Banana Chocolate Chip Cookie Skillet

Have you ever had a really stressful or anxiety filled day and by the time dinner rolled around you just wanted all the comfort foods? Maybe that’s pizza or cookies, pasta or chips, or whatever it may be for you depending on your cultural background and personal preferences. It’s normal to crave more carbohydrate rich foods when undergoing a period of stress or anxiety. Our bodies can use carbohydrates in order to create serotonin, a neurotransmitter associated with feelings of happiness and well-being, and that also plays a role in our sleep.

We can still indulge in rich and sugary foods and even emotionally eat once in a while, it’s all part of being human and can be great for our mental health as well to just enjoy our food. However, when we indulge too frequently and create a dependency on sugar and refined / processed carbohydrates, we will feel the negative side effects such as increased anxiety, mood swings, brain fog, energy crashes, hormonal imbalances, issues with sleep, etc.

By enjoying healthier versions of our favourite desserts - like this amazing giant cookie - we can still indulge in comfort food and avoid those negative side effects. Because eating delicious food is part of self care too!

RECIPE

Serves: 8 Prep time: 5 mins Cook time: 20 mins Total time: 25 mins

INGREDIENTS: 

  • 1 cup of mashed banana (about 2 large ripe bananas)

  • ⅓ cup melted butter (you can also brown your butter which creates a nutty delicious flavour)

  • ⅓ cup of your favourite nut or seed butter 

  • 3 tbsp coconut sugar

  • 2 eggs 

  • 1 tsp vanilla extract

  • 1 tsp cinnamon 

  • 1 tsp baking powder

  • ¼ tsp salt 

  • 1.5 cups gluten free flour (I used Bob’s Red Mill) 

  • ½ cup dark chocolate chips or you can chop your own chocolate as I did

INSTRUCTIONS: 

  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F and grease a cast-iron skillet with butter (12 inches works great but you can also use a pie dish!)

  2. Add mashed banana, melted butter, nut butter, coconut sugar, eggs and vanilla extract together in a medium bowl and mix with hand mixer or very well with wooden spoon/spatula

  3. Add in your dry ingredients - almond flour, baking powder, cinnamon, salt, and mix until all ingredients are well combined

  4. Fold in dark chocolate and add to greased skillet or pie dish

  5. Bake in oven for 20 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean 

  6. Store in the fridge for up to five days or you can also freeze slices to have on hand for later

Enjoy! If you try this recipe please let me know how you liked it!

Ps! If you are interested in working with a nutritionist to support you in increasing energy, supporting your mood, and overall reaching your wellness goals, you can book a free 30 min consultation here.


Laura Gutierrez