Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

Mash the ripe bananas in a medium mixing bowl until smooth but slightly chunky.

In a large bowl, cream together softened butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until light and fluffy, then mix in the mashed bananas, egg, and vanilla extract.

Gradually add flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt to the wet mixture, mixing gently until combined.

If using, fold in chopped pecans or walnuts until evenly distributed.

Drop rounded portions of dough onto the prepared baking sheet, spacing them about two inches apart.

Bake for 10-12 minutes until edges are golden brown and centers are set but still soft.

Let cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely. Drizzle with frosting if desired.