I have always associated bananas with children and being a little kid, I think it’s something parents can easily feed to their kiddies, but personally I love bananas. Ripe bananas really add something to the taste of anything cake- or baking-related, especially an icing recipe I once tried, but they’re not for everyone.

Photograph by Vicki Crowe

I really don’t like bruised bananas and one of my housemates recently inadvertently dropped one of my bananas on the floor – not that I hold grudges or anything, but ever since I noticed I’d been trying to think of a way to use it up, and this was it.

These biscuit-like things are quite filling and not to everyone’s taste, but really good if you like bananas enough!

I also know this isn’t a Christmassy recipe, but I thought some of you might want something different to use up your bananas before heading home for Christmas!

Ingredients

• 125g butter
• 55g sugar
• 230g flour
• 1 mashed banana (and bruised, in my case)
• 1 teaspoon almond essence

To decorate

• 6-7 glace cherries (I was just using up what’s in my cupboard; icing would work well too)
• Sprinkle of icing sugar

Method

1. Preheat the oven to Gas Mark 5/ 190℃.
2. Cream the butter and sugar together.
3. Add the flour, banana and almond essence and mix. If it looks too sticky, add more flour.
4. Shape into small balls and place on a greased baking tray. If using the cherries, cut them in half and place in the middle of each ball as you flatten them a little.
5. Bake in the oven for 15-20 minutes – the bananas will make them quite moist, so it depends how you like your biscuits.
6. Sprinkle with icing sugar and eat when cooled a little!