Coconut Banana Bread and Cookies

This is a recipe that can be made into a Coconut Banana Bread or you can chill the dough and use it to make Soft Coconut Banana Cookies. 

The next time you have a few over ripe bananas don't throw them away, make a quick bread. 

It freezes well and lasts for days wrapped on your counter. 

You will need:

• 1/2 cup unsalted  butter- 1 stick at room temperature
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup light brown sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 tsp vanilla or rum
• 1/2 cup dates- chopped fine (approx 6)
• 1/4 cup shredded coconut (unsweetened)
• 1/2 cup quick cook oats
• 1 cup flour
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
• pinch of salt
• 3 small bananas- squished makes 1 1/2 cups

This makes 2 perfect little loaves (5 1/2 inch tins) or 1 regular loaf pan.

Heat oven to 375 degrees F.

Step 1: I like to gather all my ingredients and measure out everything before starting. This way I do not miss any ingredients.

Step 2: start by mixing the butter and sugars with a hand mixer. Make sure all lumps are broken up from the brown sugar. It will take 2-3 minutes.If you prefer, you can easily reduce the sugars to 1/4 cup each because there is lots of sweetness from the dates and the ripeness of your bananas.

Step 3: add egg and vanilla or rum. I used my homemade vanilla extract made in rum. I think the bananas and the coconut and rum make it very tropical. Mix until smooth.

Step 4: mash bananas with a fork.

Step 5: mix in bananas, dates and coconut

Step 6: in a small bowl add dry ingredients: oats, flour,baking soda, cinnamon and a pinch of salt. Briefly mix all dry ingredients into wet until just incorporated.

If you want to make cookies, then put this dough into the fridge for at least 1/2-1 hour. This will make the butter cold again and the cookies will not spread as much.

Once they have chilled you can scoop them with a small ice cream scoop or 2 small spoons onto parchment paper or Silpat silicone sheet to bake 12 minutes. I added a bit of coconut to the tops. 

Once cooled remove with a spatula. They are soft like a little cake. 

It makes a soft, little cookie or...

You can bake this into 2 small buttered and floured loaf pans for approx 35-40 minutes or when a toothpick inserted comes out clean. If your loaf is getting too browned loosely drape some foil over the top. The high sugar content can brown the cake quickly. If your oven tends to bake hot then set heat to 350 degrees instead of 375.

A sweet bite for a coffee break.