Holiday cookie season is officially here! As the days grow shorter and the air fills with the scent of cinnamon and cheer, there’s no better time to indulge in the joy of homemade treats. Forget your worries and embrace the festive spirit with a batch of truly extraordinary cookies. And if you’re looking for something that stands out from the traditional sugar cookies and gingerbread, you’ve come to the right place. Get ready to elevate your baking game with a unique twist on a beloved classic.

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Irresistible Bananas Foster Chocolate Chunk Cookies: Your Ultimate Holiday Indulgence

Welcome to the most wonderful time of the year – cookie season! It’s the perfect excuse to dust off your apron, crank up the holiday tunes, and perhaps loosen the waistband of your favorite stretchy pants. We’ve eagerly awaited this moment all year, a time when culinary indulgence is not just allowed, but celebrated. And what better way to kick off this glorious season than with a recipe that promises to be nothing short of legendary?

Today, we’re thrilled to introduce you to these incredible **Bananas Foster Chocolate Chunk Cookies**. Imagine the comforting chewiness of your favorite chocolate chip cookie, but with an unexpected depth of flavor inspired by the classic New Orleans dessert, Bananas Foster. These aren’t just any banana cookies; they feature perfectly caramelized bananas, cooked low and slow in rich butter until they reach a golden-brown perfection, then lovingly spiced with a hint of warm cinnamon. The result is a symphony of flavors that will transport your taste buds straight to dessert heaven.

This exquisite recipe comes from the brilliant mind of Jesse Szewczyk, celebrated author and food writer, and is featured in his groundbreaking new book, Cookies: The New Classics. We’re beyond excited to celebrate its release here at The Beach House Kitchen with a cookie that perfectly embodies the spirit of innovation and deliciousness found within its pages.

Meet the Mastermind: Jesse Szewczyk and “Cookies: The New Classics”

Jesse Szewczyk is more than just an author; he’s a culinary visionary. A proud graduate of the prestigious Culinary Institute of America, Jesse has honed his craft to perfection, contributing his exceptional talent to renowned publications like Bake From Scratch, BuzzFeed, Tasty, Food52, and The Kitchn, to name just a few. His work is consistently lauded for its creativity, accessibility, and sheer deliciousness.

His latest masterpiece, Cookies: The New Classics, is a testament to his innovative approach to baking. This book is a treasure trove of bold, imaginative cookie recipes that promise to impress even the most discerning cookie connoisseurs. From unexpected flavor combinations to ingenious twists on traditional favorites, Jesse’s cookbook is an essential addition to any baker’s collection, offering fresh inspiration for every occasion.

Choosing a recipe to feature from “Cookies: The New Classics” was a delightful challenge, given the abundance of tempting options. However, these Bananas Foster Chocolate Chunk Cookies immediately caught my eye. Bananas Foster has always held a special place in my heart as one of my all-time favorite desserts. The thought of transforming those iconic flavors – the sweet, caramelized bananas, the hint of warm spice – into a soft, chewy cookie was simply too irresistible to pass up. As soon as I read the description, I knew I had to give this recipe a try, and let me tell you, it exceeded every expectation.

Unveiling the Key Ingredients for Bananas Foster Chocolate Chunk Cookies

Creating these magical cookies requires a thoughtful selection of ingredients, each playing a crucial role in developing their complex flavor and tender texture. Here’s a glimpse into what you’ll need to gather to bring these Bananas Foster dreams to life in your own kitchen:

Essential Ingredients:

**Unsalted Butter:** The foundation for caramelizing our bananas and contributing richness to the cookie dough.
**Bananas (semi-ripe):** The star of the show! Semi-ripe bananas are ideal as they offer a perfect balance of sweetness and firmness for caramelization.
**Ground Cinnamon:** The essential spice that elevates the banana flavor, bringing that signature Bananas Foster warmth.
**All-Purpose Flour:** Provides the structure for our soft, chewy cookies.
**Baking Soda & Baking Powder:** The dynamic duo for leavening, ensuring a perfect rise and tender crumb.
**Kosher Salt:** Balances the sweetness and enhances all the flavors.
**Vegetable Shortening:** Contributes to the cookies’ incredibly soft texture and helps prevent overspreading.
**Light Brown Sugar:** Adds moisture and a deep, molasses-rich sweetness.
**Granulated Sugar:** Used both in the dough and for rolling, contributing to crisp edges and a beautiful sparkle.
**Large Eggs (room temperature):** Binds the ingredients and adds richness.
**Vanilla Extract:** A quintessential cookie ingredient that boosts overall flavor.
**Bittersweet or Semisweet Chocolate:** The generous chunks provide pockets of melted, decadent chocolate in every bite.

Each ingredient is carefully chosen to create a harmonious blend that is both familiar and excitingly new.

Crafting Perfection: The Art of Bananas Foster Chocolate Chunk Cookies

The secret to these cookies’ extraordinary flavor lies in the meticulous preparation of the bananas. You’ll begin by gently cooking chopped bananas in melted butter on your stovetop. This isn’t a step to rush; Jesse emphasizes the importance of cooking them for a full 8 to 10 minutes, stirring frequently, until they visibly soften, begin to fall apart, and transform into a beautiful golden-brown hue. This slow caramelization process is key, as it concentrates the natural sugars in the bananas, intensifying their flavor and creating a rich, sweet base that truly mimics the essence of Bananas Foster. Once they’ve achieved this fragrant, melt-in-your-mouth consistency, remove them from the heat and stir in the ground cinnamon, allowing the mixture to cool for a crucial 30 minutes before incorporating it into the dough.

The remainder of the cookie dough comes together like a dream. After combining your dry ingredients, you’ll cream the cooled banana mixture with vegetable shortening, brown sugar, and a portion of the granulated sugar until light and fluffy. The addition of eggs and vanilla extract further enriches the base, creating a tender, flavorful dough. Finally, the chopped chocolate chunks are folded in, ensuring a burst of molten chocolate with every bite. The dough then benefits from a brief chill, allowing the flavors to meld and the fats to firm up, leading to perfectly shaped cookies with superior texture.

The final result is nothing short of spectacular: a delightfully soft, incredibly flavorful cookie, generously studded with rich chocolate chunks. Each bite offers a harmonious blend of sweet, caramelized banana and warm cinnamon, perfectly complemented by the decadent chocolate. These cookies are an absolute dream, and they pair exquisitely with a tall, frosty glass of cold milk – truly a match made in holiday heaven!

Expert Tips for Baking Flawless Bananas Foster Chocolate Chunk Cookies

To ensure your Bananas Foster Chocolate Chunk Cookies turn out perfectly every time, here are a few additional insights and pro tips:

Cook’s Notes & Pro Tips:

**Chocolate Selection:** Feel free to choose between bittersweet or semisweet chocolate based on your preference. For this recipe, I personally opted for Ghirardelli semisweet chocolate bars, which I roughly chopped. Chopping your own chocolate from a bar provides irregular pieces that melt beautifully and create pockets of rich chocolate goodness throughout the cookie, unlike uniformly shaped chocolate chips.
**The Banana Caramelization is Key:** Do not underestimate the importance of cooking the bananas for the full 8-10 minutes as Jesse Szewczyk explicitly recommends. This step is crucial for proper caramelization of the sugars within the bananas, which deeply concentrates their flavor and gives these cookies their signature Bananas Foster essence. Rushing this step will result in a less flavorful cookie.
**Dough Chilling Benefits:** The suggested 30-minute chilling time for the dough balls is vital. Chilling helps the fats in the dough solidify, which prevents the cookies from spreading too much in the oven, ensuring a thicker, chewier cookie. It also allows the flavors to meld and intensify, leading to a more complex and satisfying taste.
**Room Temperature Eggs:** Ensure your eggs are at room temperature. This helps them emulsify better with the other ingredients, creating a smoother, more uniform dough.
**Measuring Flour Correctly:** Spoon and level your all-purpose flour. Scooping flour directly from the bag can compact it, leading to too much flour and a dry, dense cookie.
**Storage:** Once baked and completely cooled, these cookies store wonderfully in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week, maintaining their soft texture and delightful flavor. They are also fantastic for freezing!

Join the Holiday Fun: Special Giveaway!

Our Holiday GIVEAWAY Week is in full swing, and we have an incredible prize for one lucky winner! You have the chance to win a collection of my absolute favorite holiday baking books, guaranteed to inspire countless delicious creations.

Holiday Baking Book Giveaway:

One fortunate winner will receive three exceptional baking books: Jesse Szewczyk’s innovative Cookies: The New Classics, Sarah Kieffer’s enchanting Baking for the Holidays, and her popular 100 Cookies. As an extra treat, the winner will also receive a stylish Beach House Kitchen Apolis Tote! You can find photos of all these fantastic prizes featured prominently in my Instagram stories.

How to Enter the GIVEAWAY:

Participating is easy! To enter this exciting giveaway, head over to Instagram and make sure you’re following both The Beach House Kitchen and Jesse Szewczyk. Then, give today’s Instagram post featuring these Bananas Foster Chocolate Chunk Cookies a like, and tag a friend in the comments section for additional entries. The more friends you tag, the higher your chances of winning!

Entries for all giveaways will be accepted from now through 5 PM ET on December 8th. Winners will be notified directly through Instagram message, so keep an eye on your inbox. Good luck to everyone!

Discover More Festive Cookie Recipes to Enjoy

If you’re looking to expand your holiday cookie repertoire even further, be sure to check out these other delightful recipes perfect for sharing with family and friends:

Biscochitos: A traditional New Mexican cookie, crispy and flavored with anise, perfect with a cup of coffee.

Brownie Cookies: All the rich, fudgy goodness of a brownie packed into a perfectly chewy cookie form.

Anise Seed Sugar Cookies: A fragrant and classic sugar cookie with a unique anise twist, ideal for decorating.

Chocolate chunk cookies with two bananas in the background and a bowl of chocolate chunks

Bananas Foster Chocolate Chunk Cookies

Author:
Jesse Szewczyk

Servings:

24
cookies

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These Bananas Foster Chocolate Chunk Cookies are a cross between your favorite soft chocolate chip cookie and the classic dessert, Bananas Foster. The bananas are cooked in butter nice and slow until they’re golden brown and then mixed with some cinnamon for added flavor!

Prep Time

30 minutes

Cook Time

14 minutes

Chilling Time

1 hour

Total Time

1 hour

44 minutes

Ingredients

16 Tbsp. unsalted butter
2 large semi-ripe bananas, about 1 1/4 cups, peeled and roughly chopped
3/4 tsp. ground cinnamon
2 3/4 cups spooned and leveled all-purpose flour
3/4 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. baking powder
3/4 tsp. kosher salt
1/4 cup vegetable shortening
3/4 cup packed light brown sugar
1 1/4 cups granulated sugar, divided
2 large eggs, room temperature
2 tsp. vanilla extract
6 oz. bittersweet or semisweet chocolate, roughly chopped (about 1 cup)

Instructions

Make Ahead: If wrapped lightly in plastic, the dough can be stored in the refrigerator for several days before baking.
Storage: The cookies will keep in an airtight container for up to one week.
Melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the bananas and cook, stirring frequently, until they begin to fall apart, darken in color to a light golden-brown, and are very fragrant, 8 to 10 minutes total. Remove the pan from the heat, stir in the cinnamon, and let cool for 30 minutes.
Combine the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl and whisk to combine. Line 3 baking sheets (or as many as you have) with parchment paper or nonstick baking mats.
In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine the cooled (but still melted) banana mixture, the vegetable shortening, brown sugar, and ¾ cup (150 grams) of the granulated sugar. (Alternatively, use a hand mixer and large bowl.) Beat on medium speed until fully combined, 1 to 2 minutes. Turn the mixer off and add the eggs and vanilla extract. Mix on medium speed until light and ribbony, 2 to 3 minutes. With the mixer running on low speed, gradually add the dry ingredients, beating until just combined. Stir in the chopped chocolate with a rubber spatula.
Add the remaining ½ cup (100 grams) granulated sugar to a wide bowl. Using a medium 1¾-inch (#40) cookie scoop or 2 tablespoons, portion out the dough and roll into balls. Roll the balls in the sugar and place them 3 inches apart on the baking sheets (about 8 per sheet). Chill in the refrigerator, uncovered, for 30 minutes. (If you can’t fit all 3 sheets in your fridge at once, consolidate the balls on 1 sheet, then divide them again for baking.)
As the dough balls are chilling, preheat the oven to 350°F and set 2 racks at the upper-middle and lower-middle positions.
Bake 2 sheets at the same time, swapping them midway, until the tops are lightly browned, 12 to 14 minutes, then bake the remaining tray on either rack. Let the cookies cool slightly on the baking sheets, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely, and bake the remaining sheet of dough balls.

Notes

You can use either bittersweet or semisweet chocolate for this recipe. I used Ghirardelli semisweet chocolate bars that I roughly chopped.

Make sure to cook the bananas for 8-10 minutes as Jesse recommends for proper caramelization of the sugar in the bananas.

Nutrition

Keyword:
bananas, chocolate chunks, cookies, Bananas Foster, holiday cookies, dessert

Cuisine:
American

Course:
Dessert, Snack, Holiday Baking

Before your first bite, snap a photo and share!
If you make this recipe, I’d love to see! Be sure to follow thebeachhousekitchen on Instagram and tag Mention @thebeachhousekitchen or tag #thebeachhousekitchen!