Banana Pudding Cookies

Ingredients

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 package (3.4 oz) instant banana pudding mix
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
• 1 large egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 ripe banana, mashed (about 1/2 cup)
• 1 cup vanilla wafer cookies, crushed
• 1/2 cup chocolate chips (optional)

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, and instant banana pudding mix until well combined. Set aside.
3. In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar together until light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes.
4. Add the egg, vanilla extract, and mashed ripe banana to the butter mixture. Beat until fully combined.
5. Gradually add the dry ingredient mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined.
6. Gently fold in the crushed vanilla wafer cookies and chocolate chips until evenly distributed.
7. Using a cookie scoop or tablespoon, drop rounded balls of the dough onto the prepared baking sheet, spacing them about 2 inches apart.
8. Bake in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden but the centers still look soft.
9. Remove from the oven and let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.