I wish I could say I’m consistent and diligent about working out, but truthfully, I go through phases. For years I belonged to a gym and was pretty good about getting there four or five times a week. I got bored doing the same thing though, and at the time the gym didn’t have classes, so I stopped going. I need a lot of variety in my workouts to keep me motivated!
Last year I discovered Insanity and was obsessed with it for months. Then the holidays rolled around and, well, I got lazy π I started back up again this week and oh my word, I had forgotten about the muscle soreness! My legs have been like jello all week.
I figured all of those extra calories burned warranted at least a little treat, right? Not to mention, it’s been an incredibly tough week with the events in Boston and now in Texas too. I can’t remember a time when I’ve been as glued to the tv as I have been this week. I’ve been craving comfort, and for me, food is comfort.
I took the overly brown bananas on our counter and rather than make banana bread, turned them into fluffy little sandwich cookies. They’re tender and cakey, and the addition of cinnamon gives them warmth. I couldn’t resist sandwiching my absolute favorite Nutella buttercream between the cookies. Basically I look for any excuse I can to make that frosting, it is so crazy good. Plus, bananas and Nutella are a can’t resist combo! I think I’m back on a whoopie pie kick lately, so you can probably expect to see a few more varieties here before long. Hope you aren’t getting sick of them…
One quick note: if you want to keep things simple, you can absolutely portion the batter for the cookies using a small cookie scoop. However, just be aware that you probably won’t get perfectly round, smooth cookies. If that matters to you, pipe the batter onto the baking sheets instead. This is just an iphone pic, but the cookies on the left were made using a cookie scoop and the ones on the right were piped.
Banana Bread Nutella Whoopie Pies
cookies from Baked Elements by Matt Lewis and Renato Poliafito, filling from Devil’s Food Cupcakes
3 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/4 teaspoons baking powder
1 1/4 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 cups packed light brown sugar
3/4 cup canola oil
1 cup sour cream (light is fine), at room temperature
1/2 cup mashed very ripe banana (about 1-2 medium bananas)
2 large eggs, at room temperature
1 1/2 cups (3 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 cup Nutella
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 tablespoons milk (I used 1%)
2 1/2 cups confectioners’ sugar
Preheat oven to 350 F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
Whisk the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon together in a large bowl.
Use a wooden spoon to stir the brown sugar and oil together in a large bowl, breaking up any clumps of brown sugar. Switch to a whisk and whisk in the sour cream and bananas until incorporated. Add the eggs and whisk until well combined. Add the dry ingredient to the bowl with the wet and use a rubber spatula to gently fold just until incorporated.
Using a small cookie scoop (mine measures about 1 1/2 inches across – you’ll need to adjust the baking time accordingly if yours is larger), portion the batter onto one of the prepared baking sheets, spacing the cookies about 2 inches apart. (Or, alternatively, pipe the dough onto the baking sheets – see text above.) Bake (one sheet at a time) for 11-12 minutes, or until the cookies spring back when gently pressed and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Transfer the baking sheet to a wire rack and let the cookies cool for 5 minutes then remove the cookies to the wire rack to cool completely. Repeat with all of the dough, alternating baking sheets.
To make the Nutella filling: In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter and Nutella on medium speed until well combined. Mix in the vanilla and milk. Add the confectioners’ sugar and beat on low speed until incorporated then increase the mixer to medium speed and beat until the frosting is smooth and fluffy.
Match the cookies in pairs by size. Transfer the filling to a piping bag and pipe a small amount onto the flat side of one cookie of each pair. Sandwich the cookies together, and press the filling to the edges.
Note: Yield will depend on size of your cookies – I halved the recipe and got 16 sandwiches
I go back and forth with a good gym routine…that’s the key for me – it has to be routine! And I have to do it so I can eat whoopie pies like these!
Oh my goodness — banana bread AND Nutella? I’m in! π
I LOVE these! I have a work out buddy which helps get me to the gym, and eating treats like this is motivation too! π
Banana AND Nutella?! Match made in heaven!
I wasn’t sure about the combination of banana and chocolate but it worked! Delicious banana flavor in the cake and sweet chocolate goodness inside. Thanks again Tracey!
Consistency is so hard, especially in the winter months! I’ve found success by signing up for a local physical training team in December. I barely skip the class! Guilt from spending sooo much $$$ on membership + having a group of people who expect to see you every day = not missing workouts.
And treats are always warranted. If nothing else, it’s FRIDAY! π
And these have my name all over them! Banana-anything is so comforting to me…
I want to marry that nutella filling.
These were a hit at the office (and home!) Loved them with the Nutella filling, but the plain ones were great as well! Thanks!
These are awesome, Tracey! I love the flavor and I’ve never seen more perfect looking whoopie pies before!
I still have not tried insanity even though I had it. I have done p90x for years now though and I’ve heard it’s similar. I enjoy the group classes at my gym the most for my workouts though. Having a specific time for when I am going to work out helps. Even though the people there really don’t care if I am there or not it still makes me feel more motivated.
Love look like perfect comfort food! Banana and nutella is a perfect combination!
I try to stick to the gym religiously or else I’d be over 300lb! And dude, these whoopie pies – LOVE!!! It’s such a nice change fromt he usual banana bread!
I am so not a gym person. I do 15 minutes of strength stuff at home and the hike. Hiking is my thing!
These are amazing. Banana bread! This is genius!
Yes, it has been a really bad week. I am also glued to news and twitter all day. Let’s hope things will get better very soon. Your nutella whoopie pies definitely cheer me up! I have a few bananas at home. I will make these when the banana is ripe. Have a great weekend.
what a delicious combination! banana and nutella?!?! yes please!
I definitely need a sweet treat tonight and I wish I had these on my counter! Nothing sounds better than that nutella filling right now.
They look fabulous and a much tastier flavour combination than the usual chocolate. Yum!
These whoopie pies look perfect and I’m drooling just thinking about eating them! I better go for a walk so I can ‘afford’ to eat one… or twelve.
I love the idea of banana bread whoopie pies! And with the nutella filling – yum!!
Love banana bread and nutella together, I am sure these are tasty!!
I am doing p90x right now, and it is killer!! I am just starting the 4th week. I want to borrow Insanity from my brother when I am done, but we will see!
I’m the same way with working out. And Insanity is especially hard for me. I *know* it’s effective but it’s so… boring! A person can only do those DVDs so many times before they give up.
I would be willing to do some Insanity for one of these though! You can tell how soft they are from the photos! Yum!
I am so impressed that you started Insanity again… I think I would pass out lol. These are definitely well-deserved!
Whoopie indeed! Tracy, I’ve cooked a bunch of your recipes and have yet to be let down! I’ll definitely be adding this one to my list as well. Delicious!
I think I’m the opposite with working out – I find one thing I like and don’t switch it up nearly enough. It’s probably a good thing to get bored every once in a while. And yes, you do deserve a little treat. I’m putting this recipe in the “things to do with overripe bananas” file. I seriously have one. π
Whoopie pies are so fun! This sounds delicious π
Banana and Nutella is an awesome combo…love these fun whoopie pies. I am so not an exercise person, but I am a sweets person, so…I need to get back into a better routine. My husband is doing the Insanity right now and he keeps saying I should try it. After watching him do some moves…I’m not so sure! π
These look delicious! Banana and Nutella make the best combination!
Oh these have my name on them seriously love banana with nutella, they look perfect!