Better Than Banana Bread Gluten-Free Cookies

Ingredients

• 0.5 cup Butter (For a dairy-free version, use Earth Balance or Smart Balance butter.)
• 1 cup Sugar
• 1 Egg (Room temperature.)
• 1 tsp Pure vanilla extract
• 1 cup Bananas (Mashed; the recipe specifies approximately 1 cup mashed bananas.)
• 1 tsp Baking soda (Mix with the mashed bananas and let stand for 2 minutes.)
• 2 cups Gluten-free all-purpose flour (The author likes Pillsbury gluten-free flour.)
• 0.5 tsp Xanthan gum (Leave out if the gluten-free flour already contains xanthan gum.)
• Salt (A pinch.)
• 0.5 tsp Ground cinnamon
• 0.25 tsp Ground nutmeg
• 0.5 cup Mini chocolate chips (Optional; the author likes Enjoy Life Foods dairy-free chocolate chips.)

Steps

1. 1

   Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

2. 2

   Mash the bananas in a bowl, then mix in the baking soda. Let the mixture stand for 2 minutes so the baking soda can react with the bananas and help give the cookies their fluffy texture.

3. 3

   In a large bowl, cream the butter and sugar together with a mixer until combined and creamy.

4. 4

   Add the egg and pure vanilla extract to the butter-and-sugar mixture. Beat until light and fluffy.

5. 5

   Pour the mashed banana mixture into the butter mixture and combine.

6. 6

   In a small bowl or measuring cup, combine the gluten-free flour, xanthan gum, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Whisk or stir briefly to distribute the ingredients evenly.

7. 7

   Pour the flour mixture into the butter-and-banana mixture. Mix until fully combined. If using optional mini chocolate chips, stir them into the batter.

8. 8

   Drop large spoonfuls of batter onto the prepared baking sheet. A cookie scoop is recommended for consistent portions and cookie size.

9. 9

   Bake for 11–13 minutes, or until the cookies are nicely golden brown. Watch them closely because oven temperatures vary.

10. 10

    Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely. Serve and enjoy.

Notes

The structured recipe data states a yield of 40 cookies. The body advises cooling the cookies on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack. Chocolate chips are optional. The source does not specify an exact amount of time for the initial cooling period.

Nutrition per serving

• dessert
• cookie
• gluten-free
• vegetarian
• kid-friendly
• dairy-free option
• baked
• banana