An old-fashioned cookie jar recipe from the 1940s just like Mom used to make! This vintage recipe is an easy drop cookie and perfect for using up those ripe bananas. The cookies are soft and moist and can be adapted easily with a few mix-ins to make a different-tasting cookie every time you bake them!

Banana delicious cookies for the cookie jar! Via @Whats Cookin Italian Style Cuisine.comPhoto byClaudia Lamascolo

Shopping List

• 2 cups sifted AP flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon table salt
• 1/4 cup vegetable shortening
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup mashed bananas (around 3 medium)
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
• 1/2 cup chopped pecan or walnuts (optional: for those allergic, substitute pumpkin seeds or sunflower seeds.)

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
2. Whisk the sifted flour, baking powder, and salt in a bowl and set it aside.
3. In a clean bowl, cream together shortening sugar; and eggs, beating well using an electric mixer or at by hand around 55 strokes.
4. Combine the dry ingredients alternately with mashed bananas to the cream mixture.
5. Stir in the flavoring extracts and nuts and beat thoroughly.
6. Drop dough by teaspoonfuls on baking sheets.
7. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes.
8. Cool, leave plain, or dust with powdered sugar.
9. Makes about 4 dozen cookies.

Mix-in Suggestions(around 1 1/2 cups):

• chocolate chips
• any kind of chopped nuts
• coconut
• dried fruits chopped
• raisins
• craisins
• chopped candy bars
• butterscotch chips
• chocolate covered raisins
• pumpkin seeds

More Cookies To Try:

24 One-Stop Cookie Shop

Fried Bow Tie Cookies

25 Holiday Cookies