Description
Irresistible banana pudding cookies blend Southern comfort with sweet nostalgia, delivering a delightful twist on classic dessert flavors. Creamy banana pudding mix and chunks of ripe banana create a heavenly treat you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Cookies Ingredients:
Wet Ingredients:
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup ripe bananas, chopped (about 2 small bananas)
Dry Ingredients:
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup instant vanilla pudding mix (dry)
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Optional Mix-ins:
- 1/2 cup chopped nuts (such as walnuts or pecans)
- 1/2 cup mini marshmallows
Frosting Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1/2 cup cream cheese, softened
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1–2 tablespoons milk (if needed for consistency)
Instructions
- Warm the oven to 350F (175C) and prepare baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone mats.
- Vigorously blend softened butter with granulated and brown sugars until the mixture becomes airy and pale.
- Incorporate eggs individually, thoroughly mixing after each addition, then blend in vanilla extract until smooth.
- Separately combine flour, instant vanilla pudding mix, baking soda, baking powder, and salt using a whisk.
- Merge dry ingredients into butter mixture, stirring gently until just incorporated without overmixing.
- Delicately integrate chopped bananas, optional nuts, and marshmallows into the cookie dough.
- Distribute rounded tablespoon-sized dough clusters onto prepared sheets, maintaining approximately 2-inch intervals.
- Bake for 10-12 minutes until cookie edges transform into a delicate golden hue.
- Let cookies rest on baking sheets for 5 minutes, then transfer to wire rack for complete cooling.
- For optional frosting, whip butter, powdered sugar, cream cheese, and vanilla until silky, adjusting consistency with milk if needed.
- Optionally adorn cooled cookies with prepared frosting or savor them in their natural state.
Notes
- Select ripe bananas with brown spots for maximum sweetness and intense banana flavor in your cookies.
- Use instant vanilla pudding mix to create a soft, chewy texture that helps cookies stay moist and tender.
- Chill the dough for 30 minutes before baking to prevent excessive spreading and maintain a thicker cookie shape.
- Swap nuts with chocolate chips or dried fruit for different flavor variations and dietary preferences.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 24
- Calories: 182
- Sugar: 15 g
- Sodium: 85 mg
- Fat: 9 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0.3 g
- Carbohydrates: 24 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 28 mg