Soft and Chewy Banana Chocolate Chip Cookies

These FLUFFY banana chocolate chip cookies are the cookies of my childhood! You are going to love EVERYTHING about these banana bread cookies! It’s your favorite quick bread in cookie form!

The other day, a neighbor posted on Facebook that she had some ripe bananas that she was going to throw away unless someone wanted them. And then I sprinted to her door! Ok, just kidding, but never ever, under any circumstances, should ripe bananas be thrown away! I’ll take them all!

I’d use them to make these amazing banana cookies, and if there are any left over, I’d make a loaf of our perfect banana bread! Oh shoot, but what about our banana bundt cake?! We can’t forget about that one! Needless to say, don’t throw away the bananas!!

Ingredients for Banana Bread Cookies

• Shortening: Creates a tender, softer texture and helps the cookies hold their shape without spreading too much.
• Unsalted Butter: Adds rich flavor, moisture, and contributes to slight spreading and a crispy edge.
• Brown Sugar: Adds sweetness, moisture, and chewiness thanks to its molasses content.
• Sugar: Balances sweetness and contributes to crisp edges and spreading
• Eggs: Bind the dough, provide structure while also helping with leavening
• All Purpose Flour: Provides the structure for the cookies.
• Baking Soda: Neutralizes acidity (from brown sugar and banana) and encourages browning/spread.
• Baking Powder: Provides lift and helps keep cookies light and soft and not dense.
• Salt: Enhances all the flavors and balances sweetness.
• Banana: Adds natural sweetness and banana flavor, moisture, and a soft, tender texture while also reducing need for extra fat.
• Vanilla Extract: Rounds out and enhances the flavor of the dough.
• Chocolate Chips: Add rich bursts of chocolate, balancing the sweetness of the banana cookie base.

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Deep Fried Peaches and Ice Cream [+ Video]

Deep fried peaches are rolled in cinnamon sugar then served up with cold, creamy ice cream! This family-friendly treat is warm, crispy, and tastes like peach pie took a spin through the county fair – only faster and easier!

Making a Comeback!

This recipe for deep fried peaches might just be the best summer idea I’ve ever had. Nearly 20 years ago, it was one of the first recipes on our site to go totally viral – websites everywhere were buzzing about this sweet, cinnamon-kissed peach dessert. I felt like I had cracked the code on peach perfection.

Then I had more kids. Got more distracted. And I forgot.

How do you forget a dessert that good? Easy – life gets full. Kids may sleep through the night, but suddenly it’s sports, homework, and snack duty on repeat. But as I looked back through our 2000+ recipes, this one jumped out at me. It was time to bring it back.

I love mine with vanilla ice cream, maybe a spoonful of whipped cream, but the kids go all out with caramel sauce, raspberry drizzle – or both, because of course they do. The whole thing reminds me of my mom’s Dutch Oven Peach Cobbler and our Peach Crisp – those warm, spiced desserts that made every camping trip feel like a feast, even if we were eating cross-legged in the dirt.

If you’re loving these deep fried peaches, you’ll definitely want to check out these other peach-filled handy snacks: the chewy, wholesome Better For You Peach Oatmeal Bars and the buttery, golden Peach Dumplings with Crescent Rolls and Sprite.

Ingredients for Deep-Fried Peaches

Let’s be honest – anything dipped in batter and tossed in cinnamon sugar is already halfway to dessert heaven. Luckily, this easy recipe has simple ingredients that come together fast so you can get straight to the good stuff!

• Fresh Whipped Cream: Optional fluff to finish it off just right.
• All-purpose Flour: Creates that golden, crispy coating.
• Milk: Keeps the batter smooth – whole milk is best, but any kind works.
• Sugar: Adds just enough sweetness to balance the cinnamon.
• Large Egg: Binds the batter

Brown Sugar Peach Crumble Pie Bars

This recipe for Brown Sugar Peach Crumble Pie Bars is for you, the one who is afraid of pie. Homemade peach crumble pie features a flaky crust and always fresh, sweet peach filling. To take things from yummy to AMAZING we top it off with a brown sugar crumble that you won’t be able to stop eating! This is the ultimate slice of summer dessert.

Tired of peach pies that turn into a soggy mess?

We’ve all been there – cutting into what should be a perfect peach pie, only to find a runny filling and a bottom crust that gave up halfway through baking. These peach crumble bars solve the problem of a weeping pie and soggy crust with a thick, juicy peach filling that holds up beautifully AND a sturdy crust that stays crisp, even under all that sweet summer fruit.

Why This Recipe is Always on Repeat in Our Kitchen

Late summer in Washington meant buckets of peaches and a kitchen that smelled like warm fruit and spice – something special was always baking. Peaches make me feel so content and nostalgic in life and this peach pie bar recipe is our go-to when peaches are perfect and we want something sweet without the fuss.

Ingredients for Brown Sugar Peach Crumb Bars

Nothing complicated here – just fresh peaches, a few pantry basics, and that buttery crumble magic that turns golden and crisp in the oven.

• All Butter Pie Crust: We use one double crust of Mom’s Magic Pie Crust – it’s flaky, foolproof, and our forever favorite.
• Peach Chunks: About 7 cups from 7 fresh peaches, peeled or unpeeled. Big chunks hold their shape better and give more texture.
• Brown Sugar: Adds rich, caramel-y sweetness to both the filling and the crumble.
• Cornaby’s Ultra Gel: Keeps the peach filling thick without tasting starchy. You can sub cornstarch in a pinch, but trust us – Ultra Gel is worth tracking down.
• Lemon Juice: Brightens the fruit and balances the sweetness.
• Cinnamon: A little warm spice in both the peachmixture and the topping.
• All-Purpose Flour: Gives the crumble topping its perfect, sandy texture.
• Salt: Just a pinch brings it all to life.
• Unsalted Butter (Cold): Cold and cubed so the crumble bakes into buttery, golden clumps.

How to Make Brown Sugar Peach Crumble Pie Bars

No fancy steps here, just summery dessert made easy.

1. Prep the crust: Roll out one batch of our Read more

Frozen Mango Dessert with Macadamia Nut Crust

If you love mangoes, and you love mango desserts, this frozen mango pie is like a mashup of your favorite mango dessert recipes! It’s creamy, vibrant with fresh mango puree, and so refreshing. You will love the sweet and salty macadamia crust! It’s like you’re in Hawaii in your own kitchen!

This Frozen Mango Dessert Pie is pure frozen mango deliciousness. It’s one of our all-time favorite summer desserts! It is cool, creamy, refreshing, and bursting with tropical flavor.

What can you do with mangos? Make pie!!

I looove mango! It tastes like lounging on a tropical beach with sun on your skin, a hint of salt in the air, and powder-soft sand between your toes. 

One summer, while living just outside of Las Vegas in a suburb called, Henderson I started experimenting with meals and treats that would cool us off! I cannot even express how hot the summer was. 

Our oldest was just a baby and she and I lived at the pool or hidden in an air conditioned house. This mango dessert quickly became one of our favorite treats to beat the heat!

Why I LOVE this Frozen Mango Pie

I love the contrast between the crunchy crust and the smooth mango texture. I eat mine straight from the freezer, cold and firm, while Cade waits for his to soften which is actually so satisfying too. The kids? They’ll devour it either way.

Mango Cake

A note for clarification.

Originally this recipe was called a frozen mango cake, but I am so bothered by that as it’s truly more of a pie, almost a mango pudding or ice cream pie that I’ve removed that title and changed it to a frozen pie.

Macadamia Nut Pie Crust

This pie swaps the usual graham cracker crust recipe for a macadamia nut crust, giving it that perfect island twist. There’s something so satisfying about the sweet and salty combination!

All you have to do is buy roasted, salted macadamia nuts, or plain but make sure to add salt. Use a blender or food processor to grind them into a powder. I explain how to make it down below.

This recipe originally came from Martha Stewart but I’ve adapted it slightly.  Don’t be intimidated, it’s easier than it looks, and the results are absolutely worth it. It is literally the perfect summer mango dessert recipe!

What Ingredients Do You Need for This Mango Dessert?

Before we dive into how to make this dreamy Frozen Mango Pie, let’s take a quick look at the ingredients.

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Homemade Strawberry Shortcake with Biscuits Recipe

Forget those little store-bought fake-cake shortcakes! This is the most delicious strawberry shortcake recipe we’ve ever made! We layer our buttery, flaky homemade biscuits with irresistible sweet strawberries and whipped cream to make homemade strawberry shortcake completely from scratch!

This strawberry shortcake is so simple that you can make it within the hour, and so satisfying that it will easily become your go-to summer dessert.

For me, the moment that marks the beginning of summer is when I bite into my first strawberry of the season. Is it even a lazy summer day if it doesn’t end with juicy berries piled on flaky biscuits and a big dollop of freshly whipped cream?! Homemade strawberry shortcake is the essential dessert for summer!

Gardening with Mom

I grew up obsessed with strawberry shortcake! Not only was it my favorite, it was a reward for hard work. 

Every summer, we’d plant the biggest garden, and by “we,” I mostly mean my mom. I remember Dad tilling the soil, and my 4 siblings and I “helping” for what felt like hours (it was probably 30 minutes). We’d dig through tomato vines and hunt for huge spiders with colorful patterns and potato bugs, then rush back to the house with dirt in our shoes and under our nails.

Fried Chicken, Jojo’s and Strawberry Shortcake

After a hot shower, we’d all pile around the table for fried chicken, JoJos (if you’re from the Pacific Northwest, you know), and to finish the day: strawberry shortcake. Always from those little spongy packages, always stealing the bits stuck to the white cardboard, and always – always – a big scoop of Cool Whip on top.

From Scratch Biscuits for Strawberry Shortcake

These days, unlike the little packaged angel food cakes, we make our shortcakes with from scratch flaky, buttery biscuits as a nod to BurgerVille (a PNW classic).  But the berries? Still done the way Mom taught us: 

How to Make Fresh Strawberries for Strawberry Shortcake

What’s the secret to Mom’s extra sweet berries?

Smash a few, slice the rest, sprinkle on a little sugar, and let them sit! That’s the secret to extra-juicy, syrupy strawberries – and trust me, they are heavenly.

Tips for Perfectly Flaky Biscuits

• Use a food processor or pastry cutter to cut in extra cold butter, jus like you would for a pie crust.  
• Use unsalted butter to control the salt of the biscuit. 
• Don’t over mix as this will lead to a tough bis