Chunky Monkey Cookies

When my favorite little person had a big birthday party last weekend, I knew I had to bring something with bananas in it. Well.... that and the fact that chunky monkey ice cream has a very special place in my heart. So I present you with Chunky Monkey cookies. Cake like banana cookies studded with walnuts and chocolate chips and frosted with yummy vanilla and banana frosting. These are truely trashy.


Chunky Banana- Chocolate Chip Cookies
From: Betty Crocker's Cookies & Bars no.48
Makes about 1 1/2 dozen cookies

2 1/2 medium ripe bananas
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 eggs
2 cups flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup coarsely chopped walnuts
1 cup vanilla frosting (I totally trashed it up and used Rich and Creamy out of a tub)
1/4 cup chopped walnuts and/ or mini chocolate chips (optional)

Heat oven to 375 degrees. Mash 2 of the bananas to measure 1 cup mashed; reserve the remaining 1/2 banana. Beat sugar, butter, vanilla, eggs and mashed bananas in a large bowl with an electric mixer on medium speed until well blended. Stir in flour, baking powder and salt. Stir in chips and 1/2 cup walnuts.

Drop dough by 1/4 cupfuls about 2 inches apart onto ungreased large cookie sheet.

Bake 11- 15 minutes or until edges begin to turn light golden brown. Cool 1 minute and remove from cookie sheet to wire rack. Cool completely- about 30 minutes.

Mash enough of remaining 1/2 banana to measure 2 tablespoons mashed. Mix frosting an mashed banana in medium bowl with spoon until well blended and spreadable. Spread each cookie with about 1 tablespoon of the frosting and sprinkle with mini chips or walnuts if you are using them.