Banana Chocolate Chip Cookies

The husband and I were watching Food Network the other night when they made Banana Split Cookies. He was inspired. Well, inspired to pick up the ingredients for me to make them anyway. The show we were watching, Tough Cookies, didn't give a recipe, so I just made it up as I went. Here's what we came up with:

Banana Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ingredients

• 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup butter flavored Crisco
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 3/4 cup packed brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 large egg
• 2 cups (12-oz. pkg.) NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE® Semi-Sweet Chocolate Morsels
• 1 ripe banana
• 1 teaspoon banana extract

Directions

PREHEAT oven to 375° F.

COMBINE flour, baking soda and salt in small bowl. Beat crisco, granulated sugar, brown sugar, banana, banana extract and vanilla extract in large mixer bowl until creamy. Add egg. Gradually beat in flour mixture. Stir in chocolate chips. Drop by rounded tablespoon onto ungreased baking sheets.

BAKE for 9 to 11 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on baking sheets for 2 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool completely.

 Now on the show, they used took the cookies and filled them with white chocolate ganache and strawberries, then topped them with whipped cream, chocolate sauce and a cherry. We didn't do all that. Instead, we filled them with a ganache/frosting mixture.
To make the filling, finely chop one bag of white chocolate chips.

In a small saucepan, heat one cup of heavy cream until hot, but not boiling. Stir into white chocolate until fully incorporated. Add half a teaspoon of banana extract. Chill.

Spread on cookies and enjoy!




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