Banana-Chocolate-Chip Bites

I happen to be a firm believer that everyone should have a go-to cookie recipe. One that they know backward and forward, has simple ingredients that are probably already on hand, and that can be whipped up in little time leaving as few dirty dishes as possible. 

It is completely necessary to have go-to cookie recipe because you know as well as I do that sometimes a cookie attack just strikes, and when it does, you'll have cookies on the brain until you get up and do something about it. 

My go-to cookie recipe actually isn't exactly a cookie at all. It's more of a bite... kind of a mix between a muffin and an oatmeal cookie. Muffins are good. Cookies are good. So a muffin-cookie amalgam has to be spectacular, right? Absolutely.

That's where these banana-chocolate-chip bites come in. They are SO simple to make, and an added bonus? They're actually decently healthy, as for as baked treats go. Another plus is that they are super versatile, so feel free to add in any little ingredients your heart desires.

Banana-Chocolate-Chip Bites

Ingredients:

2 ripe bananas, mashed

3 Tbs canola oil

3 Tbs maple syrup

1/4 tsp vanilla extract

1 cup regular oats

2/3 cup whole wheat pastry flour (the pastry flour ensures these turn out soft and chewy)

1/4 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp ground cinnamon

2 Tbs peanut butter

1/3 cup chocolate chips

Any additional add-ins you like! (personally, I *love* adding in some shredded coconut... but go nuts on whatever else you deem tasty)

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. 

2. Combine mashed bananas, canola oil, maple syrup and vanilla extract in a bowl, and set aside.

3. In a separate bowl, combine oats, pastry flour, cinnamon and baking soda. Then, add these dry ingredients to the wet. Mix until just combined.

4. Melt the peanut butter in the microwave for about 25 seconds. Drizzle the melted peanut butter into the dough and mix in.

5. Fold in chocolate chips and other goodies.

6. Drop the dough by the spoonful onto a lined cookie sheet. Bake for 12-15 minutes, until lightly browned.

Makes about 18 bites.