Chocolate Covered Banana & Cookie Bites

A delicious combo of Chocolate, Banana and Cookies.

I had some ripe Bananas and I wanted to make something that day. I looked in my pantry to see what I could create. I didn’t want to make the usual banana bread or banana cake so I found some Chocolate ingredients and this is what I came up with. Be sure to store these in the refrigerator because they have cream cheese and bananas in the center, you can also freeze them.

CHOCOLATE COVERED BANANA & COOKIE BITES

Ingredients:

• 1 Cup Mashed Bananas (about 2-3 ripe bananas)
• 1 (13.29 oz.) package Traditional Oreos
• 1 (8 oz.) Cream Cheese, softened
• 2 Cups Milk Chocolate Chips
• 2 Teaspoons Pure Vanilla Extract

Directions:

1. Add the Cookies into a large food storage bag and pound with a rolling pin to crush the cookies into Crumbs. You can also pulse them in a food processor if you prefer. Set aside.

2.In a large mixing bowl beat the Cream Cheese and Vanilla until smooth using a handheld mixer.

3. Add the mashed Bananas to the Cream Cheese mixture and mix on low until combined.

4. Add the Cookie Crumbs into the Cream Cheese Banana mixture and mix on low until all combined. Cover the bowl and refrigerate for 1 hour or until firm enough to scoop.

5. After 1 hour Scoop the batter using a 2 Tablespoon size cookie scoop and drop onto a parchment lined cookie tray or silpat mat on a cookie tray. You should get 22 Cookie Bites.

6. Place the tray in the freezer for 2 hours. This will ensure the batter holds together and is cold enough to dip in the Chocolate.

7. Just before the 2 hour mark, start melting the Chocolate. I used a small (lil Dipper) crockpot. You can melt the Chocolate Chips in a double boiler or any other method you are comfortable with. After 2 hours remove the Cookie Bites from the freezer.

8. Use a fork to lower each Cookie Bite into the Chocolate. Do not pierce the Cookie Bite merely just set the Cookie Bite on top of a fork. Ensure the Chocolate coating covers the entire surface, then allow the excess Chocolate to drip back in the pan or dish. Then transfer the dipped Cookie Bite back onto the cookie sheet. Continue until all the Cookie Bites have been dipped. If I have extra Chocolate, I like to do a little fancy drizzle on the top of each Cookie Bite.

9. Now place the cookie tray back in the freezer for 40 minutes to firm up the Chocolate Coating.

10. After 40 minutes, transfer the Chocolate Covered Banana & Cookie Bites to a covered container and store in the refrigerator.

Recipe by: Hot Dish Homemaker