Banana-Chocolate Chip Cookies

Created by Cary Neff, Miraval Spa

From the show Balance Your Energy, Balance Your Life

Makes 8 dozen cookies

	Don't discard your old bananas—peel them, seal them in a plastic bag, and freeze them. The use of very ripe bananas in this recipe helps reduce the amount of sugar needed, and provides extra body that reduces the amount of butter or oil that's usually needed.
	INGREDIENTS
	1/2 cup butter, soften 1/2 cup prune puree or unsweetened applesauce 1 cup raw cane sugar (Turbinado) 3 ripe medium bananas, mashed 2 large eggs 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract 2 1/2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda 2 cups quick-cooking oats 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
	Preheat the oven to 350°F. Coat 2 baking sheets with cooking spray and set aside. In a mixing bowl, combine the butter and prune puree and beat with an electric mixer until creamy. Add the sugar, bananas, eggs and vanilla. Beat until smooth. Gradually add the flour and baking soda. Stir in the oats and chocolate chips until incorporated. Drop the dough by teaspoons onto the prepared baking sheets. Bake for 7 to 10 minutes or until golden brown. Transfer to a wire rack to cool.