Banana Walnut Chocolate Chunk Cookies (aka sweet goodness)

So, I have a lot of overripe bananas crowding my freezer.  If you have ever thrown out bananas, thinking they are no longer good... Never Again!!  You have a much better use for those sweet little treasures.  Black bananas are the key to delicious banana bread, or in this case... cookies. 
My husband's favorite things are anything with banana.  So, these were especially for him :) 

Now, if I can just decide which is better... the amazing aroma these emit throughout the house, or the way they taste in my mouth...?... You decide for yourself!

To begin, measure your all purpose flour, whole wheat flour, salt, and baking soda. into a bowl, and whisk them together.  This helps to incorporate air and make for a lighter textured cookie.

I like to use Whole Wheat Pastry flour as it is more finely ground than regular wheat flour.  Just makes for better texture for cookies, cakes, and pastries.

Then, in the bowl of a mixer, with the paddle attachment, place your butter, and sugars.  ( I doubled the recipe as I like a lot of cookies at one time, and freeze half :)  Beat them until light and fluffy, a couple minutes.  Then, add your egg and vanilla.  Mix to combine.

Okay, here's where those overripe bananas come into play.  I know they don't look pretty, but this is exactly how you want them.  Black bananas have a TON of natural sweetness.  Mash your banana.

 

Whip the banana into the butter mixture, JUST to combine.  (Will look a bit separated.)  Slowly, add in your flour mixture.  Again, just to combine.  You don't want a tough cookie.

Toast your walnut pieces on the stove.  This takes just a couple minutes.  Be sure to keep a close eye (nose) on these.  They can burn fast!  As soon as you start smelling them, they are done.  Take them off the heat.  This part should actually be done earlier, so they have a few minutes to cool down before adding them to the batter.

Add the walnuts, oats, and chocolate chips. Mix just to combine.  I like to use Bittersweet and semisweet chocolate.

Almost done!!...  Bake the cookies at 375 degrees for 14-16 minutes.  Or until golden brown.

 

Ingredients:

1 c. all purpose flour

1/2 c. whole wheat flour (or whole wheat PASTRY flour)

1 tsp. course salt

1/2 tsp. baking soda

3/4 c. (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temp.
1/3 c. granulated sugar

1/3 c. packed brown sugar

1 lg. egg

1 1/2 tsp. PURE vanilla extract

1/2 c. mashed ripe banana (about 1 large)

1 c. old fashioned rolled oats

1 1/2 c. semi or bittersweet chocolate chips

1/2 c. coursely chopped walnuts, toasted