Chocolate Banana Cookies

I was in the mood for chocolate cookies - OK when basically am I not? OK really I had some bananas that were getting a little overripe and I didn't feel like banana bread. I started to peruse my cookbooks for a new recipe when I came across this one. It sounded interesting because it had raisins in it and I thought hey at least there are 2 types of fruit in the cookies - that's healthy*

Chocolate Banana Cookies (Adapted from 201 Chocolate Treats)

6 oz semisweet chocolate (melted)
2 c flour
1/4 c cocoa powder
2 t baking powder
1/4 t baking soda
1/4 t salt
3/4 c (1 1/2 sticks) butter
1/2 c sugar
1/2 c brown sugar
1 t vanilla extract
1 t chocolate extract (optional)
2 eggs
1 c mashed bananas (about 3)
12 oz chocolate chips
1 c raisins (or dried currants or dried cherries)

Combine flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a bowl and set aside. Cream butter and sugars in mixer until fluffy. Beat in extract(s) and then add 1 egg at a time. Beat in melted chocolate. Gradually add flour mixture. If using raisins or cherries, chop them before adding to dough. Stir in chocolate chips and raisins. The dough is a little loose and you start to wonder if it will actually work (it does). Drop dough with by rounded teaspoonfuls on parchment (or silpat) lined baking sheets. Bake for 18 minutes at 350. Lower oven to 300 and bake an additional 15-18 minutes. Cool on baking sheets for 5 minutes and then transfer to wire racks.

I used currants because I had them around and I have to say it was nice because you they are so small and you don't need to chop them. I think dried cherries would work very nicely to contrast the sweetness of the cookies. The dried fruit adds a nice moistness to the cookie. I used milk chocolate chips because that is what I had. I also chopped them a bit because they were Callebaut chips and they are on the large side. They make it difficult to use a cookie scoop.

*Yes when it comes to chocolate my views on what is healthy may be a little skewed.

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