Mindy Carlson

Lately, I am on a quest to get more protein and healthy food in their body I wanted to make a cookie that would do both those things. They just seem to do better when they are fueled by healthy things. And E especially seems to need a lot of protein in his diet right now.

My kids love cookies. And they love bananas. I suspect them of being part monkey, but I can find any in the family lineage. Yet.  So, can I make a banana cookie that has extra protein?

My friend Brenda is a pretty darn good cookie maker. She comes from a long line of pretty darn good cookie makers. She gave me a banana cookie recipe awhile ago and I started wondering if I could add oatmeal to the dough to make it higher  in protein and have them be just as delicious.

The original recipe was a typical butter, sugar, egg, vanilla, baking soda, flour sort of affair.  I swapped in some oatmeal for some of the flour and some brown sugar for part of the white sugar to come up with this recipe…

Banana Oatmeal Cookies

3/4 c butter, softened

1/2 c sugar

1/4 c brown sugar

1 egg

1 t vanilla

2 mashed bananas

1/4 t salt

1 t baking soda

1 1/2 flour

1 cup oatmeal

Cream together the butter and sugars until fluffy.  Add the egg and the vanilla and mix together well. Then add the bananas.  Add the salt, baking soda, and flour.  Start to blend them – count to 10 and then add the oatmeal.  Once well blended let rest for 5-10 minutes. The oatmeal will absorb some of the liquid and you’ll end up with a firmer cookie.  Bake at 375 for 10-12 minutes or until golden brown. Makes 49.

I tried them at 350 because that is what the original recipe called for, but I found they bake up rounder and not so flat at a higher temperature. I also chose to bake them on parchment paper. I don’t think they need it. I think an ungreased, non-stick cookie sheet will give the bottom more of a browning and crisping.  They also feel a little “banana bread-like” and not so “crispy-cookie-like”.  I happen to like the chewy and light texture of the cookie.  They are especially good with a cup of tea.

One little warning…  If you let your kids take them somewhere as a snack you’ll need a hard-sided container as I don’t think they will survive being toted around in a plastic bag.  That is, if there are any left when they get home from school…

In case you’re interested, here’s the nutritional info per cookie

64 calories, 3 grams fat, 22 grams sodium, 30 mg potassium, 8.8 grams carbs, 4 grams sugar , 1g protein

Not as good as I was hoping, but better than without the oatmeal.  Next I’m going to add peanut butter and see what happens.