Creating Banana Cream Pie Cookies is a simple yet rewarding process. Follow these steps to make these delightful treats:

1. Preheat Oven: Begin by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Mix Wet Ingredients: In a mixing bowl, combine the mashed bananas, granulated sugar, brown sugar, and softened butter. Mix until smooth.
3. Add Egg and Vanilla: Add the egg and vanilla extract to the mixture and continue to blend until fully incorporated.
4. Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, and vanilla pudding mix.
5. Combine Mixtures: Gradually add the flour mixture to the wet mixture, mixing until just combined.
6. Add Extras: If you’d like extra texture, fold in the chopped nuts and mini chocolate chips.
7. Scoop Dough: Using a cookie scoop or spoon, drop tablespoon-sized amounts of dough onto the prepared baking sheet, spacing them about two inches apart.
8. Bake: Place the baking sheet in the preheated oven and bake for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are slightly golden.
9. Cool: Remove the cookies from the oven and allow them to cool on the sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
10. Make Frosting: While the cookies cool, prepare the frosting by beating the softened butter in a mixing bowl. Gradually add powdered sugar, heavy cream, vanilla extract, and mashed banana until smooth and creamy.
11. Frost Cookies: Once the cookies are completely cool, spread a generous layer of frosting on top of each cookie for a creamy finish.

This simple process captures the essence of banana cream pie in cookie form, and before you know it, you’ll have a delectable batch ready to share.