Are you ready for a taste of Hawaii? One way is to enjoy some of the tropical fruit that grows so easily in that land of sunshine. This recipe has been one of our family’s favorite for a long time. I first discovered it in my college days and have been making it for my family ever since. I have recently changed it to make it more heart-healthy and it is still gobbled up.
I am glad I made 5 dozen for our Aloha Luau cooking class because they were gone very quickly. I hope they will become a family favorite at your house. This recipe will make 2 dozen cookies.
FOCUS ON BANANAS. Did you know there are about 1,000 varieties of bananas? The ones typically found in our grocery stores are known as Cavendish bananas. However, if you were to travel to Hawaii, you could try many others, such as apple banana—shorter and sweeter than the Cavendish. They are also higher in vitamins A and C. Have you heard of red bananas? Their skin is red, as you’d expect, and the inside fruit is a beautiful orange-yellow. This orange color is due to high levels of beta-carotene, which makes these bananas one of the healthiest you could try. Red bananas are also said to have a hint of raspberry flavor, which sounds delicious!
Bananas Health-Bite
The American Heart Association encourages us to lower our salt intake every day and eat more foods containing potassium. Potassium can help control blood pressure and improve our heart health in general. It turns out that a medium banana can provide 9% of your daily needs for this essential mineral.
Banana Date Cookies
Ingredients
- 3 ripe bananas
- 1 cup chopped dates
- 1/2 cup walnuts
- 1/3 cup unsweetened applesauce
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 2 cups rolled oats can be gluten-free
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. In a mixing bowl, mash the bananas with the end of a fork. Add the chopped dates and applesauce. Mix together. Then add the remaining ingredients. Let the batter sit for a few minutes for the oats to absorb the liquid.
- Using a spoon, drop the rounded mounds of batter onto a parchment lined cookie sheet or a non-stick baking sheet. Bake for 25 minutes or until nicely browned. Store these moist cookies in a covered container in the refrigerator. Though they will probably not last long. Banana-Date Cookies are loved by adults and children alike.
- CHEF'S NOTE: Medjool or Deglett Noor are good choices for dates. They will make it naturally sweet.
