Banana Oatmeal Cookies and 4 Other Favorite Amish Cookies

By Kevin Williams

We had some bananas in our kitchen that were past their prime and rapidly approaching their date with the garbage pail.  So I figured I'd see if I could find an Amish recipe that would incorporate these bananas. I found what I wanted to in an old Amish cookbook: Banana Oatmeal Crisps.   I know, I know banana recipes never do all that great on Amish365, but I figured I'd give these a whirl.  I needed something easy that I could make since the Mrs. was away and I had both girls for a few hours to myself.    So Aster and I gathered the ingredients and got to work while Bea watched.

This is a good recipe.  The cookies aren't the prettiest in the world.  But I was also making them in a mad rush, trying to keep Bea entertained in the high chair, while supervising Aster, and making sure the cookies made it in and out of the oven okay.  But, geez, while they may not win any beauty contents, they are GOOD...we kept eating and eating them.  The directions say to drop by teaspoon but Aster wanted to use something closer to an ice cream scoop....but I was like, sure, no harm....and there wasn't, but we did get some big, big cookies....

Baby Bea ready to bake!

I was determined to during these old, ripe bananas into something edible!

Aster mixes the batter..

Aster's sheet of cookies ready for the oven!

These cookies, as the post says, won't win a beauty contest, but I think if you try making them at home, and aren't trying to juggle a 1 and a 4-year-old, you could probably make these prettier. They sure tasted good, almost like banana bread cookies. The recipe, by the way, did not call for chocolate chips but per Aster's request we added a cup of mini-chocolate chips. That was a nice touch!

BANANA OATMEAL COOKIES

1 1 /2 cups sifted flour

1 cup sugar

½ teaspoon baking soda

½ teaspoon nutmeg

3 /4 teaspoon cinnamon

3 /4 cup shortening

1 egg, well beaten

1 cup mashed bananas

1 3 /4 cup rolled oats

Sift dry ingredients. Cut in shortening. Add eggs, bananas, and oats.  Beat thoroughly until blended. Drop by teaspoon about 1 1 /2 inch apart on greased cookie sheets. Bake at 400 for 15 minutes.  Makes  3 ½ dozen.

Four other Amish cookie favorites:

AMISH PEANUT BUTTER COOKIES

OUTRAGEOUS CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES

AMISH CINNAMON COOKIES

CLASSIC AMISH SNICKERDOOLES