Irresistible Banana Cookies: The Ultimate Chewy, Sweet & Spicy Dessert Recipe

Why This Banana Cookie Recipe Stands Out

You might be curious about the playful title, “Will Bill Share Cookies.” The story behind these phenomenal banana cookies is as charming as the cookies themselves! Back in September, I reached out to my newsletter subscribers, asking them to share their most cherished Christmas cookie recipes. I was hoping for a few gems, and what I received was an outpouring of wonderful submissions (a huge thank you to everyone who shared!). Among them, the “Will Bill Share Cookies” sent in by Martha from Tennessee truly blew me away.

I baked a variety of cookies that month, but this particular banana cookie recipe quickly rose to the top. The moment they started baking, my entire kitchen was filled with the most incredible, comforting aroma – a blend of sweet banana, warm cinnamon, and a hint of nutmeg. The flavor profile is simply divine, striking a perfect balance of sweetness and spice, and the texture is exactly what you want in a homemade cookie: soft, moist, and delightfully chewy. Plus, they are incredibly easy to make, which is always a bonus for busy bakers.

Martha, a true baking enthusiast, gladly explained the humorous origin of the cookies’ name. She recounted, “I asked my son, Bill, what he envisioned as the perfect cookie. He provided me with a list of ingredients, and from that, I crafted this recipe. To this day, 13 years later, Bill still adores them. In fact, he was always so reluctant to share that I would often have to bake them when he was away on his truck driving routes. Now, it’s a running family joke: ‘But will Bill share?’”

Martha playfully added that allowing me to share this recipe with the world was probably the only way Bill would ever agree to let anyone else enjoy his beloved cookies. I absolutely love this story! It adds such a heartwarming, personal touch to an already fantastic recipe. Thank you, Bill and Martha, for gifting us with an amazing banana cookie recipe that we will undoubtedly be making for years to come!

This recipe truly works because it combines familiar, comforting flavors with a simple baking process, resulting in cookies that are universally loved. The inclusion of instant banana cream pudding mix (dry only) is a brilliant secret ingredient that not only enhances the banana flavor but also contributes to their remarkable moisture and chewiness. The quick oats add a lovely texture, and the combination of white chocolate chips and pecans provides a delightful crunch and sweetness that perfectly complements the ripe banana base. These are not just any banana cookies; they are *the* banana cookies you’ve been searching for.

Essential Ingredients for Perfect Banana Cookies

Crafting these exceptional banana cookies requires a thoughtful selection of ingredients, each playing a crucial role in achieving their signature flavor and texture. Starting with ripe bananas is key, as their natural sweetness and moisture are foundational to this recipe’s success. The dry ingredients, including flour, baking soda, salt, nutmeg, and cinnamon, create the perfect base, with the spices adding a comforting warmth that pairs wonderfully with banana.

A surprising but brilliant addition is instant banana cream pudding mix (used dry). This ingredient isn’t just for boosting the banana flavor; it also significantly contributes to the cookies’ moistness and chewy consistency, making them truly stand out. Granulated sugar and butter-flavored shortening form the creamy base, while a combination of banana and vanilla extracts deepens the overall flavor profile. A large egg and milk bind everything together, ensuring a cohesive and tender dough.

Finally, quick oats add a delightful chewiness and hearty texture, while white chocolate chips provide pockets of creamy sweetness. Chopped pecans offer a satisfying crunch and nutty richness, completing these incredibly flavorful and balanced cookies. Gather these high-quality ingredients, and you’ll be well on your way to baking a batch of the best banana cookies you’ve ever tasted!

How to Make the Best Chewy Banana Cookies

These step-by-step photos and detailed instructions are provided to help you visualize each stage of making this delightful recipe. For a convenient printable version of this recipe, complete with precise measurements and instructions, you can Jump to Recipe at the bottom of this post.

1. **Prepare Your Workspace:** Begin by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C). While the oven heats, line several insulated baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats. This crucial step prevents sticking and ensures even baking, leading to perfectly golden-brown cookies.
2. **Combine Dry Ingredients:** In a large bowl, thoroughly whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, salt, nutmeg, cinnamon, and the dry instant banana pudding mix powder. Whisking ensures that all the leavening agents and spices are evenly distributed throughout the flour, which is vital for a consistent texture and flavor in every cookie. Set this mixture aside for now.
   
3. **Cream Wet Ingredients:** In a separate, larger mixing bowl, cream together the granulated sugar and butter-flavored shortening until the mixture is light and fluffy. This step incorporates air, contributing to the cookies’ soft texture. Next, beat in both the banana extract and vanilla extract, followed by the large egg and milk, mixing until everything is well combined and smooth.
   
4. **Incorporate Dry into Wet:** Gradually add the whisked dry ingredient mixture to the wet ingredients, stirring on low speed or by hand until just combined. Be careful not to overmix, as this can develop the gluten in the flour too much, leading to tougher cookies. Mix until no streaks of flour remain.
5. **Add Banana and Oats:** Gently fold in the mashed ripe bananas and the quick oats. The mashed bananas provide natural sweetness and moisture, while the oats contribute to the unique chewy texture of these cookies. Ensure they are evenly distributed throughout the dough.
   
6. **Stir in Mix-ins:** Finally, stir in the white chocolate chips and chopped pecans. These additions elevate the flavor and add a delightful textural contrast. If you’re not a fan of pecans, feel free to substitute with walnuts or omit them entirely.
   
   
7. **Portion and Bake:** Use a cookie scoop (approximately 1.5 tablespoons) to portion out uniform cookie balls onto your prepared baking sheets, placing them about an inch apart. If you don’t have a cookie scoop, a heaping tablespoon for each cookie will work perfectly. This ensures consistent size and baking time for all your cookies.
   
8. **Bake to Perfection:** Bake the cookies for 12-15 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden brown and the centers are just set. Keep a close eye on them, as baking times can vary slightly depending on your oven. You want them to be chewy, not crispy!
9. **Cool Completely:** Once baked, remove the cookies from the oven and let them cool on the baking sheets for a few minutes before transferring them to wire cooling racks. Allow them to cool completely on the racks. This step is crucial for the cookies to firm up and develop their ideal chewy texture.

Frequently Asked Questions About Banana Cookies

These delicious banana cookies have truly earned a top spot among our most cherished recipes. Bursting with chewy, sweet, and perfectly spiced goodness, they embody everything a banana lover could ever desire in a dessert. Once you try them, you’ll understand why Bill was so protective of them. Who knows, you might find yourself wanting to keep every single one of these delightful treats all to yourself!

Explore More Delicious Banana Recipes

Bananas are incredibly versatile in the kitchen, offering their natural sweetness and moist texture to a wide array of delightful desserts and baked goods. If you’ve fallen in love with these banana cookies, you’ll surely enjoy exploring other ways to incorporate this beloved fruit into your baking repertoire. Here are some more fantastic banana-centric recipes that are perfect for using up ripe bananas and satisfying your sweet cravings:

• Easy Banana Cake
• Banana Pudding Poke Cake
• Banana Muffins
• Sour Cream Banana Bread
• Banana Upside Down Muffins
• Banana Cream Pie
• Banana Fritters
• Banana Nut Bread

I genuinely love to bake and cook, and my greatest joy comes from sharing my culinary experiences and delicious recipes with all of you! Remembering to check back for new recipes every day can be a challenge, which is why I offer a convenient newsletter delivered straight to your inbox every time a new recipe is posted. Simply subscribe today and start receiving your free daily recipes, ensuring you never miss out on another fantastic dish!

Banana Cookies

These delicious banana cookies are among our favorites now. Full of chewy, sweet, spicy goodness, they are everything a banana lover could want in a dessert.

5 from 8 votes

IMPORTANT – There are often Frequently Asked Questions within the blog post that you may find helpful. Simply scroll back up to read them!

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Course:
Desserts

Cuisine:
American

Servings:

48
cookies

30 minutes
mins

Calories:
130

Author:

Amanda Davis

Ingredients

• 
  ▢
  
  
  1 ½
  cups
  all purpose flour

• 
  ▢
  
  
  ½
  teaspoon
  baking soda

• 
  ▢
  
  
  1
  teaspoon
  salt

• 
  ▢
  
  
  ¼
  teaspoon
  nutmeg

• 
  ▢
  
  
  ¾
  teaspoon
  cinnamon

• 
  ▢
  
  
  3.4
  oz
  instant banana cream pudding mix
  dry mix only

• 
  ▢
  
  
  1
  cup
  granulated sugar

• 
  ▢
  
  
  ¾
  cup
  butter flavored shortening

• 
  ▢
  
  
  ½
  teaspoon
  banana extract

• 
  ▢
  
  
  1
  teaspoon
  vanilla extract

• 
  ▢
  
  
  1
  large
  egg

• 
  ▢
  
  
  ¼
  cup
  milk

• 
  ▢
  
  
  1
  cup
  mashed banana
  2 medium bananas

• 
  ▢
  
  
  1 ¾
  cup
  quick oats
  old fashioned will work as well

• 
  ▢
  
  
  12
  ounce
  bag of white chocolate chips

• 
  ▢
  
  
  ½
  cup
  chopped pecans

Things You’ll Need

• 
  ▢
  
  

  Insulated baking sheets

• 
  ▢
  
  

  Wire cooling racks

• 
  ▢
  
  

  Cookie scoop

Before You Begin

These cookies can be kept in an airtight container at room temperature for 3 days. To keep longer, store in the refrigerator for a week. These cookies can also be frozen for up to 3 months.

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 350 F. Line insulated baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats.
• Whisk together flour, baking soda, salt, nutmeg, cinnamon, and banana pudding mix powder. Set aside.
• Cream together sugar and shortening. Beat in both extracts, egg, and milk.
• Stir in the flour mixture.
• Stir in mashed bananas and oats.
• Stir in white chocolate chips and pecans.
• Use a cookie scoop to portion out cookie balls onto baking sheets, placing them an inch apart. If you don’t have a cookie scoop, measure out a heaping tablespoon for each cookie.
• Bake for 12-15 minutes or until lightly browned.
• Remove to cooling racks and allow to cool completely.

Nutrition

Serving:
1
cookie

|

Calories:
130
cal

|

Carbohydrates:
17
g

|

Protein:
2
g

|

Fat:
7
g

|

Saturated Fat:
2
g

|

Cholesterol:
5
mg

|

Sodium:
81
mg

|

Potassium:
59
mg

|

Fiber:
1
g

|

Sugar:
11
g

|

Vitamin A:
13
IU

|

Vitamin C:
1
mg

|

Calcium:
19
mg

|

Iron:
1
mg

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The recipes on this blog are tested with a conventional gas oven and gas stovetop. It’s important to note that some ovens, especially as they age, can cook and bake inconsistently. Using an inexpensive oven thermometer can assure you that your oven is truly heating to the proper temperature. If you use a toaster oven or countertop oven, please keep in mind that they may not distribute heat the same as a conventional full sized oven and you may need to adjust your cooking/baking times. In the case of recipes made with a pressure cooker, air fryer, slow cooker, or other appliance, a link to the appliances we use is listed within each respective recipe. For baking recipes where measurements are given by weight, please note that results may not be the same if cups are used instead, and we can’t guarantee success with that method.