Banana Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ok, if chocolate chip banana bread and a chocolate chip cookie recipe came together and had a baby – it’d be these chocolate chip banana cookies! Dare I call them banana bread cookies? Perhaps that’s a better name.

The bananas add natural sweetness and chewy texture that keep the cookies so moist! Then there’s pockets of gooey, melted chocolate that just take it to another level. Each bite is like this perfect combination of banana bread and chocolate chip cookies.

Pair it with a cold glass of milk or a cup of coffee… or even dip it in my 3 ingredient mug cake with a scoop of ice cream. It’s the perfect treat!

Why You’ll Love these Banana Chocolate Chip Cookies 

• No stand mixer needed! This is an incredibly easy recipe that you can make in under an hour! 
• Super soft cookies that melt in your mouth! 
• Great way to use up those brown bananas on your counter! If you have any leftover bananas, I’ve got a solution. Make this banana cookie recipe 🙂 
• Banana bread in cookie form! It’s such a treat for your taste buds.

(full list of ingredients in the recipe card)

Very Ripe Bananas – using overripe bananas is key to getting that banana flavor. As bananas get older, the starches break down and turn into sugar – and that’s why they have the best flavor for baking recipes.

Semi-sweet Chocolate Chips – dark chocolate or even white chocolate chips work here too. Use your favorite melty chocolate chips! Use leftovers and make my two chocolate chip cookies recipe.

All purpose flour – flour is what gives the cookies structure.

Salted butter – I always use salted butter in my recipes because it simply has more flavor. If you prefer, you can use unsalted butter, just increase the kosher salt by 1/4 tsp. 

Cornstarch – this prevents the cookies from spreading too much and gives them that chewy soft center.

Brown sugar and Sugar – for flavor and sweetness! 

Egg Yolk – this is key in chewy cookies.

Spices – cinnamon and nutmeg are key here. They add a subtle spice flavor that you get in a banana bread. You only need a little for that burst of banana bread flavor!

Pecans – you can use any nut you’d like or you can omit them entirely! They add a nice crunch that I love but if that’s not your thing, feel free to skip this ingredient. 

Variations

Gluten free option – use 1-to-1 gluten free flour.

Add oats – if you’d like to make banana oatmeal chocolate chip cookies, add about 1/2 cup of old fashioned oats. 

Switch up the nuts – you can use almonds, walnuts, peanuts, or even pistachios! If you don’t like nuts, you can also not use them at all. 

How to make Banana Chocolate Chip Cookies

Step 1: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a parchment sheet with parchment paper. In a large bowl, mash up the banana.

Step 2: Then add brown sugar, sugar, melted butter, and vanilla extract. Use an electric mixer to mix everything together until combined, fluffy and smooth, about 2-3 minutes. 

Step 3: In a separate bowl, mix together all purpose flour, baking soda, cornstarch, cinnamon, nutmeg, and kosher salt. Whisk until everything is mixed together, about 30 seconds.

Step 4: Add the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients. Fold everything together with a flat spatula or spoon. Mix until just combined and you don’t see any streaks of flour, about 1 minute. Then add the semi-sweet chocolate chips and chopped pecans. Continue to fold together until combined. Place in the refrigerator uncovered for 20 minutes.

Step 5: Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Scoop out 1/4 cup of the cookie dough and place onto the prepared baking sheet. Bake about 3-4 cookie dough balls at a time. Bake for 12-13 minutes, until the edges are set and the centers are puffy.

Step 6: Fresh out of the oven, Use a small bowl and place it on top of each cookie and swivel in a circle to get a perfectly round cookie, then allow the cookies to chill on the baking sheet for 10 minutes. Then remove entirely and place onto a wire rack.

Helpful Tips

• Weigh out your ingredients! This will ensure consistency across all bakes.
• Over-ripe bananas are key to getting that true banana flavor. If using fresh bananas, bake in the oven at 300 degrees F for 15-30 minutes to mimic the flavor of old bananas.
• Use an oven thermometer. Every oven is different making it so that baking time can vary. If you oven runs hot or cold, it’s important to use an oven thermometer to get the best baked cookies.

Recipe FAQs