to tackle on. Before I make a recipe I usually do some research and compare/contrast other recipes so that I can create the best product myself. What I found in my research was that many recipes only used mashed bananas to add the banana flavor or they added mashed banana and some banana extract to boost the flavor since many complained banana alone did not provide enough banana flavor to shine through the dominant chocolate and peanut butter flavors. One recipe took a different approach and used banana and dried banana chips. I liked this idea better than the extract option and chose to use banana and banana chips. The banana chips were a bit overwhelming the first time around but did impart banana flavor…almost too much to the point it stole the show against the chocolate and peanut butter, something I didn’t want. I wanted flavor harmony. So back to the drawing board for one more batch. This time, I toned down the banana chips and I had it perfect. The lower amount of chips provided just the right flavor and crunch without being too showy. To amp up the peanut butter flavor, I made sure to use crunchy peanut butter as opposed to creamy. This not only added more crunch to every bite but packed little bursts of peanut flavor. It also helped with the texture of the cookie. It kept it firm enough to hold everything together but not so firm that the cookies lost the softness I initially sought after. However, if all you have on hand is creamy peanut butter you can use that too but the texture may turn out different. All in all I really enjoyed these cookies and my daughter enjoyed helping me make them. They are definitely worth trying since everyone visiting had one or a few and now, sadly, they are a thing of the past. Note: Formula yields about 2 dozen cookies. Cookies can be stored in an airtight container for 3 days.

Peanut Butter & Banana Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ingredients:

• 2 cups All-Purpose Flour
• ½ tsp. Baking Soda
• 8 tbsp. (1 stick) Unsalted Butter; softened
• 2 oz. Cream Cheese; softened
• ½ cup Light Brown Sugar; packed
• ½ cup Granulated Sugar
• ½ cup Chunky Peanut Butter
• 1 Ripe Banana; mashed
• 1 Egg
• 2 tsp. Vanilla Extract
• ½ cup Semisweet Chocolate Chips
• ¼ cup Dried Banana Chips; chopped

Formula:

1. Adjust oven rack to upper and lower middle positions and preheat oven to 350°. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside (Do not leave them on top of the preheating oven). Combine the flour and the baking soda in a bowl and set aside.
2. In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat butter, cream cheese, brown sugar, and granulated sugar on medium-high speed until light and fluffy. Add the peanut butter, banana, egg, and vanilla, mixing until just incorporated. Reduce the speed to low, and add the flour mixture. Mix until just combined. Stir the chocolate chips and banana chips in by hand until evenly distributed but do not overmix.
3. Take sections of dough and roll into 1½ inch size balls. Place each dough ball on the prepared baking sheets, about 2 inches apart from each other. Use a large fork to gently press a crisscross pattern into the top of each dough ball. This will slightly flatten the dough balls. Bake the cookies until golden brown, 12 to 14 minutes, rotating sheets halfway through the baking time. When cookies are done baking, remove them from the oven and allow them to cool 5 minutes on the baking sheets. After 5 minutes, transfer the cookies to a wire rack and allow them to cool completely before storing. Repeat with remaining dough as necessary.

SPECIAL THANKS TO: PHOTOGRAPHY & STAGING: PETER MENDOROS ALL REMAINING CONTENT © HONEYBEE’S PATISSERIE 2014