Banana Whoopie Pies

I found this recipe on the Martha Stewart website and it was AMAZING! They just melt in your mouth.

Banana Whoopie Pies
from Marthastewart.com

2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup mashed banana (from 1 large ripe banana)
1/2 cup sour cream
4 ounces (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup packed light-brown sugar
1 large egg
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
8 oz. ounces cream cheese, softened
1/4 c. butter, softened
2 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar, plus more for dusting
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 Tbs milk

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment. Sift flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt into a bowl. Combine banana and sour cream in another bowl.
Beat butter and granulated and brown sugars with a mixer on medium-high speed, until pale and creamy, about 3 minutes. Add egg and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla, beating until incorporated. Add banana mixture in 2 additions, alternating with flour mixture.
Transfer batter to a pastry bag fitted with a 1/4-inch plain tip. Pipe batter into 1 1/4-inch rounds on baking sheets, spacing rounds 1 1/2 inches apart OR use an extra small (about tablespoon size) cookie scoop to drop dough on parchment paper.
Bake until puffed up and toothpick comes out clean, the perfect time for my oven was 9 1/2 minutes. You don't want them to brown on top, then they will be dry.
Beat cream cheese and butter together until combined. Add confectioners' sugar, 1/2 teaspoon vanilla, and milk with a mixer on medium speed until smooth, about 2 minutes. This should be consistency of frosting, adjust with more powdered sugar or milk if needed.
Transfer cream cheese filling to gallon size zip top bag, snip of corner and pipe filling onto cookies and then sandwich together. Best if eaten the same day, I like dusting with powdered sugar because they can be a little sticky.
Makes about 2 dozen whoopie pies.

Banana Chocolate Chip Pancakes

I used my favorite buttermilk pancake recipe and added in mashed banana and chocolate chips. My 7 year old could not get enough of these, they are so moist and tender. I think next time I will add in some chopped banana in addition to the mashed.

Banana Chocolate Chip Pancakes

1 c. all purpose flour
2 Tbs sugar
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1 c. low fat buttermilk
1 Tbs canola or vegetable oil
1 large egg lightly beaten
1/2 tsp vanilla
1/2 c. mashed banana
1/4 c. mini chocolate chips
1/4 of a banana, chopped, optional

In mixing bowl whisk together first 5 ingredients, through salt.
In separate bowl combine next 5 ingredients, through banana. Add the wet ingredients into the dry. Sprinkle chocolate chips and chopped banana on top. Slowly stir everything together until all ingredients are incorporated, you don't want to overmix, there should be lumps. I like to coat my pan with butter and then use a 1/4 c. scoop to place my batter on the frying pan. Cook until bubbles form on top and edges look set, then flip. When nicely browned remove and place on plate and repeat with remaining batter. I usually get about 8-10 4" pancakes from this recipe.

Scotcheroos aka O'Henry Bars

I can only make these a couple of times a year because I can seriously eat the whole pan, that's how delicious and addicting they are! They are sweet, chewy, butterscotchy, peanut buttery, chocolatey squares of heaven. I've heard these called Scotcheroos or O'Henry bars. This particular recipe came from my sister in law Emma (Thanks Em!)


Scotcheroos

1 c. peanut butter
1 c. sugar
1 c. light corn syrup
1 pkg. milk chocolate chips
1 pkg. butterscotch chips
6 c. rice krispies

Combine sugar and corn syrup in a sauce pan and bring to a boil. Remove from heat and add peanut butter. Stir until smooth. Add rice krispies. Lightly press into a buttered 9X13" pan.
For topping:
Combine milk chocolate chips and butterscotch chips in a microwave safe bowl. Heat on high for 20 seconds at a time until melted, stir until completely smooth. (You can also do this with a double broiler)
Pour topping over bars and let sit for a couple of hours until topping has set up. Cut into bars and serve. Store covered on counter, do not refrigerate.