Banana Bread Cookies are a delicious bite-sized version of the classic banana bread dessert loaf with a yummy homemade cream cheese frosting on top.
Banana Bread Cookies
If you love banana bread like we do, and want to try something new with your week old ‘nanas, you’re going to love this.
After you’ve made these yummy cookies, you should definitely take a look at our Cream Cheese Filled Banana Bread, Banana Pudding Poke Cake and Chocolate Chip Banana Muffins. They are so good.
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Bananas
- Shortening
- Sugar
- Eggs
- Vanilla
- Salt
- Flour
- Baking Soda
How Ripe Should Bananas Be for Banana Bread?
You can use ANY bananas for this recipe and other bread recipes. However, the browner, the better the flavor of your dessert. Why? The more brown the more sugar the bananas have.
Banana Bread Cookies Recipe
Making this is very similar to making traditional banana bread. Start by smashing bananas! My kids love to help with this part.
Next, with cream the sugar and shortening together. Then, add the eggs and bananas and continue to mix. When that’s done, fold in smashed bananas.
In a different bowl, mix up all of your dry ingredients. Then, add them to the wet ingredient bowl.
To scoop the cookies onto your baking sheet, use a small ice cream scoop that’s sprayed with cooking spray. This makes the process so much easier!
Frosting Ingredients
- Cream Cheese
- Brown Sugar
- Milk
- Butter
- Vanilla
- Salt
- Powdered Sugar
For the frosting, beat cream cheese and butter until fluffy. Add remaining ingredients and beat until smooth.
More Delicious Banana Recipes To Make
Banana Bread Cookies
Ingredients
Cookie Ingredients:
- 3/4 cup butter flavored shortening
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup mashed overripe bananas
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
Frosting Ingredients:
- 8 oz cream cheese softened
- 1/4 cup butter softened
- 6 Tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 Tablespoon milk
- 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
- pinch of salt
- 4 1/2 cups powdered sugar
Instructions
Cookie Directions:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease or line a baking sheet, set aside.
- Cream the shortening and sugar together in a large mixing bowl. Add the egg, and vanilla and beat it for an additional 2 minutes. Fold in the mashed banana.
- In a separate mixing bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, and salt. Add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients bowl and mix to combine.
- Grease a cookie scoop with nonstick cooking spray. Scoop out the dough onto the prepared baking sheet and bake in the preheated oven for 8-9 minutes.
Frosting Directions:
- Beat cream cheese and butter until fluffy. Add remaining ingredients and beat until smooth.
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49 comments on “Soft Banana Bread Cookies with Cream Cheese Frosting”
Didn’t the the amount of each ingredient to use
Hi Rita. The amounts are listed in the recipe card near the bottom of the page.
Made these for Thanksgiving this year. I used salted butter instead of Crisco. Other than that I followed the recipe. They were absolutely delicious and even people who don’t like banana bread enjoyed them! The frosting is a great recipe with the brown sugar. Very tasty
Glad everyone enjoyed them!
I had saved this a while ago, but just finally made them for Thanksgiving…and OMG these are SOOOO good. My husband and I loved them just following the recipe, but next time I am going to add a touch of cinnamon to the batter just to try it.
Thanks Linda!
Love this recipe! My son in laws flavorite!
Delicious! My husband loved them!
Very good but I made them into sandwich cookies with the frosting in the middle, mich easier to store.
OMG! So yummy! Very cake like, definitely needed the frosting.
And THE BEST cream cheese frosting. Saving!
Made them. Everybody loved. It’s a keeper.
Made these today, turned out well. Frosting recipes makes a huge amount, mine came out a bit to sweet(personal preference probably) will cut frosting recipe in half next time. Adding nuts might make these even better.
Made these!!!!! Awesome recipe thanks!!! I added chocolate chips in 1 batch, then added 1cup pumpkin puree and spices to another, great soft cookie. Love them!!
I used 1/2 c regular Crisco and 1/2 c butter because I had to improvise. Added mini chocolate chips and didn’t do the frosting because I had to send them in a car. They were absolutely amazing and now my daughter’s favorite cookie.❤
I am going to be trying your method as I do not have any butter flavored shortening on hand!!
Any suggestions for achieving a more circular shape? Did you try to get a ball shape from the dough before putting the tray in the oven? Mine didn’t really retain any sort of shape when baked. Tasted great, just didn’t look quite as cookieish as your pictures. I did use half shortening and half butter if you think that makes a difference.
i made these last Saturday and they were absolutely delicious! I shared them with 4 different friends and all 4 are asking for more! I had icing leftover so am making another batch today! Thank you so much for your great recipes!!
What if you dont have butter flavored shortening? Do you recommend using butter instead ? Or to use crisco
I like the texture better using shortening. Butter will work good as well & flavor will be great, but texture will be a bit different.
Has anyone used wheat flour? I have a bunch that I am trying to use up, but I REALLY want to make these.
I made these today when I found some over ripe bananas in my freezer. I made the first batch exactly like the recipe, except I sprinkled the frosting with a little cinnamon. I made the second batch and added about a tsp of cinnamon and a half cup of chopped pecans to the dough. I preferred these, but both were good and a great way to use up those bananas!
These are sooo good! Kid and husband approved!!
Just made these cookies and they are delicious! I did use 1/4 cup butter and 1/2 cup crisco shortening instead of all butter flavored shortening. My boys also suggested mini semi sweet chocolate chips in them so I did half the batter with them and they are great! Had to bake an extra minute or two. Frosting is very good, light & fluffy and not too sweet. The frosting recipe made alot of extra (will cut recipe in half next time) but I will refrigerate and use another day.
Overall I give this recipe an A+!!
Just made these using butter instead of shortening. DELICIOUS! Soft, fluffy texture, all the taste of banana bread without feeling dense and heavy.
So you used 3/4cup butter Softened?
Thanks!
Cathy
Thank you. I was hoping butter would be just as good. I can’t get myself to buy shortening. Now I’m going to try!!
Can I use butter instead of the butter flavored shortening?
Hi Sarah! Yes, butter is fine to use.
Just made these for a bake off they taste delicious it’s not until Friday do I put them in the fridge are they going to get hard
I made these over the weekend. Turned out Awesome! I forgot the cream cheese for the frosting. The taste was really good without it. I melted the butter then added the brown sugar and stirred till dissolved then added everything else. If too thick, add a little milk to get the consistency you like. I used a big scoop and baked for a minimum of 10-12 minutes. One pan took 15 min. Test each pan to get the desired cooked firmness.
These were delicious. I made a lemon iceing sugar drizzle for the top instead and the family loved them.
Made these today and they weren’t baked by the time specified. Had to bake them twice as long.
How do you measure your flour? Do you scoop it out of the bag or spoon it into the measuring cup. As those end up giving you 2 different amounts of flour
Hi Kathleen, I always spoon it into a measuring cup and then level off.
Wonderful! Thanks so much! I will be trying this recipe out later today!!!
Can butter be substituted for shortening?
Hi Telisha, Yes. You can sub butter for shortening.
should cookies be cold before topping with frosting?
yes, cool before frosting.
Wonder how these would taste with Stevia and almond flour instead of sugar and regular flour.
Hi Lisa! I’m sure that would be fine. Let me know how it turns out.
I’m interested in making these cookies, but I’m trying to “clean” it up a bit. Can you use butter in place of butter flavored shortening?
I’m also going to try gluten free flour or coconut flour in place of all purpose flour.
Thanks for the recipe.
So how did these turn out using the substitutions?
I have a question about the frosting. Banana cookies with cream cheese frosting but no mention of cream cheese in ingredients list. No mention in recipe when and how to add the cream cheese while making the frosting. Can you clarify this please? Thank you.
This was a Typo – ACK! So sorry and just corrected it.
I made these yesterday & I thought it was a little strange to heat the frosting ingredients & that the cream cheese was missing but I did it anyways & it turned out sooo yummy. My boys said they were the best cookies they ever had! The consistency & flavor of the frosting was more like a caramel glaze…I say that was a happy accident! Thanks for the recipe. I will have to try again with the cream cheese frosting.
Same! I made the frosting without the cream cheese as well and it made more of a glaze. A delicious glaze at that! Do you remember the previous recipe for the frosting? I can’t remember the measurements and want to make it the old way without the cream cheese again
Can butter be substituted for margarine!