Banana Frosted Peanut Butter Cookies

Double Fudge Brownie Murder

**Banana Frosted Peanut Butter Cookie**s is the fourteenth recipe featured in Double Fudge Brownie Murder

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F., rack in the middle position.

## Ingredients

* 1 cup melted butter ***(2 sticks, 8 ounces, 1/2 pound)***
* 2 cups brown sugar ***(firmly packed)***
* 1/2 cup white ***(granulated***) sugar
* 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
* 1 teaspoon baking powder
* 1 and 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
* 1 cup peanut butter ***(I used Skippy Creamy Peanut Butter)***
* 2 beaten eggs ***(just whip them up in a glass with a fork)***
* 1/2 cup chopped salted peanuts ***(measure AFTER chopping)***
* 3 cups flour ***(don't sift--pack it down when you measure it)***

## Directions

* Microwave the butter in a microwave-safe mixing bowl for approximately 90 seconds on HIGH to melt it. Mix in the brown sugar, white sugar, vanilla, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Stir until they're thoroughly blended.
* Measure out the peanut butter. ***(I spray the inside of my measuring cup with Pam so it won't stick.)*** Add it to the bowl and mix it in. Pour in the beaten eggs and stir it all up. Add the chopped salted peanuts and mix until they're incorporated.
* Add the flour in one-cup increments, mixing after each increment. Mix until all the ingredients are thoroughly blended.
* Prepare  your cookie sheets by spraying them with Pam or another nonstick cooking spray or lining them with parchment paper.
* Form the dough into walnut-sized balls with your impeccably clean hands and arrange them on the cookie sheet, 12 to a standard-size sheet. ***(If the dough is too sticky to form into balls, chill it for an hour or so, and then try again, but don't forget to turn off your oven if you chill the dough.)***
* Flatten the dough balls a bit with a metal spatula or with your palm.
* Bake at 350 degrees F. for 10 to 12 minutes, or until the tops are just beginning to turn golden. Cool on the cookie sheet for 2 minutes, then remove to a wire rack to finish cooling.
* When your cookies are cool, make the Banana Frosting.

### **Banana Frosting**

* 1 ounce ***(2 Tablespoons)*** salted butter, melted
* 1/2 cup baby food mashed bananas ***(I used Gerber)***
* 1/2 teaspoon banana extract ***(if  you can't find it, use vanilla extract)***
* 3 to 3 and 1/2 cups confectioners' ***(powdered)*** sugar ***(no need to sift unless it's got big lump***)

* Stir the melted butter into the mashed bananas. Mix until it is smooth.
* Add the banana extract. Mix it in thoroughly.
* Add the confectioners' sugar in half-cup increments stirring the mixture smooth after each addition. Add more confectioners sugar, if needed, to bring it to spreading consistency.
* Spread the frosting on top of the peanut butter cookies, one by one, stopping just short of the edges. Replace them on the wire rack as you do so.
* Let the frosting "set" for 30 minutes, then enjoy!
* You can store these cookies at room temperature, layered in a box and separated by wax paper.

Yield:  Approximately 5 dozen cookies, depending cookie size.

**Hannah's note: We sprinkle the top of the frosting with chopped salted peanuts or a piece of dried banana before it hardens at The Cookie Jar.**

**Joe Fluke's Note: If you have leftover frosting, make  graham cracker sandwiches for the kids.**