Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or lightly grease them.

Prepare the Banana Mixture: In a medium bowl, mash the ripe bananas until smooth, leaving a few small chunks if you prefer a bit more texture in your cookies.

Cream the Butter and Sugar: In a large bowl, beat the softened butter and brown sugar together using a hand mixer or stand mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes.

Add Wet Ingredients: Add the mashed bananas, egg, and vanilla extract to the butter mixture and continue beating until fully combined.

Mix the Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt.

Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, stirring just until combined. Be careful not to overmix.

Add the Chocolate Chips: Gently fold in the chocolate chips with a spatula.

Scoop the Dough: Using a cookie scoop or a tablespoon, drop rounded balls of dough onto the prepared baking sheets, spacing them about 2 inches apart.

Bake the Cookies: Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are golden brown, but the centers are still soft.

Cool and Serve: Remove the cookies from the oven and allow them to cool on the baking sheets for a few minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.