Ingredients:
- 2 1/4 cups All-Purpose Flour
- 1 tsp Baking Soda
- 1/2 tsp Fine Sea Salt
- 1 cup Unsalted Butter, softened
- 3/4 cup Light Brown Sugar, packed
- 1/2 cup Granulated Sugar
- 1 Large Egg, room temperature
- 1 tsp Vanilla Extract
- 1/4 cup Very Ripe Banana, mashed
- 1 1/2 cups Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips/Chunks
Instructions:
- Preheat the oven to 175°C / 350°F (conventional). Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
- Ensure the banana is mashed until very smooth, almost like a thick paste. Measure exactly 1/4 cup (60g).
- In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat the softened butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar on medium-high speed until light, fluffy, and pale (3-4 minutes). This creaming is crucial for texture.
- Beat in the egg and vanilla extract until just combined, scraping down the sides as needed.
- Gently mix in the mashed banana on low speed until streaks disappear. Be careful not to overmix.
- Gradually add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed until just combined. Stop mixing as soon as you no longer see streaks of dry flour.
- Remove the bowl from the mixer and fold in the chocolate chips using a rubber spatula.
- Cover the bowl tightly with cling film and refrigerate the dough for a minimum of 60 minutes. This prevents spread and allows the banana flavor to develop.
- Use a standard cookie scoop (approx. 3 Tbsp) to portion the chilled dough into uniform balls. Place them 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheets.
- Bake for 10–12 minutes, rotating the tray halfway through.
- Check for Doneness: The edges should be set and lightly golden, but the centres should still look slightly soft and underdone.
- Leave the cookies on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.