Lately, banana is a key ingredient in recipes this Grandma has found. Of course, fruit in a cookie makes it healthy, according to Grandma. See recent previous post: “Nutella and Bananas or Apples Combine to Make A Tasty and Healthy After School Snack or Maybe Even a Breakfast Food”.
We all have ripe bananas sitting around and can make just so much banana bread. This Grandma came upon a vegan cookie, Banana Everything Cookie, in the New York Times, where author Alex Witchel reviews as “Adapted from the cookbook “Vegan Cookies Invade Your Cookie Jar,” by Isa Chandra Moskowitz and Terry Hope Romero, these cookies, which are chunky with chocolate chips, walnuts and rolled oats, are best when they are completely cooled, so their exteriors can crisp up. They do not taste strongly of banana — it’s just a hint.”
A hint of a fruit is great for grandchildren, and so are rolled oats. This Grandma might leave out the nuts. Here is the easy recipe given five stars on the New York Times on line website. It is great also in that it uses only one bowl. Check out the reviews for variations for gluten free or less calories.
Remember to cover all counters and floors with old towels for easy cleanup! Use this teaching moment to show measurements, allowing the older grandchildren to measure and younger grandchildren to spray and pour. Allow them to smell and taste the vanilla and cinnamon, and have extra chocolate chips on hand for nibbling. Also, remember a previous post on uncooked flour and be careful with the grandchildren wanting to taste the batter. See, post “No More Scraping The Bowl When and If Baking With Grandchildren and Throw Away Your Flour”.
INGREDIENTS
Nonstick cooking oil spray
1 very ripe medium banana
1/3cup canola oil
2/3 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
¾ cup plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour, or as needed
½ teaspoon baking soda
¼ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 cups quick-cooking (not instant) oatmeal or rolled oats
½ cup chopped walnuts
½ cup chocolate chips (vegan, if desired)
PREPARATION
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly spray two baking sheets with oil. In a mixing bowl, mash banana well. Add oil, sugar and vanilla, and mix with a strong fork. Add flour, baking soda, salt and cinnamon, and mix until just moistened.
Add oatmeal, walnuts and chocolate chips. Using your hands or a sturdy spoon, mix well, making sure oats are well moistened. (If dough is very slippery, add one or two extra tablespoons flour.
Using clean, wet hands, re-wetting as needed, roll dough into balls slightly smaller than a golf ball, about 1 1/3 inches in diameter. Flatten slightly and place 2 inches apart on a baking sheet. Bake until lightly browned, 10 to 12 minutes. Remove from heat and allow to cool for 2 minutes, then transfer to a rack to cool completely. Store in an airtight container.
The grandchildren will have their hands coated with the dough so bribe them with chocolate chips until the cookies bake and cool. Cookies and milk are a wonderful additional treat. But, don’t tell the parents why the grandchildren are then full at dinner time. Blame it on the filling bananas.
Joy,
Mema
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